IMPLANTOLOGY

Dental Implants are artificial tooth roots, usually made from titanium, that could be used to replace your original tooth in case it could not be saved or if you have already lost one. 

In case of severe loss of jaw bone owing to bone degeneration, a bone graft may be needed to keep implant secure. A graft helps regenerate new bone to support your dental implants. This requires surgery which is usually performed by a specialist Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon.

Number of implants required depends upon your tooth condition and requires CBCT scan for detailed analysis of your jaw condition and tooth structure.

When you have a missing tooth, dental implants are the best thing you can go for. Although seemingly expensive, dental implants are better choice over dental bridges because of following reasons.

• Dental bridges, which are alternative to dental  implants, are cheaper option to go for but it requires grinding healthy enamel of two surrounding tooth to support the bridge, which eventually would make your surrounding tooth more susceptible to sensitivity and infection.
• Dental bridges may result in jaw bone resorption beneath the lost tooth due to lack of downward pressure owing to absence of tooth root in the jaw bone.

CONVENTIONAL IMPLANTS

These are two piece implants consisting of a screw that goes inside the jawbone and an abutment to hold the tooth structure. During the placement of a conventional dental implant, a small titanium post is inserted into the jawbone. Over time, the jawbone naturally grows and fuses around the implant, anchoring it securely in place. This process is known as Osseointegration. This process not only provides stability for the implant but also stimulates the bone to grow and become denser around the implant.
In cases where a patient has experienced bone loss due to tooth loss or gum disease, conventional dental implants can help to prevent further bone loss by stimulating bone growth in the jawbone. In some cases, bone grafting procedures may be necessary to supplement the bone volume before implant placement to ensure the implant can fuse with the bone and promote bone growth.

Conventional implants are suitable for people having good jawbone health, or in case of replacement of single missing tooth. However, conventional dental implants, in most cases, require 3-6 months before the fixation of the permanent replacement. The reason is the osseointegrational process, which has to take place in order for the implants to be strong enough to bear the load of the denture and the pressure of biting and chewing.  Conventional implants have great limitations in case of atrophic maxillary and mandibular ridges. Ultimately, patients who have severely atrophied jawbones paradoxically receive little or no treatment, as long as conventional implants are considered the device of first choice. 

IMMEDIATE LOADING CONVENTIONAL DENTAL IMPLANTS

With growing demand for same day or immediate loading implants, we now have the options to get so with conventional dental implants as well. Nobel Active and Straumann BLX implants provide us the benefits of osseointegration as well as immediate loading, provided you have got good jaw bone density underneath the missing tooth. 

These implants can be loaded with prosthesis within 1-2 weeks after implant placement.

BASAL IMPLANTS

These are single piece implants where abutment and screw are fused together. Basal implantology, also known as bicortical implantology or just cortical implantology, is a modern implantology system which utilizes the basal cortical portion of the jaw bones for retention of the dental implants. Basal bone is less prone to bone resorption and infections. Basal bone is highly dense, corticalized, and offers excellent support to implants. These implants are designed in one piece that further minimises the failure which generally occurs due to interface connection problems.Basal bone is formed even before the development of the teeth. Teeth are present in less dense bone portions of the jaw bones called the alveolar bone. This is also known as the crestal bone of the jaw. The less dense alveolar or crestal bone gradually starts getting resorbed and recedes once the teeth are lost. The bone which ultimately remains after regression of the alveolar bone following loss of teeth is the basal bone which lies below the alveolar bone. The basal implants are also called as 'orthopedic implant' to mark a clear distinction between them and the well-known term 'dental implant'. Basal implants were developed with the goal to overcome the limitations of conventional implantology, primarily for atrophied ridges or inadequate bone with the protocol of immediate loading. As basal implants obtained support from cortical bone, it aids its application in patients with diabetes, smoking, and aggressive periodontitis with a better prognosis. Also, the prosthesis could be completed within 72 hours of implant surgery, unlike conventional dental implants which requires 3-6 months for prosthesis to be completed. Although basal implants have shown promising results in clinical studies, there is still limited research available on their long-term success rates compared to conventional dental implants. Also, they do not help in jawbone regeneration due to absence of Osseointegration. 

t's important to note that the choice between the two ultimately depends on various factors and should be made in consultation with a dental professional. Here are some points to consider:

1. Established Track Record: Conventional implants have been widely used and studied for several decades, and they have a well-documented success rate. They are a proven and reliable treatment option for replacing missing teeth. Basal implants, on the other hand, are a relatively newer concept and may not have the same extensive research and clinical data to support their long-term success.
2. Bone Quality and Quantity: Conventional implants are designed to integrate with the existing bone structure, while basal implants rely on anchorage in the cortical (dense) bone. Basal implants may be suitable for patients with compromised bone quality or insufficient bone volume, as they can often bypass the need for bone grafting procedures. However, the specific condition of your jawbone needs to be evaluated by a dental professional to determine the most appropriate treatment option.
3. Surgical Complexity: Basal implants typically involve a more complex and invasive surgical procedure compared to conventional implants. The placement of basal implants requires careful planning and expertise due to their anchorage in the cortical bone. Also, it is to be noted that any complication in basal implants may lead to severe conditions e.g. facial paralysis etc and so it must be done only as last resort and only by a qualified Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon with excellent experience of handling such cases. Conventional implants can be placed using various techniques, including straightforward approaches like two-stage or immediate loading procedures, depending on the individual case. At The Dental Masters, we also provide novel combination of conventional and basal implants, which is done exclusively by Dr. Ali Atif, who has an excellent track record of performing such surgeries.
4. Prosthetic Options: Conventional implants offer a wide range of prosthetic options, such as single crowns, bridges, or implant-supported dentures, which have been extensively researched and developed over time. Basal implants may have more limited prosthetic options, and the available restorations may not have the same level of long-term clinical evidence as those for conventional implants.
5. Professional Opinion: It is crucial to consult with an experienced dental professional or oral surgeon who can assess your specific oral health condition, evaluate the quality of your bone, and provide personalized recommendations. They will consider factors such as your overall health, dental history, aesthetic preferences, and budget to determine the most suitable treatment option for you.

In summary, while conventional implants have a longer track record, established success rates, and a broader range of prosthetic options, basal implants may be a viable alternative in certain cases with specific bone conditions. It's essential to consult with a dental professional to evaluate your individual needs and determine the most appropriate treatment option for you.

One of the most common reasons for patients not selecting superior dental implants is because these may initially appear to be expensive. Considering dental implants as an investment for achieving good oral health and great quality of life may change that perspective. Dental implants should be regarded as once in a lifetime procedure. This is because an implant placement should be performed with adequate planning and accuracy by an experienced implantologist in a reliable set up.

If you are thinking of going for an inferior alternative for the sake of saving on expenses, your implants may not last as long as expected. Then you may be left with options like removable dentures or removal and re-insertion of dental implants (if possible). Redoing dental implants is never a great idea as both you and your jawbone must pay a heavy price for correcting a failed restoration. 

They come in variety of ranges but Swiss Dental Implants (Noble BioCare, Straumann) are considered the pioneers in dental implants. These implants are quite expensive owing to their import from Switzerland but the quality they offer is premium and you can rely on these implants blindly. 

Mid category implants offer optimal match between price and quality. These brands provide a wider variety of implants to suit your custom requirements which at time premium brands don't.  The brands in this segment are Neodent (Brazil),  Osteem (UK) and Dentium (Korean).

Last but not the least come budget implants which offer quite good quality at affordable prices. The brands in segment include Adin (Israel), Noris (Israel), AlphaBio (Israel).

Dental implants from all above brands have strong scientific documentation developed after years of extensive research, development and continuous innovation. Besides this, there is extensive scientific literature supporting the high success rates that these dental implants have delivered. 

Our team of highly specialist dentists consist of some of the best implantologist in Chandigarh, who ensure that you are guided as well as treated well, in an experience that is painless as much as possible. Our team maintains connect with patients after surgery to ensure the post treatment care.