Implant Placement Torrevieja

Table of Contents

1. How is a dental implant placed?
2. What is guided implant surgery — implant placement without a gum incision?
3. Is bone augmentation necessary for implant treatment?
4. What material is a dental implant made from?
5. How does an implant integrate? And what if it fails to integrate?
6. What are the weak points of a dental implant?
7. Which dental implants are used at AP-Denta clinic?

A dental implant is a construction consisting of several components:

— the implant itself — a titanium analogue of a tooth root, positioned entirely within the bone; — the abutment — the component by means of which the crown is attached to the implant; — the implant crown — the part situated above the gum line that looks like a natural tooth.

There are also options where, instead of a crown, special retaining attachments — known as locators — are connected to the implant to secure a removable denture.

How is a dental implant placed?

The implant placement procedure itself takes approximately 15 minutes, excluding cases where bone reconstruction is required.

The procedure begins with local anaesthesia, after which the patient is aware that something is being done but experiences no pain whatsoever. All stages of the procedure are therefore carried out in complete comfort.

The surgeon then makes a small incision in the gum, prepares a channel of the required diameter in the bone, and screws the implant into position. The gum is then sutured. Following the procedure, the patient is required to take a course of antibiotics, rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash, and follow the post-operative instructions provided. Sutures are removed after 10–14 days.

When a surgical guide is used during the procedure, the placement time is reduced. This is because no gum incision is required and no sutures need to be placed.

In most cases, following placement the implant is left in the bone to integrate for approximately 3–6 months, during which time the patient goes without a tooth in that position. Once this period has elapsed, the second stage — prosthetic restoration — is carried out. In certain cases, a crown can be placed on the same day as implant placement, without waiting several months. This decision is made by the surgeon during treatment planning and depends on the individual clinical situation, including the initial condition of the bone and gum tissue.

In some cases, fabrication of a temporary implant crown may be required.

The prosthetic stage involves the fabrication of a crown or bridge — the teeth that will be visible above the gum line. First, access to the implant is made through the gum, and a healing abutment is then attached — a small component with a rounded cap that protrudes above the gum. Its purpose is to allow the gum tissue to form the correct contour around the future restoration. The patient wears the healing abutment for approximately two weeks. Impressions or digital scans are then taken, and a permanent crown is fabricated — precisely matched to the shaped gum contour, and closely resembling a natural tooth in both colour and form.

The maintenance stage. Patients often assume that once all dental treatment has been completed, they can forget about visiting the dentist for a long time. This is one of the most common and costly mistakes, and it leads to serious consequences. Following implant placement, it is essential to attend the clinic regularly for scheduled check-ups. This will ensure that the implant functions as long as possible.

What is guided implant surgery — implant placement without a gum incision?

This technique is also referred to as navigational implantology.

The principle involves fabricating an individually fitted surgical guide — a custom splint for the jaw — using computer-aided design. The guide incorporates metal sleeves that precisely determine the correct position and angulation for implant placement.

As the use of a surgical guide typically eliminates the need for a gum incision, this technique is sometimes described as "flapless implantation."

Is bone augmentation necessary for implant treatment?

Very frequently, during the implant treatment planning stage, it becomes apparent that the available bone volume is insufficient to support an implant with a stable, long-term prognosis. In such cases, a solid foundation must be created for the future implant — this involves bone augmentation or bone reconstruction.

It should also be noted that since the volume of bone tissue is increased during the procedure, it may also be necessary to augment the gum tissue — a procedure known as soft tissue grafting.

What material is a dental implant made from?

Dental implants can be manufactured from various materials, but titanium has proven by far the most successful. It is currently regarded as the gold standard in implantology, as it is biocompatible — meaning it is capable of integrating with bone and gum tissue without causing inflammation or tissue changes. In other words, it is not perceived by the body as a foreign object.

Titanium has been widely used in medicine for many decades. It is used, for example, in the housings of cardiac defibrillators, in titanium plates for bone fracture fixation, in joint prostheses, and in many other medical applications.

How does an implant integrate? And what if it fails to integrate?

Immediately following placement, the implant is physically fixed to the bone by means of its threaded surface. Subsequently, bone cells grow into the specially textured surface of the implant — a process known as osseointegration. In extremely rare cases (approximately 2%), the healing process results in the formation of connective tissue between the implant and the bone rather than direct bone contact — a phenomenon known as fibrous integration. In such cases, the implant is considered to have failed to integrate, and it is necessary to remove the connective tissue and place a new implant.

At our clinic, in such cases we cover all costs associated with the repeat implant placement.

What are the weak points of a dental implant?

A natural tooth is attached to the bone by means of the periodontal ligament, which performs several functions — one of which is protective. The ligament contains immune cells that become activated in response to the presence of bacteria from dental plaque. Under normal conditions, when bacterial load is low — meaning plaque is regularly removed by brushing — these immune cells prevent infection from penetrating the bone.

When bacterial load is excessive — meaning plaque is allowed to accumulate along the gum line — the immune response is overwhelmed, the function of the periodontal ligament is compromised, and infection reaches the bone, causing its destruction and resorption. This frequently leads to tooth mobility and eventual tooth loss.

A dental implant, being anchored directly to the bone, lacks these ligaments and is therefore without the natural protective mechanism described above. As a result, the implant-bone interface is highly vulnerable to the effects of dental plaque bacteria and other traumatic factors. This means that oral hygiene in the area of an implant must be more thorough than around a natural tooth. For this reason, you should pay particular attention to cleaning both your teeth and implants, and visit the dental hygienist at least once every six months.

Which dental implants are used at AP-Denta clinic?

At AP-Denta we use Alfa-Bio Neo implants (Israel) and Straumann implants (Switzerland).

Almost all implants currently available on the market share similar characteristics: they are manufactured from titanium, their shape resembles a tooth root, they feature a threaded surface, they are placed within the bone, and they are designed to bear masticatory load.

So what is the difference, and why have we chosen these particular brands?

These are leading global manufacturers whose implants and components are available in every country. This means that should anything happen to your implant or crown — or should you wish to have a crown placed on your existing implant at a different clinic or in a different country — the necessary components for these systems will be available wherever you are. Less well-known implant systems often have suppliers in only one country, are subject to delivery difficulties, or do not offer a complete range of components.

— These brands have an outstanding long-standing reputation, backed by a large body of clinical and laboratory research with excellent outcomes. — These brands have been established in the market for many years and have proven their reliability and effectiveness. — The wide range of implants and components available allows the selection of precisely the right elements to achieve a stable, long-term result that closely resembles natural dentition. — The implants are manufactured from pure titanium with no alloy additives. Lower-cost brands often incorporate aluminium and vanadium to reduce manufacturing costs, which can lead to allergic reactions and implant rejection.

Post-operative instructions following implant placement are available on our website, as are preparation guidelines for sinus lift procedures.

We welcome residents of Torrevieja, La Mata, Elche, Murcia, Alicante, and other towns along the Costa Blanca and the Valencia region to visit our clinic or call us on: +(34) 638 893 141. Appointments are by prior arrangement only.