Implant Dentistry

The UBSDM boasts an impressive 98.2% success rate for dental implants. I feel we've been getting a great education with regard to implant dentistry as a whole. Last semester we went through the treatment planning process,  risk factors, biomechanics and theory. At the start of this year, we went through a demonstration and hands on simulation of the surgical placement of the Straumann dental implants we will be working with.

A little bit about these implants - they're pretty awesome technology. Medical grade titanium, acid-etched and sand blasted surface chemistry that makes them very biocompatible. The surface is apparently so hydrophyllic that there are images of blood seeping up onto the implant surface as it is being placed. Sounds gross, but in dentistry, that's incredible.

The procedures I've followed thus far were pretty straightforward. Patient presents with either a tooth to be extracted, or an edentulous ridge desiring an implant. Space has been the primary consideration. Once a tooth is lost, the other teeth in the mouth begin to shift mesially, or toward the midline, to close the space. The opposing tooth, above, or below the edentulous space also supraerupts into this space. In some cases we can make a removable prosthesis with a tooth to maintain the space before implant placement and during healing. Treatment planning is essential from the start for a successful implant case. As I mentioned, space is critical. There are a number of different diameter implants and the diameter chosen is based on the mesio-distal space, amount of bone, and tooth to be restored. Ideally, we also want the implant to be at least 1.5mm away from any adjacent root structures. 

At UBSDM we utilize Cone Beam CT scans to analyze bone density, and locate critical anatomy such as the Inferior Alveolar Nerve that runs through the mandible. An implant must be placed away from this nerve, to minimize the risk of damage. After placement, the implant is given 3-6 weeks to osseointegrate, before being restored. In order to restore the implant a careful impression procedure is followed, and a temporary crown can be made in the lab prior to the placement of the definitive.