The Nobel Implant product line has again received a blow from one of the clinics that have been conducting studies to the effectiveness and possible success rates of the said implant technology. The Nobel system has been getting more and more criticism from general practitioners who have steadily been sending in reports that failures are on the rise and that the product has some design flaws that should be corrected. The Nobel Company has responded with statements and notes that failure is more on the side of the implantologist and not the product but dentists refute that specifying the fact that they have followed all standard protocol with respect to the implantation of their products. We will be following future developments on this issue for there are hundreds of thousands of people all over the world with this type of implant that may be at risk of implant failure.
There is some data that suggests there is a benefit for doing an implant procedure right after the tooth is extracted which is shown to increase osseointegration. The timing is the most critical factor and the implant should be inserted as soon as the tooth is pulled out improving chances of biointegration of the selected implant. Biointegration is the process by which implants (which are usually made of titanium) are placed into the bone which then forms a sort of plug around it. Using an electron microscope, researchers have found that the stability of the implant is only as much as the amount of bone that has grown between the space of the extracted tooth and the implant. The microscopic analyses of implant procedures also shows that the implant is not totally embraced by the bony tissue rather than a gap which is filled by the oxidized titanium (which is inert and does not affect the human body) which causes the adhesion strength required for success.
Researchers are beginning to investigate the possibility of using Nano-biomaterials as possible compounds to coat dental implants. These materials may speed up osseointegration of these implants into the bone structure leaving them as tough as the natural teeth we are born with. The major problem associated with dental implants is that they take quite sometime for them to be absorbed into the bony sub-structure of the jaw which is needed for stability of the implant itself. Nano-Biomaterials being natural may prove to be better than current sandblasted or plasma etched implants with regards to the healing time associated with them.
In some cases of endodontics, the gum line might be either too deep or the bone structure may not be good enough to hold up dentures. This is the case in many elderly people or for those who have had some trauma to the jaws which may leave them with permanent disfigurement of the underlying bone structure. Titanium implants are used in a process called denture stabilization to allow a set of standard dentures to sit on something durable and tough enough for daily use. This procedure has changed the lives of many who have had to do with ill fitting dentures that either fall off or create sores due to repeated rubbing with the gums which is not only painful but not acceptable. New titanium implant technologies have allowed the creation of seemingly natural teeth from porcelain or other composite materials, which are not only more durable than normal teeth but also allows resumption of normal life allowing food intake without previous inhibitions.
Dentistry is not far behind in terms of the application of some of the latest technologies for diagnosis and progress monitoring. Prexion Inc. has introduced the most advanced dental imaging tool in the form of their ‘Dental 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)System that produces high quality images comparable with it’s larger relatives used in medical diagnosis. It is a 3D Imaging system that produces high-speed scans in just 19 seconds to just under 30 seconds. It makes endodontics easier for the structure of the bone and other underlying structures can be studied well before the procedure itself. Data from the scans can also be put to use in the design of the future dental implants which would hasten the design process eliminating most of the guess work in fitting-adjusting them to the best possible fit.
Researchers and scientists in Europe have come up with a nifty alternative for people who have implants and need to take prescribed amounts of drugs during a specified period of time. The product, called “Intellidrug” is a dosing system that incorporates sensors, some electronics and a dispensing system all neatly packaged into two false molars that are easily accessible for maintenance or refill every two weeks. This could be the end of those pills that have to be swallowed (mostly by the elderly) by people who need to take medication at times and just keep on forgetting them. The system has two sensors, one that monitors the amount of drugs that are released into the mouth and the other measures the concentration of the drugs. The controllers (electronics) open and close the valves to release the drug in conjunction with the sensors. This is more suited for elderly and chronically ill patients allowing proper doses of drugs at the specified intervals.
Just like other aspects of medical tourism, this is a flourishing trade for in the Western world these procedures do cost a fortune. Many opt to have these procedures done by dentists who are referred by their own doctors or are referred by family and friends. The risks are quite high for that person (dentist) might not have the necessary requirements to produce acceptable work in accordance with the standards of his home country and many problems have arisen from such problem cases. These cases end up being re-done as the procedures were not done right or an infection had set in and was not recognized/detected early with the dentist in question continuing the procedure anyway. Make sure you get referrals and scrutinize the credentials of the dentist/s you are about to visit and try to compare the procedure with those being done in your home country to be safe and sure that you will be getting your money�s worth and for your medical safety.
The success of a dental implant procedure requires patience on the side of the patient and the implantologist (the guy who actually carries out the implantation procedure who is a specialty dentist with training and knowledge not only of the teeth and underlying structures but also the bones of the jaw). The implantologist has to drill just enough to obtain the desired results but not too aggressively that the growth tissue of the bone dies off preventing osseointegration. That is why a series of drilling sessions is required to minimize the risk of killing the bone cells that are responsible for creation and growth of new bone which is needed to embrace the implant itself for stability.
The process is called Osseointegration or the process by which the bone grows and attaches itself onto the implant as if it were part of the jaw structure. Titanium is not rejected by the body and has the same expansion ratio as normal bone. It is also strong and durable but quite expensive but no worry for due to its strength, not much is used for these dental procedures. The titanium screws/implants are roughened-up by sandblasting or plasma spraying which renders it the proper texture that would allow bone to anchor the implant securely. During the whole healing and treatment period, the patient is usually advised to avoid full mastication to prevent any irritation and infections to the treatment area.
This discussion is divided into four posts and will tackle in a general way how the process of dental implantation is done. New techniques of attaching dental implants, is sweeping the dental industry with the use of titanium-based dental screws or anchors as they are called. The past process of having to split the gingiva (gum tissue) and installing the screw is giving way to actual cutting of the jaw tissue with a round shaped blade that removes a plug of tissue to expose the jaw bone itself. The dentist then uses drills of increasing diameter (Not done in one treatment) to obtain the needed diameter for the insertion of the implant itself. The screw is then installed and the wound allowed to heal and the bone is given time to grow around the implant to make the structure sound and stable for the attachment of the crown.
The Nobel Implant product line has again received a blow from one of the clinics that have been conducting studies to the effectiveness and possible success rates of the said implant technology. The Nobel system has been getting more and more criticism from general practitioners who have steadily been sending in reports that failures are on the rise and that the product has some design flaws that should be corrected. The Nobel Company has responded with statements and notes that failure is more on the side of the implantologist and not the product but dentists refute that specifying the fact that they have followed all standard protocol with respect to the implantation of their products. We will be following future developments on this issue for there are hundreds of thousands of people all over the world with this type of implant that may be at risk of implant failure.
