New revolutionised dental implants could hail the death of the denture, writes ANGIE MEZZETTI.
DENTURES IN a glass beside the bed, a bathroom cabinet filled with fixatives and cleaners. These are images associated with the bother and embarrassment that go with wearing false teeth. Previous generations opted for the removal of bad teeth replaced by dentures as the only option.
However, dentistry has come a long way. As well as the choice of bridges and crowns, now there’s the exciting development of dental implants. From their frequent appearance on “extreme make-over” shows, you could be forgiven for thinking they are an expensive cosmetic luxury, but apart from looking and fitting better than conventional dentures, they could actually prolong life.
One of the new Irish providers of implants, Tom Linehan of the Seapoint Clinic in Dublin, says there are two main benefits from dental implants. “You can expect better nutrition as you get older, as they help you to chew your food and absorb more from it and this in turn improves life expectancy.” A second benefit is improved confidence and an improved lifestyle. “A loose tooth or loose denture may see people avoiding social engagements especially where food is involved.”
It is not a quick process however as nature has to be allowed to take its course. “The implants are hypoallergenic and look like a screw and the body heals around them. The teeth that go into the titanium implants are usually porcelain veneers.”
He says that in older people the jaws shrink but the benefit of implants is that they stop the jaw shrinking. “Depending on your general state of health and rate of recovery, and the amount of work that an individual person might need, a mini-implant could take a day but more likely implants take several months. Full mouth reconstruction can take up to a year.”
While implants have been around and tried using stainless steel and gold for almost 20 years, the use of titanium has revolutionised the process.
The development of the current technique came about as a byproduct of the work of Swedish orthopedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Brånemark who placed a tiny titanium camera under the fur of a rabbit’s broken leg to study its healing. When he took it out he discovered that the titanium had fused with the femur. This ability of bone to fuse with titanium, a process known as “osseointegration”, is now used to build these dental foundations.
“Titanium and jaw bone love each other,” according to Dr Edmund Cotter of the Irish Dental Association. “The benefit of using dental implants means there is less wobbling of teeth and this improves chewability.” Chewing efficiency with implants is about 90 per cent compared with 30-40 per cent for dentures. There are two main population groups who can benefit from dental implants, he says. “In people missing just one or two adjacent teeth, the implant allows the bridging tooth to be fitted without affecting the teeth on either side. The other main group is those missing a lot of teeth – either an older person or younger person with destructive gum disease. Traditional bridges anchor to teeth on either side of the missing tooth a bit like a terraced house,” and good teeth need to be pared down to facilitate this. “The beauty of implants is that they are independent of adjacent teeth – more like a detached house.”
There are three criteria for success with implants. “Good general health with good healing power is first. For people with diabetes, smokers or those living with HIV, their systems may be less good at recovery.”
For people smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day, the success rate is about 70 per cent as opposed to 93 per cent for non-smokers.
“The second factor is good local oral health as it depends on the amount of jaw bone that remains. If the gum and bone have shrunk it may be difficult to fit a long enough screw, although sometimes it can be possible to build up the jaw bone to take the implant. The third factor is the mechanics of the person’s bite, as the load is distributed over several teeth.”
Cotter says implants are transforming the practice of dentistry and that it is wonderful for people struggling with dentures. “The person’s self-esteem and confidence improves and, although it is not in the textbooks, the loss of teeth is a blow to the esteem of an individual – a daily reminder of loss.”
Implant testimonials
Áine in Wexford had implants done in the Seapoint Clinic and says the biggest bonus was freedom from the plate she had for many years.
“Part of the roof of my mouth was covered and I wanted to get rid of it.” She had lost teeth in a fall and had three implants and four crowns.
“I can chew better and taste my food now,” she says. It took 12 visits over the course of a year and the whole procedure cost €13,000. “The hardest part was waiting for the implants to take.”
However she believes it was well worth it. “I want to be smiling in my coffin when I go.”
Peter Connolly, still in treatment, says the implants have changed his life. “I had a large plate which I hated. I was forever gagging on it and chewing was difficult.”
He tried getting the job done in Budapest first but says he now smiles at his own gullibility.
“I thought I could just get it done and be home tomorrow but it is a long process.”
He began treatment in Blackrock in February and is getting eight teeth replaced. “I am nearly back to where I was at 12 years of age. False teeth can be so embarrassing and if you have a snuffle you feel terrible.”
Peter says he always looked after his teeth, but smoking a pipe was the kernel of his problem. His treatment is costing him €12,500.
Peter Callopy travelled to Budapest with Access Smile for his implants after discovering them on the internet.
“I recognised one of the names on their website and discovered it was real.” His first consultation was free in Dublin and he travelled to Budapest in July. After a three-month gap he returned for three further visits in October and has had 26 teeth fitted.
“They were very clear about the price and it was much cheaper than getting it done in Ireland. The accent on service and quality was excellent. My confidence is back, I can smile again and am not half covering my mouth.” Excluding travel expenses and tax relief, the cost was €9,600. His treatment qualifies for tax relief in Ireland.
Martin from Meath took advantage of a holiday in Turkey to get implants and veneers.
“I just went in to ask about whitening and fillings and they give you the hard sell. For one implant and a set of veneers it cost €3,800 and I was very sore and bruised. I wouldn’t have got it done if I’d known how sore it would be, but I am glad now.”
- seapointclinic.ie,
Phone:01-2842570
- access-smile.ie
Phone:01-4081018
- Irish Dental Association
Dentist.ie.
Phone:01-2950072