Alternative to Dental Implants

What is dental implantation When do you need an alternative How can you replace implants For chewing teeth For front teeth With complete edentia Why do you need to restore teeth Which method is better

Patients are looking for an alternative to implantation due to financial or clinical restrictions on the implantation of artificial roots. Removable dentures (clasp, flexible, acrylic) and fixed products made of metal ceramics, all-ceramic, zirconium (dental bridges) can not fully replace implants. Rarely, missing units are replaced by displacing adjacent ones using braces. The preferred option is implantation: it guarantees an aesthetic, long-term and reliable result, with safety for neighboring units and benefits for the jawbone.

When an alternative to dental implants may be needed

Not everyone can get implantation. Contraindications for surgery:

mental pathologies;
immunodeficiency states;
cancer;
decompensated diabetes mellitus;
rheumatism;
problems with blood clotting;
diseases of the central nervous system;
diseases of bone tissue;
inflammatory processes;
severe heart pathologies;
renal failure;
increased sensitivity to antiseptics;
age up to 18 years.

The list of contraindications varies depending on the implantation method. In addition to the restrictions on installing titanium roots, implantation has other disadvantages:

relatively high cost of treatment;
risk of implant rejection;
the likelihood of damage to the maxillary sinuses (with prosthetics in the upper jaw row);
complexity of the operation (the integrity of soft, bone tissue, nerve endings and mucous membranes is damaged - postoperative swelling and pain occur).

Surgical stage

Purpose: preparation of the site for implant installation, implantation of an artificial root, formation of the correct gum contour.

Under local anesthesia, the implantologist sequentially performs the following 4 surgical procedures:

Dissection of gum tissue

To gain access to the bone of the lower or upper jaw, the doctor makes a small incision in the gum and removes the flaps.

Formation of a landing channel for an implant

Using a surgical template, the doctor drills a channel of the required depth and width into the spongy tissue.

The doctor measures the resulting depth of the canal in the bone tissue and compares it with the required value.

Performs smooth boring of the channel to the planned width. Drills of different diameters are used sequentially.

Fixation of titanium rod

An implant is placed in the hole.

First, the artificial root is implanted using an electrical device. It is then screwed in by hand until it matches the edge of the bone.

The implant is closed with a temporary plug.

Gum suturing

The edges of the incisions are sutured to close the plug.

After the implant has healed (3-4 months on the lower jaw and 4-6 months on the upper jaw), to give the gum an aesthetic contour, the plug is removed and a gum former is placed.

A maximum of 14 days after installation of the gum former, it is replaced with an abutment - the connecting link between the implant and the orthopedic structure.

A temporary coping is placed on the abutment for taking impressions.

What can replace dental implantation?

Removable dentures

If the patient does not have money for implants, they make do with removable dentures, which can be inserted and removed from the mouth without the help of a dentist. The type of structure being installed determines the number of lost units:

there are not several units in a row - partial structures are needed;
If you need to replace your teeth, a full removable structure will help out.

The design of the removable product is made of plastic pink gums and artificial teeth. The structure includes a metal frame, hooks, and locks. If a complete denture is fixed, due to the gingival base, the product adheres to the mucous membrane (for reliability, patients use fixing creams and gels). The partial denture rests on healthy units with the help of hooks and clasps.

There are types of dentures:

Bugelnye. The structures are used to restore several elements. They have a metal arc or clasp. The product is durable and can be fixed even on moving teeth. The service life of the structure is 7 years or more. Among the disadvantages, they note: low aesthetic value (fastenings are noticeable), relatively high price of prostheses. Condition for prosthetics: the presence of at least 2 supporting teeth in each row.
Flexible. Dentures are made from soft hypoallergenic plastics - they are lightweight, comfortable to wear, and fit well to the gums. Partial flexible structures are supplemented with fastenings - plastic hooks. Products last 5-7 years or more. Among the disadvantages, they note: the impossibility of repairing or adjusting the prosthesis in the dentist’s chair (the product is repositioned by a dental technician). When wearing a soft structure, the atrophic process in the bone progresses faster (compared to a hard one).
Acrylic. Plate structures are made of hard plastics - they are not comfortable to wear. The chewing load will be distributed on the gums, and not on the supporting units. Plus - low cost. Of the minuses, they note: the length of the period of adaptation, methyl ester of methacrylic acid in the composition of acrylic (irritates the mucous membranes).

Fixed dentures

Fixed structures are fixed in the oral cavity - the patient cannot remove them without the help of a dentist. The prosthesis has the form of a single dental crown or complex (dental bridge), which is “put on” the supporting teeth.

Bridge-like products rest on healthy neighboring elements (they are pre-ground). A locking dental bridge in the form of a single crown has a latch inside (the other two are on adjacent teeth). The adhesive structure is fixed to the supporting units, not covering them, but joining the tooth wall (preparation is excluded).

Fixed dentures have the following advantages:

instantly restore the aesthetics and functionality of the dentition;
biocompatible, hypoallergenic;
do not rub the mucous membrane, do not create the sensation of a “foreign body” in the mouth;
wear-resistant.

The disadvantages of fixed prosthetics include the high price and the need for support in the form of healthy teeth. In the absence of a large number of units, this support can only be implants.

Depending on the material, non-removable products are classified into:

All-ceramic. The dentures are made of pressed ceramics; they are durable and resistant to chips, scratches and discoloration. The products are successfully used in the restoration of the frontal row.
Metal-ceramic. One-piece construction consisting of a metal base and a coating in the form of aesthetic porcelain. Durable products can withstand significant loads. An allergic reaction to the metal is possible. Suitable for restoring chewing teeth.
Zirconium. The basis of the design is zirconium dioxide, the coating is a layer of dental ceramics of a selected tone (similar to enamel). The prosthesis is durable, fits tightly to the supports, CAD/CAM technology guarantees the accuracy of the restoration. The disadvantage of zirconium prostheses is their high cost.

Recover adjacent teeth with braces

An alternative to implants and a bridge to replace the lateral teeth is to move adjacent units to replace the removed ones. The duration of therapy depends on the number of missing teeth and the time the patient walked without them. Treatment can last up to four years.

Before therapy, a thorough diagnosis is carried out and probable changes in the bite are predicted. Possible complications of therapy include resorption of bone tissue and exposure of tooth roots.

Why is implant-supported prosthesis considered the best solution?

The dental implant method allows you to restore lost teeth using single crowns, bridges and full dentures supported by implants. Such a prosthesis, even in the absence of all teeth, completely restores chewing function.

II.

The implant completely replaces the root of a natural tooth: it receives the load from the crown and distributes it to the bone tissue, so that it does not undergo atrophy. Simply put, with the help of dental implants, the doctor restores the natural function of chewing to the fullest extent possible. Feedback from patients about implantation, especially from those who have previously used prostheses of other designs, will be positive in the vast majority of cases.

III.

The service life of an intraosseous dental implant (if its installation was carried out efficiently) is practically unlimited. We see patients who had implants installed more than 30 years ago. Particular attention should be paid to self-discipline and compliance with all rules of oral hygiene. The patient must understand that the presence of implants increases the requirements for daily hygiene (using not only a toothbrush, but also an irrigator) and implies regular (2 times a year) professional oral hygiene. Thus, the long-term functioning of implants is not only the competent work of the doctor, but also the responsible attitude of the patient himself to his health.

What is an alternative to implants for chewing teeth?

The chewing elements are more loaded than the anterior ones. The anatomy and localization of the units makes it difficult to care for the elements - the risk of developing dental diseases in the area of chewing teeth is high, the elements are susceptible to destruction.

If one or more teeth are missing in the chewing area, a dental bridge is placed, provided that there is something to attach it to - the adjacent units (including damaged ones) are pre-ground.

Among removable products, the use of a clasp design is justified - a durable option that does not bend under load. The product is secured with hooks or clasps.

Contraindications

Implantation is a technique that allows a person to return the former beauty of his smile even with a very complex and extensive defect in the dental system.

But numerous studies conducted in recent years have shown that for successful osseointegration and full operation, it is necessary that the patient does not have any health problems during the period of implantation of the structure.

All existing restrictions on operations are divided into two categories - absolute (complete) and relative (temporary).

The difference between them is that the presence of at least one pathology from the list of absolute contraindications makes implantation impossible. If a relative limitation is identified, surgery is possible, but only after the patient’s condition has been stabilized.

The list of absolute contraindications includes the following conditions:

pathologies of the circulatory system, especially poor blood clotting;
malignant neoplasms of any location;
psychoneurological abnormalities;
thyroid diseases;
connective tissue diseases developing in the maxillofacial area;
allergy to metal alloys;
HIV and sexually transmitted diseases;
pathologies of bone tissue that inhibit the process of its regeneration;
problems with the heart and blood vessels;
tuberculosis;
weakness of the immune system.

Relative restrictions include:

inflammation of gum tissue;
poor oral hygiene;
periodontitis of periodontal tissues;
bite pathologies;
dysfunction of the mandibular temporal joint;
pregnancy and breastfeeding;
severe atrophy of the jaw bone;
alcohol and drug addiction;
exhaustion of the body.

Important! Before setting a date for implantation, the dentist must conduct an examination of the patient’s body to determine contraindications to this procedure. This approach allows you to avoid complications and emergency situations during and after surgery.

How to replace implants on front teeth

The frontal elements are not involved in chewing food, but high aesthetic demands are placed on them. As an alternative to implantation, a dental bridge is suitable for restoring teeth in the front row.

Metal-ceramic structures are not used in the smile area: the metal base darkens in the light; upon contact with metal, the mucous membrane may darken. Solid ceramics is a durable material, characterized by natural translucency, and looks like “your own” tooth. The most accurate, aesthetic and durable option is a zirconium dioxide prosthesis.

Price

Reconstructing teeth is not a cheap procedure. The total cost depends on many factors, the main ones being:

model of the prosthetic structure;
method of securing it;
material of manufacture;
number of teeth restored.

Of no small importance is the level of professionalism of the doctor, the pricing policy of the clinic and its location.

The table below shows approximate prices for various dental prosthetic methods.

Recovery technique	Average cost, thousand rubles.
Implant with crown	from 30
Removable nylon denture (partial, complete)	from 8
Removable plate design	from 16
Byugelny	from 45
Reimplantation	from 2.5
Single crown	from 5
Bridge prosthesis	from 12

Which method is better to choose?

Implantation is a privileged way to restore lost elements in the absence of financial and clinical restrictions. Advantages of the method:

Implants are durable. When installing a dental bridge, a replacement will be required after 5-7 years. The service life of implants is at least 25 years .
Adjacent elements remain untouched. Implants do not require support. When installing a dental bridge, the supporting units are pre-ground, which leads to their destruction.
Stopping bone atrophy. Implantation guarantees an even chewing load on the jawbone - the bone is not destroyed.
Preservation of taste sensations. Removable structures dull the sense of taste due to the massive base blocking the receptors.
Reliable fixation of prostheses and installation of various options for orthopedic structures.

Author of the article Voznyuk Vladimir Aleksandrovich Maxillofacial surgeon-implantologist of the highest category

Experience more than 30 years

Replantation

Replantation can be an alternative to implants for chewing and front teeth. This is a modern procedure for restoring a lost tooth that requires its own unit. In this case, two conditions must be met:

the unit must be an integer;
Tooth extraction is performed in a dental office.

Otherwise, replantation is impossible.

During the intervention, the dentist removes the tooth, stops bleeding, relieves inflammation, cleans the hole, fills it and fixes the lost tooth to adjacent units with a special photopolymer thread.

The Partner-Med clinic offers its patients removable and fixed prosthetics as an alternative to dental implantation if there are contraindications. Dentists will help you choose the most suitable option, which will help you restore your dentition and chewing load, as well as restore the aesthetics of your smile.

Deputy Chief physician Sergey Evgenievich Brodsky

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