Studies on teeth and dental care date back to the 6th century Mayan civilization. The first implant patent was obtained in the United States in 1908. It has been widely used since 1980.

Missing teeth cause health and aesthetic problems. The development of technology has also led to new solutions in the field of dentistry. Dental implant treatment was developed as an alternative to the bridge or denture used in the past.

A dental implant is made by placing a tooth root made of titanium material for aesthetic and functional purposes and placing a fixed or removable dental prosthesis over it. Implants placed in the jaw comfortably perform chewing and grinding functions. Titanium is the most compatible material with the human body. Fabric compatibility is at the highest level.

Dental implants are used over a wide range, from the loss of a single tooth to the loss of an entire tooth. Unlike the bridge procedure, this procedure is performed without any intervention on neighboring teeth. Therefore, no teeth will be harmed by this procedure.

What are implanted teeth?

People lose teeth over the years for a variety of reasons. They experience aesthetic and functional problems due to tooth loss. Implants were developed to replace these missing teeth. Implant treatment aims to create teeth to be worn in the jaw.

If teeth are not filled after extraction, the jawbone melts and becomes thinner. As the jaw melts, the shape of the face and jaw structure deteriorate.

When there is enough bone tissue, implants are placed in the jaw for fixed or removable prosthetics. In cases where bone density is insufficient, bone grafting is applied. This procedure obtains sufficient bone density for the implant to fit. It is applied to recover lost bone density in the lower or upper jaw. With a bone graft, weak bone tissue is strengthened.

The jawbone fuses with the implant, allowing the implant to function like natural teeth. With the use of implants, the shrinkage of adjacent teeth is prevented, preserving their health. The chewing and biting functions provided by the prosthesis stimulate bone tissue and prevent osteoporosis.

The implant is made of titanium and consists of two parts. One is the root part and the other is the top layer of the tooth. The diameter of the dental implant can vary depending on the bone structure of the jaw, the structure of the jaw and the width of the area to be applied. Furthermore, the diameter, length and size of the implant are determined by calculating the panoramic film, three-dimensional film and examinations.

Implants are tooth roots placed in the jawbone. You can eat and talk comfortably. Implants form a solid base for fixed or removable teeth.

What are the advantages of the dental implant procedure in Türkiye?

• Your self-confidence will increase.

• Provides fluent speech.
• Gives a normal chewing sensation.
• Your natural teeth do not erode.
• Eating becomes easier.
• Improves quality of life.
• Neighboring teeth are not interfered with during the procedures.
• Desired foods can be eaten.
• Jaw melting is stopped.
• It has been used for many years without any problems.
• It provides an aesthetically close view of your natural teeth.
• There is no fear of the prosthesis falling out.
• Permanent, robust and fully functional teeth are obtained.
• The roots of the teeth are attached to the jaw bones.
• Eliminates bad breath.
• Placing an implant in the edentulous area allows the bone to regain function.
• An aesthetically beautiful appearance is obtained.
• It creates chewing power close to natural teeth.
• It is applied even when a single tooth is lost.
• Easy to maintain with brushing and flossing.
• Jaw pain caused by missing teeth is relieved.
• The need to move the prosthesis is eliminated.
• It can be used for many years with care and oral hygiene.
• Eating problems in full palate dentures do not occur.
• Creates a strong and healthy chewing sensation, relieving the load on the denture as if it were a real tooth.
• As the titanium in the implant is compatible with the body and jaw, a healthy and comfortable result is obtained.

Who does a Dental Implant apply to?

The patients to whom this procedure will be done are as follows;

• Must be over 18 years old.
• You must have one or more teeth missing.
• You must have a fully developed jaw.
• Oral tissue must be healthy.
• There must be no diseases that could affect bone healing.
• Presence of speech problems.
• General health should be good.
• You must have healthy gums.
• The width of the jaw must be the size in which the screw will be applied.
• You should not use blood thinners.
• The conditions of those who have heart problems, diabetes, blood pressure and constantly use medications are clarified after the consultation. If necessary, the implant procedure can be started after antibiotic treatment in these patients.

Young people under the age of 18 whose jaw bone development has not been completed should wait until jaw bone development is complete.

To whom are Implanted Teeth not applied?

The implant procedure is not recommended in the following cases;

• For people with general health problems.
• For those whose crooked teeth are not extracted.
• For those with rheumatic problems.
• For those who have blood clotting problems.
• Those with cardiovascular diseases.
• Those who had radiotherapy to cover the head and neck region.
• To those who use a lot of cigarettes and alcohol.
• For those who have the habit of clenching their teeth.
• People with advanced osteoporosis.
• For people with narrow and weak jaws.
• Those under the age of 18 who have not completed jaw development.
• Implants are not applied to diabetic patients who cannot be controlled despite the treatment applied.

The situation of people with systemic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, hemophilia and autoimmune diseases, will be clarified after a consultation with the doctor.

In which cases can dental implants be used?

• If you don’t have teeth.

• If you want individual dental veneers but have no choice but a bridge due to missing teeth.
• If you can’t wear your dentures without glue.
• If you are missing one or more teeth.
• If you are not satisfied with your denture.
• If you do not want your healthy teeth to be touched while your missing teeth are being restored.
• If you don’t want to get osteoporosis due to missing teeth.
• If you have removable dentures that impair your speech.
• If the foot teeth under the bridge you are using have no chance of being saved.
• If you think that the natural appearance will deteriorate when getting a bridge without a single tooth in the front.
• If you can’t eat whatever you want because of your prosthesis.
• If your back is missing a tooth and you don’t want to wear removable dentures.
• If there are untreated and very painful teeth under the bridge, you are wearing them.
• If your removable dentures are hitting a different place every day.
• If you can’t prove it with full palate dentures.
• If the bad smell occurs due to food leaking under the dentures during meals.

What should be done before implant treatment?

• Items to consider for successful implant treatment are listed below.

• We must have our implant done by an experienced dentist who is a specialist in their field.
• Situations that may prevent treatment must be reported to the doctor.
• The type of surgical operation must be decided together with the dentist.
• All recommended tests should be considered.
• Material selection must be demonstrated.
• Listen carefully to the dentist’s explanations and obtain information about the treatment process.

How is the Dental Implant applied?

First, oral and radiological examinations of the patient are performed. If the patient’s jaw is insufficient, a jaw strengthening study is performed with bone grafts. Then, the implant study begins. If the jaw is strong, the bone graft can be applied along with the implant.

Implant treatment consists of several stages. If there are teeth that need to be extracted first, those teeth are extracted. Implants can be placed immediately in place of extracted teeth. Local anesthesia is applied to place implants in place of previously extracted teeth. Holes are drilled at the appropriate locations in the jaw with a special tool called a drill. Implants are placed in these open holes. Swelling and pain may occur in these places where the implant is placed. Pain can be relieved with painkillers recommended by your dentist. During the healing process, you should take care to consume soft and warm foods.

After the implants are placed, there is a waiting period of 2 to 6 months for them to fuse with the jaw bone. During this time, the implants fuse with the jawbone and become a single piece. Your implants are almost covered with gum tissue. This is the most important part of the procedure. The long-term smooth operation of implant treatment is related to this stage. You can wear crowns during this time. Factors that cause failure of the implant to fuse with the bone; infection at the implant site, inadequate and sloppy oral hygiene, bumps and implant abscesses.

At this point, both the patient and the dentist have important duties. Patient duties; It involves carefully taking care of the implanted area, strictly adhering to cleaning and hygiene rules. These are the dentist’s duties; To perform the implant procedure in a sterile environment with quality materials.

At the end of the 2 to 6 month period for implant fusion, the final phase of implant treatment begins. This step is the placement of the permanent dental prosthesis. The dentist cleans the gum tissue and places a gum shaping healing cap over it. This cap makes the tooth look natural as if it were coming out of the gums. This cap is screwed onto the implant. Then another 4-10 days are expected for the gums to form. At the end of the period, the headgear is removed and tooth measurements are taken. The prosthesis is produced within a week of measuring the teeth. After a week, the prosthetic teeth are placed in their place and the procedure ends.

In practice, titanium implants can be used like zirconia implants. Zirconium implants are used to increase durability, especially in the jaw. In addition to its durability, it is an aesthetically useful implant. It does not leave a metallic taste in the mouth. Don’t use it. The color change does not occur over time. It is perfectly compatible with the body.

Healing process after the Dental Implant procedure?

• As the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, there is no pain during the procedure. Painkillers prescribed by our dentists can be used for pain that may occur after the procedure.

• After treatment, rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Postoperative infection can be avoided by cleaning the mouth.
• You must use the medicines prescribed by your doctor regularly.
• Studies show that smoking increases the risk of implant loss by 2 to 3 times.
• You must follow home care practices and necessary instructions given by our dentists.
• It would help if you used mouthwash in your oral care.
• It would help if you had dental calculus and tartar cleaning done for six months or once a year.
• It is beneficial to take a panoramic film every two years. This way, bone resorption around the implant can be detected early.
• It would help if you were very careful with your oral care.
• It would help if you took care of your implants like you take care of your normal teeth. You should brush your teeth twice a day, floss regularly, and not interrupt your oral and general dental care.

• Hot or very cold foods should not be consumed during the fusion of the implant to the bone. Food should be consumed at room temperature. Attention should be paid to the hot and cold procedure for up to 10 days.

• Staying away from hard foods after the implant procedure is very important. The gums should not be affected until healing is complete.
• The implant area must be kept clean and protected from impacts.
• The part where the implant and gum meet and the spaces between the implant and adjacent teeth must be thoroughly cleaned. For this job, you should use dental floss and an interface brush in addition to your toothbrush.
• Clean your tongue and palate, as well as your teeth. The bacteria that live there can damage teeth and gums.
• Avoid excessive physical activity.
• Planned follow-up appointments should not be interrupted.
• For the long-term health of your dental implant, it is necessary to avoid activities that can harm your teeth and mouth.
• Temporary guards play a protective role in the long-term health of the implanted tooth. This may include night guards, mouth sprays, and other protective devices.

How should oral hygiene be carried out after implantation?

After the procedure, a tampon is placed in the implant area. This plug is bitten moderately for an hour. If bleeding does not continue after an hour, it is discarded. If you continue, a new tampon is bitten for half an hour. The tampon procedure continues until the bleeding stops.

• There may be some bleeding in the first 4-6 hours after the operation. If it lasts a long time, you should see your doctor.
• Do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours after the procedure.
• Avoid hot foods and drinks for the first 48-72 hours. Soft, room temperature foods are suitable.
• You should not smoke for at least 4-5 days.
• Edema is observed at the end of the surgical intervention. It’s normal. Edema is relieved by ice packs being applied to the area on the first day. Edema begins to subside after 72 hours.
• To protect the stitches, you should avoid movements that stretch your cheek.
• Do not touch the seams with your finger and tongue.
• It would be helpful to tell your dentist about the stitches within the first five days.
• Aspirin or similar medications that increase bleeding should not be taken.
• You can do normal brushing on non-operated areas. Brush your teeth in the operation area without touching the sutures and gums.
• Gargle twice a day, morning and evening, two days after the operation.
• Remove the stitches at the end of the period (7-10 days) recommended by your doctor.

What are the risks of the Dental Implant procedure?

• Nerves can be damaged as a result of poor radiographic examinations.
• Infection may occur at the implant site.
• Surrounding structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels, can be injured and damaged.
• You may have nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness, or tingling in your natural teeth, gums, lips, or jaw.
• Sinusitis problems can occur due to implants in the upper jaw.

What to do and what not to do after implant treatment

• Do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours after the operation.

• Avoid hot drinks for the first 24 hours and only consume soft, cold foods. Avoid hot foods and drinks for the first week.
• Pressure must be applied with a soft, sterile tampon to initiate clotting and stop bleeding.
• Seeing blood in saliva within the first 24 hours is normal. Do not spit or rinse your mouth so healing can begin in the wound area.
• Do not brush your teeth the night of the operation and do not use mouthwash.
• After 36 hours, it is recommended to rinse your mouth twice a day for two weeks. Gargle for 1 minute and don’t eat or drink anything for 30 minutes.
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol for the first 24 hours.
• Dentist-administered medications should be used as recommended.
• Apply pressure with a tampon to the bleeding that will occur over the next few days.
• Swelling or bruising may be seen in the first 2-3 days. Swelling and bruising may be seen on the cheek or under the eyes; they disappear after a week.
• To make the scars disappear, apply an ice pack on the first day (apply with 5 minutes of ice, wait 5 minutes and continue for a few hours).
• You should sleep with your head up for the first two nights.
• Non-absorbable sutures should be removed after 5-7 days.
• Do not brush the stitched area for the first week.
• Don’t hesitate to consult your dentist for any problems.

How Durable Are Dental Implants?

How Much Do Dental Implants Cost in Türkiye?