Dental implants – what’s the buzz?
Tooth loss – whether it’s a single tooth or complete edentulism is an irreversible and debilitating condition. Or is it not? If we stop to think about the impact the use of dentures has on one’s life, or on how much the absence of one or more teeth limits one’s normal day-to-day life, we will definitely tend to agree with this statement. However, in the present day, is it accurate to say that edentulism is irreversible? We say, no. Dental implant surgery has become the standard of care for individuals with lacking dentition. There is nothing notoriously new about dental implants – we are not defending a new trend, a controversial procedure or trying to instigate any kind of revolutionary treatment. Dental implants have been used for decades and allow for the fixed replacement of missing teeth with solid, well-documented results. And if we consider that people live longer and stay active longer, shouldn’t they do so looking and feeling better about themselves? 30 years ago, it wasn’t very common to have older adults looking for dental implants, but today it’s perfectly standard and valid to have people in their 60’s, 70’s and even their 80’s wishing to replace old dentures or failing teeth with dental implants.
In our quest for providing a differentiated treatment for each individual we are well aware of all the new, important scientific and technological advances in our field and follow each innovation closely.
When it comes to implant treatment, we always underline that we´re not embarking on a journey with an ambiguous end-result. We make it clear for our patients that despite the on-going investigation in turn of implant surfaces, improving the cells response to titanium and some bioengineering research refining the material’s performance, the essence of dental implants as lost teeth substitutes has remained the same for decades and that is an undeniable mark of its reliability.
Technology and clinical experience do give us very comfortable anchors, of course. Implant surgery is now planned with 3D imaging and implants can be previously chosen according to the patient’s characteristics. All these factors permit us safe, comfortable, painless, and reliable surgical and restorative procedures allowing the replacement of a failing or non-existing dentition for an implant supported fixed bridge, in many cases within the same day.
At Vitra Clinic we believe that the human factor in this equation is irreplaceable. Implant surgeries – be it full-arch, with the immediate replacement of all teeth, or partial, localized replacement of individual missing teeth, all are performed by our experienced Dr Sergio Sousa who is, not only a dentist with a vast experience as an oral surgeon but also a medical doctor, which contributes toward a more integrated, cohesive understanding of each patient’s specific needs. The rehabilitation is then completed with special attention given to aesthetics and function by Dr Ana Pragosa, with over 20 years of experience in restoring lost dentitions.
So what sets Vitra Clinic apart? In short, we would answer our team and our attention to detail. Each individual member of this team contributes unequivocally towards offering our patients the best experience and final outcome of their treatment. Whether it’s the availability and efficiency of the front desk, the support and competence of our dental nurses or the experience and comprehension of our doctors – everyone is committed to being there for the patient.
