Requirements for Successful Dental Implantation

Basic requirements for dental implantation An implantation is a surgical procedure carried out on an outpatient basis in our practice. In rare cases, depending on medical history, we also perform it under general anesthesia. As with other surgical procedures in dentistry, oral medicine, and maxillofacial surgery, implantation also carries risks, which must be identified and discussed beforehand. There are certain requirements for a successful implantation, briefly outlined here. In this context, a dental examination and individual consultation are essential. Please consider the information below only a rough outline of the pre-operative risk assessment. A complete review of your individual medical history is needed to assess local and systemic medical risks. Full disclosure of all existing conditions/infections, allergies, medications, etc. is essential, so that, for your protection, we can check all interactions of the medications used (e.g. the anesthetic). To the medical history form... First, a preliminary examination takes place in the form of a dental check-up, during which a standard dental and periodontal assessment is carried out and an oral hygiene status is established. Should preliminary treatment of the tooth structure or gums be necessary, this is done before the surgery. Implantation only takes place in a decay-free dentition with healthy periodontal conditions. To assess the jawbone, a panoramic X-ray is needed. This allows anatomically important neighboring structures, such as nerves or the sinus, to be evaluated. Through digital measurement of the jaw, strict safety margins to all anatomical neighboring structures can be maintained. This serves to minimize risk. In cases of a significantly atrophied (shrunken) jaw, a three-dimensional X-ray may be required. Contraindications must be ruled out. This is addressed further below. Contraindications Should any of the following contraindications be present, dental implantation may not be performed, for your own protection. These include: Children and adolescents Severe cardiovascular disease Severe blood clotting disorders Unstable diabetes mellitus Condition after chemotherapy or radiation therapy Bone diseases Paget's disease Use of bisphosphonates Drug dependency Heavy tobacco use Complications As with any surgery, there are risks here too. These can be divided into those that occur during the operation (intraoperative complications) and those that can occur after the operation (postoperative complications). During the operation, injuries to surrounding tissue (nerves, gums, sinus, neighboring teeth) or bleeding are possible, similar to e.g. tooth extractions. These are, however, rare and unlikely given careful radiographic assessment before implantation. After implantation, you should expect wound pain and swelling. Bleeding, bruising, impaired wound healing, or wound infections can also occur. The likelihood of such complications, however, depends significantly on your behavior after the operation (e.g. avoiding smoking). To the post-surgery guidelines...