Osseointegration - Leading Implant Centers

When the loss of teeth threatened, just a few decades ago, patients relied on a prosthesis. Modern dentistry and implantology opens up completely different possibilities today. Implant-supported dentures, which are firmly anchored in the bone, is becoming increasingly popular in this country. Osseointegration plays an important role in the connection between implants and the jawbone. The technical term refers to the bony healing process of dental implants (ossification), which form a solid bond with the jawbone after ingrowth. How to do that, and what you have to keep in mind, read here.

Fixed dentures must be able to withstand a lot, because when chewing large forces act on the implant. This poses great challenges for dentistry. With Osseointegration, dentists have developed a method for the firm anchoring of dental implants, which ensures permanently stable dentures. But how exactly does that work?

Overview of this article

Implants as a stable basis for dentures

With fixed dentures, the implant takes over the function of the tooth root. Implants have a thread that resembles a screw. The implants used consist predominantly of titanium, an extremely resistant metal. Titanium is characterized by excellent biocompatibility - so it is well tolerated by tissue and bone. But ceramic is occasionally used as implant material.

Before inserting the dentist prepares a correspondingly large cavity in the jawbone, which receives the implant. Then he screws the implant into the opened bone canal. As a result, the dentist closes the mucous membrane with a suture. Sometimes he attaches instead a so-called gum former, which keeps the space for the later dentures. Now the process of osseointegration can begin.

What happens during osseointegration of the implant?

The term osseointegration derives from the Latin terms Os for bone and integrare for integration. This is exactly what happens in osseointegration. The bony healing process takes place in several phases.

Phase 1 - Primary Stability

Just a few days after implantation, new living bone cells (osteoblasts) form around the implant. They harden through mineralization and progressively fused with the textured surface of the implant. During the first three weeks of osseointegration, the newly formed bone tissue is not yet strong enough to give the implant complete stability. Until then, the implant is still mainly held by the screw in the jawbone. Dental physicians refer to this condition as primary stability.

Phase 2 - Secondary Stability

At the beginning of the fourth week, the ratio reverses. Now, the newly formed mineralized bone tissue performs the main function in stability. After another 5 weeks, the implant is completely surrounded by bone - natural bone tissue and metal form an intimate bond.

Phase 3 - Tertiary Stability

As a rule, osseointegration is completed after about 2 to 3 months. Then the implant is usually fully resilient and the patient receives his final dentures. To make sure osseointegration is complete, the dentist examines the bony healing process with an X-ray.

Is dentures with osseointegration suitable for everyone?

Under certain circumstances, osseointegration may be more difficult. This is the case, for example, if bone substance has been lost due to a long absence of teeth. If no uniform pressure is exerted on the jaw during chewing due to missing teeth, the bone will reform at the points in question - the implants will not hold enough hold.

But even people with insufficient bone volume or too narrow jaw keep dentures with implants. The most modern methods of implantology make a corresponding jawbone structure possible. Here, the dentist first builds the jawbone with the body's own or synthetic material to create the conditions for implantation. This process takes several months. This extends the total healing time to 6 to 9 months.

Although innovative methods have made it possible to reduce treatment time further and further, osseointegration is a biological process that can not be adapted without limit.

Requirements for successful osseointegration

But what does it depend on for osseointegration to be successful? Here several factors play a role. The healing process is influenced, among other things, by the biological properties of the bone. Thus, the healing process in older people is slightly more problematic than in young patients. This is essentially due to the fact that the cells regenerate more slowly in old age - the cell formation is delayed. Nevertheless, the chances of success for successful osseointegration are still quite good, even in old age.

But also material and surface condition of the implant used play a role. Likewise, success depends on how stable the implant is after insertion (primary stability). Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus can also complicate osseointegration.

The chances of successful implantation in individual cases depend entirely on the individual requirements that the patient brings with him. If in doubt, consult a dentist for implantology.

What advantages does osseointegration offer?

First and foremost, osseointegration ensures a permanent and stable hold of implants in the jawbone. A denture firmly embedded in this way does not differ in function and aesthetics from real teeth. But not only that - implant-supported dentures protect the jawbone from the degradation of the bone tissue. Because fixed implants take over the function of the natural tooth root and transfer the chewing force evenly to the jawbone. With this, they will continue to develop tooth loss through progressive loss of bone substance. In comparison, bridges as well as partial and full dentures are not able to stand up to bone resorption. When chewing, they only exert pressure on the anchor teeth on which they are attached or on which they rest.

For the implant to last a lifetime

When osseointegration is optimal, dental implants are extremely durable. Provided you always pay close attention to the care of your implant-borne dentures, just like your natural teeth. Straight implants require a meticulous oral hygiene. Here it is important to prevent bacterial deposits and tartar by regular thorough brushing. Because they cause inflammation of the gums, which in the worst case spread to the bone tissue that holds the implant. A so-called peri-implantitis means in many cases the loss of the implant.

If you decide on an implant as a basis for dentures, you need to be patient. But the waiting time is usually rewarded - with dentures that are in no way inferior to natural teeth.

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