Why dental implants?
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 8th March 2023
It is often repeated that dental implants are the gold standard for treating edentulism, and without a doubt, this is true. However, as with anything that approaches being a truism, it is worth periodically re-examining why this is so. Refreshing our understanding of the treatment not only helps to keep more of its aspects in mind, it also helps when advising patients on the key points. As with anything, when a subject is familiar to us it can be easy to lose sight of the basics and how well understood something is by a layperson, which can lead to poorer patient-dentist communication.
When a tooth is lost or extracted, the mechanical load on the supporting bone is removed. The body is highly conservative with bone tissue, so without routine strain signalling that bone is needed in the area, it is quite rapidly remodelled. This leads to weaker cancellous bone filling in the socket, ridge reduction, mid-facial and jaw recession, which can dramatically age the patient cosmetically. Resorption is at its most dramatic early on, with two-thirds of hard and soft tissue loss occurring in the first 3 months following extraction, though the process will be continuous throughout the patient’s life.[1] Once this deterioration in bone quantity and quality has occurred it is irreversible, requiring bone augmentation procedures to correct. While there are treatment pathways for gums that have undergone extensive remodelling and severely atrophic jaws, early treatment with implants can potentially slow bone resorption thanks to the resumption of strain.
What really sets dental implants apart from other forms of edentulous rehabilitation, is how closely the implant replicates the natural dentition it replaces. Implants are remarkably lifelike visually, but moreover, to the patient they function very similarly to a real tooth. While a slightly different maintenance regime is required, the permanent nature of the prosthesis is psychologically distinct from appliances like dentures. The patient’s experience is more convenient, with little reason to remember they even have an implant. Functionally it performs like a real tooth, with little to give rise to concern over appearance – for example, during mealtimes there is no need for anxiety over mastication, as there is no risk of the implant moving or causing issues while chewing in a way that draws attention to its artificial nature. Likewise, it will not interfere with speech. Given that communal eating and drinking is such an important part of socialising with friends and family, we should not underestimate the effect of being able to do so with no fear of embarrassment.
The qualities of modern dental implants put the patient at ease, allowing them to simply get on with their day without having to think about their replacement teeth. This can have a powerful effect on their self-confidence and sense of wellbeing.[2] These effects are often particularly acute when a patient poorly tolerates conventional dentures.[3]
Many patients actively enquire about dental implants, usually after hearing about them in glowing terms from a friend or family member. It is wonderful that so many patients are so satisfied with their results that positive word of mouth spreads like this, and of course it comes with the added benefit of effectively promoting the treatment for us. However, we should bear in mind that the time when patients are most likely to rave about their results, is shortly after initial treatment and healing. To ensure that patients are satisfied with their own implants in the long-term, it is important that the patient receives a more sober and complete understanding of the treatment. By ensuring that patients have an accurate comprehension of the procedure, their expectations will be more appropriately calibrated and the potential for disappointment reduced.
If you are interested in providing your patients with best-in-class edentulous treatment there is much to learn. Ucer Education is at the forefront of postgraduate education in implantology in the UK. Led by Specialist Oral Surgeon, Professor Cemal Ucer, Ucer Education’s Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Implant Dentistry (EduQual Level 7) – is a brilliant opportunity for clinicians looking to advance their skills. The course gives you an impeccable grounding in technical competencies and knowledge, including different implant systems and their provision, successfully leveraging a fully digital workflow including CBCT scans and 3D treatment planning and printing, and much more. You will also receive invaluable insight into soft skills such as how to promote implant therapy and effectively communicate treatment plans to patients and colleagues.
The key areas where dental implants set themselves apart are in aesthetics, function, comfort, convenience, biocompatibility, durability and duration. The true value of these qualities is in the patient’s comfort and satisfaction with the solution, which translates into mental benefits and improved quality of life. Dental implants remain a premium treatment pathway, but provision and accessibility continues to increase. Implants are increasingly popular with patients, and thanks to surgical and technological innovations more patients than ever are viable candidates for dental implant treatment.
For more information on the PG Cert in Implant Dentistry from Ucer Education – supported by Geistlich, Megagen, Neoss and General Medical – please visit www.ucer.education or call Prof Ucer on 07767 645331
Email ucer@oral-implants.com
Prof. Cemal Ucer, BDS, MSc, PhD, FDTFEd., ITI Fellow, Specialist Oral Surgeon
Cemal Ucer first established an implant referral centre in 1995. He was awarded an MSc in Implantology at Manchester Dental Hospital following his research into guided bone regeneration and osteopromotion. He later gained a PhD for his clinical and laboratory studies into the factors affecting the success of implant treatment in iliac grafts and the investigation of the effect of skeletal bone density on implant survival. He has personally trained and mentored more than 1,000 dentists in implant dentistry as one of the main providers of implant education in the UK.
Cemal’s current clinical research interests include immediate implant placement, reconstructive bone surgery, nerve damage and the effect of bone density on the success of implant treatment. Academically, he has gained European recognition for his work on the development of a new framework for teaching and assessment of clinical competence in implantology. He is a co-author of the consensus paper produced by the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) following the first pan-European collaboration between EU universities to establish common training and assessment standards in dental implantology. He is an invited member of the working group convened by the FGDP (UK) and the General Dental Council (GDC) to update the Training Standards in Implant Dentistry (TSID) guidelines in 2012 and 2016.
Cemal is a Fellow of the Dental Trainers Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and a Fellow of the International Team for Implantology (ITI) and a member of Megagen’s MINTEC UK & I Board for education and clinical research. He is a member of the editorial board of JOMR (Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Research) and the chair of the editorial advisory board of Implant Dentistry Today. Cemal is Professor and Clinical Lead of the MSc programme in Dental Implantology and a member of the Faculty of Examiners of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh’s Diploma in Implant Dentistry. He is a past president of The Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) (2011-2013).
Cemal has been appointed by FGDP (UK) to lead the working group to develop the “national standards in implant dentistry” which is due to be published later in 2018 following the completion of an external consultation process.
[1] Pagni G., Pellegrini G., Giannobile W., Rasperini G. Dental implants in posterior maxilla: diagnostic and treatment aspects. International Journal of Dentistry. 2012; 2012: 151030. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/151030 November 8, 2021.
[2] Takemae R., Uemure T., Okamoto H., Matsui T., Yoshida M., Fukazawa S., Tsuchida K., Teruya K., Tsunoda T. Changes in mental health and quality of life with dental implants as evaluated by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Health Utilities Index (HUI). Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. 2012; 17(6): 463-473. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3493630/November 8, 2021.
[3] Lindsay S., Millar K, Jennings K. The psychological benefits of dental implants in patients distressed by untolerated dentures. Psychology & Health. 2000; 15(4): 451-466. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440008402006 November 8, 2021.
