Dental Implants

Dental implants are currently a commonly used solution for restoration of lost teeth thanks to their ability to almost completely replace both roots and crowns. Not only does it help improve smile aesthetics, but implants also provide stable chewing and limit bone loss after tooth loss. However, not everyone understands how implants work, how many prosthetic methods there are, and which cases are suitable for performing. The article below will help you understand all the information you need to know before choosing dental implants.

What is Dental Implant?

Structure of a Complete Implant

Dental implants are a method of restoration of lost teeth by implanting a small titanium pillar into the jawbone to replace the root of the real tooth. After the implant is stably integrated with the bone, the doctor will attach the porcelain tooth to the top to complete the new tooth, ensuring both chewing and aesthetic functions.

A dental implant usually consists of 3 main parts:

• Implant:  This is the part that is placed directly into the jawbone, acting as a real tooth root. The pillar is usually made of titanium, which has high biocompatibility with the body.
• Abutment joint:  It is the intermediate part connecting the implant post and the porcelain tooth above, helping to fix the crown firmly and in the right position.
• Prosthetic porcelain crown: This is the part of the tooth that is visible on the outside, designed to resemble real teeth in shape and color, ensuring aesthetics and chewability.

How do Dental implants work like real teeth?

After being implanted into the jawbone, the implant will gradually integrate tightly with the bone over time. Helping the implant become a fixed fulcrum, acting like a real tooth root, able to bear the force when chewing without moving. Because they are fixed in the bone and act as part of the teeth, the implant feels almost like a real tooth in terms of chewing power and firmness in daily life.

Why should you choose dental implants?

Not only do they help restore lost teeth, but implants also offer many long-term benefits for both chewing function, aesthetics, and overall oral health

• Restoration of chewing ability: The average chewing capacity is about 70–90% of that of real teeth, helping patients eat quite comfortably after restoration
• Improve smile aesthetics: Porcelain teeth on implants are designed to simulate real teeth in both shape and color, helping to restore a natural smile
• Limit jaw bone loss after tooth loss: Dental Implants act as real tooth roots, helping to maintain chewing power and limit this bone loss process.
• Does not affect adjacent teeth: Implants work independently, so they do not invade adjacent teeth. This helps to maximize the preservation of real teeth and reduce the risk of sensitivity or weakness in the future
• Long-term durability: The average lifespan of an implant can reach 15–25 years or longer.
• Simple care and hygiene: Implant care is almost the same as real teeth, only need to brush your teeth 2 times a day, combine flossing and periodic check-ups every 6 months

What is a full-jaw dental implant?

Full-jaw implants are a prosthoscopic method for patients who have lost all teeth in one or both jaws. Instead of implanting each implant for each tooth, the doctor will use a number of fixed implant posts as support points for both upper teeth, helping to restore chewing and aesthetic function comprehensively. In particular, the most popular techniques today are All-on-4 and All-on-6, depending on the condition of the jawbone and the restoration needs of each patient.

Why should you choose Vic’s Dental for dental implants?

Vic’s Dental has built a team of doctors who specialize in implants, who have performed many cases from single to full jaw, including cases of bone difficulty or heavy bone loss. Each case is directly examined and monitored by the doctor throughout, not divided into stages for many people in charge, helping to control treatment results from start to finish.

Prior to the implant, the client underwent a CT Cone Beam 3D scan and a digital scan in the mouth to accurately assess bone density, nerve location, and bite. This data is used to plan the implant in detail, determine the exact location of the post, avoid deviations during surgery, and limit unnecessary interventions.

The entire process is carried out in a standard sterile treatment room, using genuine implants with clear origin. In addition, Vic’s Dental has its own lab system to support the manufacture of porcelain teeth, helping to shorten the restoration time and ensure that the final teeth have the right match and color for each patient, without having to wait too long between treatment stages.

Dental Implant Solutions at Vic’s Dental

Single-tooth implant

This method is usually applied to cases of losing a tooth due to severe decay, tooth breakage, injury, or forced removal due to inflammation around the tooth. The implant will be placed directly at the location of the missing tooth, not having to grind the two adjacent teeth like a porcelain bridge. After the healing period (usually a few months depending on the location), the doctor attaches a porcelain crown to the top to complete the tooth.

Multi-tooth implants

Multi-tooth implants are applied when the patient loses 2-3 adjacent teeth or scattered teeth but not to the point of having to do a full jaw. Instead of placing a separate pillar for each tooth, the doctor can calculate placing 2 implant pillars to support a dental bridge consisting of 3 teeth. This method is often used in practice to reduce the number of pillars but still ensure chewing force.

Full-jaw implant

This option is for patients who have lost almost all of their teeth, which is common in the elderly or people with severe periodontal disease that causes loose teeth to be extracted en masse. Depending on the condition of the bones, the doctor will choose prosthetic directions such as All-on-4 or All-on-6 to support the entire fixed porcelain tooth. This method provides a much more stable chewing ability than removable dentures, without loosening when talking or eating.

Full-jaw implants at Vic’s Dental: Long-term stability is a priority

Diagnosis and planning using digital technology

Before implanting a full-jaw implant, the patient will have a CT Cone Beam 3D scan  to clearly see bone density, nerve location, and areas of bone that are still eligible for implantation. At the same time, the doctor will perform an intraoral scan to take digital dental impressions. This data helps to remodel the entire jaw arch and design the prosthesis more accurately.

In addition, the doctor will examine  the actual bite when chewing, as many patients with long-term tooth loss often suffer from altered bites. Finally, assess  the quality of the bone at each location, especially the posterior molars – where bone is most often consumed. From there, it is decided to place the number of implant posts to be placed and the direction of inclination of each post.

All-on-4 Implant

All-on-4 is a full-jaw restoration method that uses 4 implants to support an entire fixed tooth. In particular, 2 implant posts are placed in the front in a straight direction, while the 2 rear pillars are often placed at an angle to make the most of the good bone area, thereby limiting or reducing the need for bone grafting in many cases.

In terms of advantages, All-on-4 helps reduce the number of dental implant posts, so the surgery time is faster and less invasive than traditional methods. At the same time, in some cases of good initial stability, patients can be fitted with temporary teeth early, which improves aesthetics and chewing function immediately after treatment.

This method is usually suitable for people who have lost all or almost all of their teeth, and have moderate jaw bone loss. In addition, it is also an ideal choice for patients who want fast restoration, less complicated surgery and shorter treatment time.

All-on-6 Implant

All-on-6 is a full-jaw restoration method that uses 6 implants to support the entire fixed tooth. Compared to the All-on-4, this method has 2 more posts, so the chewing force is better distributed and the stability is increased with long-term use.

In clinical practice, All-on-6 is often indicated for cases where the jawbone is relatively good and has sufficient volume. This option is more suitable for patients who want a firm, sustainable restoration and have a higher than average need to chew. It helps to increase long-term chewing stability, distribute force more evenly over the entire dental implant system, and reduce pressure on each post, thereby providing a more stable feeling of use.

This method is suitable for people with good jawbones, who want long-term restorations and need better chewing capacity in daily life

Pterygoid Dental Implant

Pterygoid implant is a special type of implant that is placed in the area of the butterfly leg bone behind the upper jaw. This is an area with fairly good bone density, often used as a solid anchor point in cases where the upper jaw bone is heavily damaged, especially in the large molars. This method is often indicated for patients who have lost their teeth for a long time, have been severely damaged by the maxillary bone and are no longer eligible to place conventional implants in the back.

The Pterygoid dental implant serves as an additional anchor point in the posterior strong bone area, which increases the stability of the entire prosthesis. As a result, the doctor can improve the support of the denture even if the upper jaw bone is heavily damaged, especially in full-jaw restorations such as the All-on-4 or All-on-6 extension. When taking advantage of the posterior pterygoid bone, the doctor can limit interference with the maxillary sinuses, thereby shortening the treatment time and reducing the level of surgery for the patient.

Cost of dental implants and influencing factors

The cost of dental implants does not have a fixed level for all cases, because each person will have different conditions of teeth and jawbones. Even the number of teeth lost, the location of the teeth that need restoration, or the extent of bone loss will directly affect the treatment plan and the final cost. Therefore, doctors usually only give a specific price after examining and taking a CT Cone Beam 3D film to accurately assess the structure of the jawbone.

In fact, implants have a higher initial cost than bridges or removable jaws. However, this is the solution that is considered the most stable and long-term today if it is transplanted with the right technique and good care.

What should distant customers pay attention to when implanting?

For customers in remote provinces or overseas Vietnamese, dental implant plans are often built in a neat direction to limit the number of times they have to move. Prior to the treatment, the doctor will use the CT Cone Beam 3D film and the actual condition of the teeth to arrange a specific schedule, including the number of days required to be at the clinic and the steps that can be taken during the same period. In many eligible cases, the implant and temporary tooth attachment can be performed in the same treatment, after which the patient can return and follow up by appointment.

After the implant, the patient will be scheduled for a follow-up examination according to each milestone to check the healing process and the degree of integration of the pillar with the jawbone. These follow-up visits can be flexibly arranged to fit the travel schedule of customers who are far away. At the same time, dental implants often come with a warranty policy for each type of pillar and are periodically monitored to ensure long-term stability. During use, the clinic will also provide detailed instructions on how to care at home and support remote treatment if problems arise, giving patients peace of mind even when they are not near the treatment facility.

How to take care of dental implants after prosthesis

After the implant is completed, home care directly affects the durability and long-term stability of the implant. Therefore, patients need to:

• Proper dental implant hygiene: Patients should brush their teeth regularly 2 times a day with a soft-bristled brush to avoid damage to the gum tissue. Combine dental floss or a water flosser to clean between the teeth and the area around the implant,
• Diet in the beginning: Patients should prioritize soft, easy-to-chew foods and avoid using strong bite force on the newly restorated area.
• Periodic follow-up examinations: Usually, patients will be scheduled for periodic check-ups about every 3-6 months depending on their condition. During follow-up visits, the doctor will check the bone integration, gum condition and conduct an intensive cleaning if necessary to limit inflammation around the implant.
• Habits to avoid: Patients should not use implants to bite too hard objects such as rocks, bottle caps or hard bones. Smoking is also a factor that reduces the ability to heal and increases the risk of inflammation around the implant. In addition, if abnormal signs such as pain, swelling or bleeding gums appear, it is necessary to get checked early instead of self-treating at home.

Dental implants are a modern prosthoscopic solution, bringing long-term effects in both chewing and aesthetic function if performed with the right technique and proper care. However, each oral condition will have a different treatment plan, so a CT scan and examination before the procedure is a very important step to ensure safety and effectiveness.

If you are considering dental implants, choosing the right reputable dental address such as Vic’s Dental and being carefully consulted by a doctor will help the treatment process go more smoothly, while minimizing risks and costs incurred later. With a team of experienced doctors and a modern supporting technology system, Vic’s Dental always aims to bring the safest, most stable and most suitable restoration solution for each patient.