Dental Implant Treatment
When a tooth is lost, the gap it leaves does not simply stay as it is. Neighbouring teeth may gradually tilt into the space, the opposing tooth may over-erupt, and the chewing load is distributed unevenly onto the remaining teeth. The jawbone in that area may also lose volume over time, because the load it used to carry has gone. For this reason, replacing a missing tooth is often not merely a question of appearance.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed in the jawbone in place of the missing tooth. It can carry a single crown, a bridge replacing several teeth, or a fixed full-arch prosthesis. The function of the implant is to take the place of the lost root and support the prosthesis from the bone.
Not every missing tooth is replaced with an implant
An implant is not the only option for treating a missing tooth. A tooth-supported bridge, a removable partial denture and, in some cases, orthodontic space closure may also be considered. Which option is appropriate is determined by assessing together the position and size of the gap, the condition of the neighbouring teeth, the volume and quality of the jawbone, gum health, the bite relationship, general health and the person's daily oral care habits.
This assessment is made through examination, the necessary imaging and prosthetic planning. Any definitive statement of suitability given over the telephone, by message or from a photograph is not reliable.
Treatment is a process, not a single procedure
Implant treatment generally consists of the following stages: examination and imaging, drawing up the treatment plan, any preparatory procedures required, placement of the implant, the healing period during which the implant integrates with the bone, fabrication of the restoration, and regular check-ups.
The duration of these stages varies markedly from person to person. A case in which bone volume is sufficient does not follow the same timetable as one requiring bone augmentation. For this reason no fixed timescale is promised; the estimated stages are shared after the examination.
Long-term outcome depends on more than one factor
Whether an implant functions for many years depends on appropriate case selection, planning, the surgical and prosthetic work, the person's oral hygiene, smoking, general health and regular check-ups. If any one of these is overlooked, the outcome may be affected. The tissues around an implant can become inflamed just as they do around natural teeth; care does not end when the treatment ends.
What is assessed before an implant?
The examination does not look only at the area of the missing tooth. The condition of the remaining teeth, gum health, the bite relationship and any clenching or grinding habit are assessed. If gum disease is present it is treated before the implant, because the tissues around an implant are affected by the same bacterial plaque.
Medical history is also part of the planning. Uncontrolled diabetes, certain medicines affecting bone metabolism, bleeding disorders, previous radiotherapy and smoking are all factors that may affect healing. None of these is in itself an absolute barrier, but they may change the plan and the expected course. It is therefore important to tell us about the medicines you take and any known conditions at the first consultation.
The prosthesis is not an afterthought
A common misconception is that the implant is placed first and the tooth to be fitted on it is planned afterwards. In fact the order is the reverse: which tooth is to be made, in what form and in what position is decided first, and the position and angle of the implant are chosen according to that plan. This is known as prosthetically driven planning.
The practical meaning of this approach is as follows: an implant that has not been correctly positioned may not allow a well-shaped, cleanable and aesthetic tooth to be made on it, even if it integrates with the bone without any problem. The planning stage is therefore no less important than the surgical stage.
Pages in this section
Starting implant treatment
- Dental Implant Treatment — What an implant does, for whom it may be considered, the stages of treatment and the healing process.
- Options for Replacing Missing Teeth — The differences between implants, bridges and removable dentures. (in preparation)
- Implant Treatment Plan and Scope — What determines the treatment plan. (in preparation)
- When Can an Implant Be Placed After Extraction? — The criteria that determine timing. (in preparation)
When bone is insufficient
- Bone Grafting and Bone Augmentation — Methods considered when bone volume is insufficient. (in preparation)
- Sinus Lifting — The approach used when bone height is limited in the posterior upper jaw. (in preparation)
Restorations and prosthetics
- Fixed Implant-Supported Prostheses — Single crowns, bridges and fixed full-arch options. (in preparation)
- All-on-4 and All-on-6 — Fixed prostheses on a limited number of implants in a full arch. (in preparation)
The procedure and healing
- Is Implant Treatment Painful? — Local anaesthesia and the healing period. (in preparation)
- The First Days After an Implant — Pain, swelling, bleeding, eating and aftercare. (in preparation)
Long-term care
- How Are Implants Cleaned? — The daily cleaning routine and interdental brushes. (in preparation)
- Implants in Smokers and People with Diabetes — How these two factors affect healing. (in preparation)
If problems arise
- Why Do Implants Fail? — The causes of early and late implant loss. (in preparation)
- Peri-implantitis — Inflammation and bone loss around an implant. (in preparation)
Frequently asked questions
Can implants be placed in anyone?
Suitability is determined by assessing together the volume and quality of the jawbone, gum health, general health, the medicines taken, smoking and oral hygiene. No decision can be made without an examination and imaging.
Where should I start?
The first step is an examination. Once your complaint, the intraoral findings and the necessary imaging have been assessed together, the options and the estimated stages are shared with you.
How many implants will I need?
The number of missing teeth is not the only determining factor. Bone distribution, the bite load, the type of prosthesis planned and aesthetic requirements are all assessed together. No number is committed to before an examination.
Is any special care needed after having an implant?
Yes. The tissues around an implant can become inflamed. Daily cleaning, interdental cleaning and regular check-ups have a direct effect on the long-term outcome.
Is my age a barrier to implants?
There is no upper age limit; what matters is not age but bone and gum support together with general health. At the lower end, jaw growth is expected to be complete.
Local assessment
At our clinic at the Beylikdüzü–Esenyurt junction, suitability for implants is determined by assessing the clinical examination, the necessary imaging findings and the prosthetic plan together. Following the assessment, the options and estimated stages are shared with you in writing.