Expanding treatments with dental implants
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 9th November 2023
Professional growth can be incredibly rewarding for any clinician. New skills increase the range of treatments a dental professional offers, as well as the prospective patients that could receive effective care.
One growing demographic in the UK is an elderly generation;[i] by pre-empting the needs of these patients, clinicians could adapt where they focus their training. Combining this with a clinician’s particular area of interest could lead to a fulfilling career in dentistry.
The needs of an ageing generation
Patient demographics are shifting all over the world. The improvements in general healthcare have allowed an older population to thrive and reach unprecedented numbers. In the UK, there are around 11 million people aged 65 and over, making up 19% of the total population. In just ten years, that could expand to nearly 13 million people, or 22% of potential patients,[ii] and present some unique changes for the dental industry.
In line with enhanced general health care, innovative research and treatments have made way for improvements in the prevention or management of a variety oral health issues, such as dental caries.[iii]Despite this being a desirable outcome, it means that a patient’s natural teeth are expected to survive for longer and so tooth loss occurs later in life.[iv]
Studies have shown that the peak incidence of partial edentulism is around 65 years old, and it can have a pronounced impact on an elderly patient’s overall quality of life.[v] As an example, tooth loss affects an individual’s chewing ability, which could lead to changes in diet as patients steer away from harder to chew foods such as meat, fruits or vegetables.[vi] This affects their nutrition, which could see detrimental damage to an individual’s overall health.
An effective solution
For an ageing patient, there are a variety of treatment options to restore the dentition and revive both aesthetic and mechanical function. A removable denture offers a solution, but a fixed implant restoration could provide some additional benefits.
Both options restore essential function, improving every-day life in turn. However, an implant-supported prosthesis could improve upon the retention and stability of a removable solution, which aids significantly in basic needs such as chewing and speaking.[vii] The structural stability offered by a successful implant could make everyday functions feel more natural, making it an optimal solution for edentulous patients.[viii]
Implants are designed to be an effective solution into old age[ix] – supporting oral and general health. Patients that experience tooth loss face atrophy of the bone, which could have a defined effect on facial appearance.[x]Bone resorption provides challenges for dentures, leading to instability and retention, prompting the need for replacements over time.[xi] On the other hand, an implant acts successfully as the missing tooth root, providing a significant reduction in bone loss.[xii] This in turn aids the stability of the implant-retain restoration and any potential remaining teeth, as well as maintaining a patient’s facial structure for longer.
Providing brilliant care
In order to meet the needs of these patients, dental professionals should continuously seek out opportunities to further their skills. Finding courses that offer a comprehensive understanding of the theory behind implant surgeries, as well as hands-on experiences, could be ideal for a well-rounded understanding that can be taken back to practice.
By gaining a more complete grasp on implant surgery, a clinician can welcome new patients to their practice and provide care that is highly-trusted. Even if the case is too far advanced for a clinician’s capabilities and requires a referral, the knowledge of implant surgery and its benefits could improve the relationship with those in the chair. Answering questions about a prospective procedure, or providing clinically backed information on recommended routes of treatment could be enough to establish a rapport of trust. This may also help to alleviate some of the stress or anxiety a patient feels ahead of a potential procedure.
Courses and masterclasses offer excellent environments for dental professionals to broaden their skills and expertise. Straumann® offers a wide range of world-class medical education materials and courses for clinicians through their Education and Enablement activities, ideal for professionals looking to begin their journey with dental implantology. Each masterclass and course is presided over by our experts and mentors, backed by years of experience, who clinicians can lean on for guidance throughout the term of their training.
By developing a greater understanding of dental implantology, dental professionals can feel well suited to provide optimal care for patients in the years to come. As the need for stable and long-term solutions for edentulous patients grows, it’s worth considering how it could play a part in a fulfilling dental career.
For more information, please visit https://www.straumanncourses.com
[i] Census 2021, (2022). Voices of ur ageing population: Living longer lives. (Online) Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/ageing/articles/voicesofourageingpopulation/livinglongerlives[Accessed July 2023]
[ii] age co, Owned by Age UK, (2022). Ageing and older population UK statistics for 2022. (Online) Available at: https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/article/ageing-and-older-population-uk-statistics-for-2022 [Accessed July 2023]
[iii] Basudan, T. A. R. (2020). Restorative Dentistry in Geriatric Patients: A Literature Review. EC Dental Science, 19, 01-06.
[iv] Borg-Bartolo, R., Roccuzzo, A., Mourelle, P. M., Schimmel, M., Gambetta-Tessini, K., Chaurasia, A., … & Campus, G. (2022). Global prevalence of edentulism and dental caries in middle-aged and elderly persons. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of dentistry, 104335.
[v] Janto, M., Iurcov, R., Daina, C. M., Neculoiu, D. C., Venter, A. C., Badau, D., … & Daina, L. G. (2022). Oral health among elderly, impact on life quality, access of elderly patients to oral health services and methods to improve oral health: a narrative review. Journal of personalized medicine, 12(3), 372.
[vi] Janto, M., Iurcov, R., Daina, C. M., Neculoiu, D. C., Venter, A. C., Badau, D., … & Daina, L. G. (2022). Oral health among elderly, impact on life quality, access of elderly patients to oral health services and methods to improve oral health: a narrative review. Journal of personalized medicine, 12(3), 372.
[vii] Duong, H. Y., Roccuzzo, A., Stähli, A., Salvi, G. E., Lang, N. P., & Sculean, A. (2022). Oral health‐related quality of life of patients rehabilitated with fixed and removable implant‐supported dental prostheses. Periodontology 2000, 88(1), 201-237.
[viii] Bupa, (2020). Alternative Treatments to Dental Implants: Implants vs dentures. (Online) Available at: https://www.bupa.co.uk/dental/dental-care/treatments/dental-implants/alternative-treatments/implants-vs-dentures [Accessed July 2023]
[ix] Sones, A. D. (2020). Are Teeth Meant to Last a Lifetime?. The International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants, 35(2).
[x] Drepanidis, P. D. H. (2022). Edentulism and Costen’s syndrome revision. A literature review. International Bulletin of Otorhinolaryngology, 18(3), 14-20.
[xi] Benhamida, S. A., El Maroush, M. A., Elgendy, A. A., & Elsaltani, M. H. (2019). Residual ridge resorption, the effect on prosthodontics management of edentulous patient: an article review: residual ridge resorption. International Journal of Scientific Research and Management (IJSRM), 7(09), 260-267.
[xii] Kowalski, J., Lapinska, B., Nissan, J., & Lukomska-Szymanska, M. (2021). Factors influencing marginal bone loss around dental implants: A narrative review. Coatings, 11(7), 865.
