FAQS

A natural tooth comprises a crown and a root. The crown is the portion of the tooth that is visible above the gum and the root is located within the bone, below the gums. Dental implants were developed to substitute the roots of missing teeth. They can be in a number of formats and sizes and are anchored in the mandibular or maxillary bone. Dental implants can be inserted at any age (as long as the growth period is over) and have a very high rate of success, around 98%, when the procedure is performed in credible and competent institutions. The wrong choice of clinic can lead to a number of problems.

When the osseointegration of the implant does not occur, the implant that has been rejected must be substituted by a new implant. The procedure is extremely simple and does not entail any additional cost to the patient at the Implantology Institute®. Currently, the rate of operations to substitute rejected implants is less than 2%.

There are certain systemic pathologies that could delay the healing process. Certain habits such as smoking could also contribute towards a less than favorable post-operative recovery. A comprehensive clinical history accompanied by complementary examinations for a suitable diagnosis and surgical indications that are specific to each case allow the dentist to foresee and prevent possible side effects.

No. As in the majority of treatments, this procedure is performed under local anesthetic and the patient feels no pain. After the surgical intervention, the patient is medicated to improve post-operative recovery, reducing swelling and some sensation of pain that could exist.

In the same way that nobody can precisely predict how long a natural tooth will last, the life span of an implant varies a great deal and depends, above all, on the care that has been taken to maintain the implant. Adequate oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist will ensure a good prognosis in terms of the longevity of the implants. There are well-documented cases of implants that have been placed over 30 years ago that are still functioning well.

Such appointments should be scheduled every 3 to 6 months, depending on the level of oral hygiene that the patient has achieved at home. In the case of oral rehabilitation supported by implants, the interval between appointments varies according to the scale of the rehabilitation.

Oral hygiene is as important for teeth as for implants. Bacteria have the capacity to accumulate around implants and can lead to infections that can jeopardize the rehabilitation. Thus, careful hygiene and conservation are essential to ensure the long-term durability and functioning of the implants.

The results vary from individual to individual, since teeth react in a different manner to the treatment. However, in every case the changes are very significant.During an appointment, the dentist / oral hygienist will be able to indicate the expected degree of whitening in each particular case. Even many discolored teeth can be whitened and in most instances with excellent results. The most difficult cases can require more prolonged whitening treatments.

The long-term results depend on the patient’s habits, food and dental structure. Certain factors, such as the use of tobacco, coffee, tea, carbonated drinks and an absence of regular oral hygiene can jeopardize the maintenance of the results. Good oral hygiene and some food restrictions are the best guarantees.

As a rule, our patients do not experience any pain or dental sensitivity during the whitening process. In exceptional cases, a small number of patients experience dental sensitivity during the whitening procedure and in the following 24 hours. A common analgesic or a desensitizer is enough to relieve this sensation and it is advisable that the patient avoid ingesting overly hot or cold liquids during this period.

Everybody can have their teeth whitened, including those who have severely discolored teeth or whose teeth have been stained by certain foods, coffee, tobacco or tetracycline. In case your dentist / oral hygienist discovers some reason owing to which dental bleaching would not be recommended, the patient will immediately be informed.

If a tooth has been restored, it does not mean that it cannot once again be affected by caries and it is therefore often necessary to substitute teeth that have been restored. Apart from the fact that caries can appear below the restoration, it can also infiltrate between the tooth and the restoration. In such situations it is necessary to substitute the old restorations so as to avoid further degeneration of the tooth.

A tooth with root canal treatment means that the patient has lost the dental pulp (the tooth’s nerve and blood vessels). However, the rest of the dental structure is exactly the same as a tooth that has not been devitalized. Thus, it behaves like a healthy tooth and, in the same way, is also susceptible to caries. The same oral hygiene and care should be followed as in the case of the other teeth.

This can sometimes happen. In certain cases of endodontic treatment, small remnants of dental pulp can get left behind, which can discolor the tooth. Apart from this, if there is hemorrhaging inside the tooth it can result in the incorporation of blood pigmentation into the dental crown, which, when seen through the transparent layer of the crown, can result in a darker color. These pigments can be removed through a procedure of internal whitening.

Sealants are materials akin to a varnish that are placed over the more rugged surfaces of the teeth (grooves and fissures). These surfaces are difficult to maintain clean and the placement of a material that reduces the depth of the grooves also reduces the accumulation of bacterial plaque and, consequently, the prevalence of dental caries. The use of sealant helps to prevent tooth decay but does not mean that one should neglect common oral hygiene for the tooth where it has been applied.

Dental treatments should be postponed in the case of pregnant women, especially in the first and third trimesters, except in the case of emergencies. This situation is justified not just on account of the fetus but also due to the discomfort caused to the expecting mother by the position of the dental chair. In case it is absolutely necessary for a dentist to intervene at any stage of the pregnancy, there are procedures that have scientifically been proved to be safe. There are even certain kinds of anesthesia that are safe both for the expecting mother as well as for the fetus, which can be used without entailing risks for either of them.