My teeth
How a dental implant solution can help you
Complete yourself and start your new life without dentures.
What is a dental implant solution?
If you're unhappy with your dentures or toothless jaw, a dental implant solution might be an alternative.
Teeth that look and feel like your own
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium which replace your missing teeth. The dentist inserts the implants into your jaw bone, where the titanium then fuses with the bone.
Just like your tooth root did before, these implants then build a stable base for a bar, an overdenture or other types of restorations, which will become the visible part of your new teeth.
Dental implants are very small, normally around 10 mm long and only 3-5 mm wide at the top.
Dental implant solutions
Usually each tooth is replaced with one implant per tooth. But if you need to replace many missing teeth or even an entire jaw, there are other solutions. Depending on the condition of your jaw bone and gum, as little as two to four dental implants can already restore your upper or lower jaw with a set of fixed teeth. Often this can be more cost-effective for you.
Click on the image to learn more about which dental implant solutions are available.
Why choose a dental implant solution
Dental implants are widely considered to be the most successful method of tooth replacement used today, because they offer a number of important benefits to patients.
A natural smile
A modern dental implant solution looks and feels just like your natural teeth. Its color, shape and contour is made to match that of your former teeth. The result is a natural smile that will bring back your confidence and quality of life. With your new teeth sparkling on the outside, you will soon feel a smile coming back on the inside.
Eat and speak normally
Did you have to give up some of your favorite dishes since you lost your teeth? Or do you feel self-conscious when talking, because your dentures make it more difficult to speak clearly? A dental implant solution can bring back the full function of natural teeth. So no matter how hard, crunchy or sticky the food, dental implants can put it back on your menu. And they can restore your clear speech for long chats with your friends.
Healthy jaw bone and teeth make your face look younger
Dental implant solutions stimulate your jaw bone, which might have suffered during years of badly fitting dentures. Dental implants trigger a process called osseointegration (from Greek osteon, bone) in your jaw bone, during which the implant integrates with the bone and maintains existing levels of bone.
And there's more good news! Sufficient amounts of jaw bone, and a full set of teeth supporting your lips from the inside, can give you a more youthful appearance.
Stable and comfortable fit
Forget about uncomfortable, moving dentures. Since dental implants are fixed to your jaw bone, this solution is more stable and more comfortable than dentures. On top of that, dental implants are made of biocompatible materials, which means that your body tolerates them.
A long-lasting and proven solution
Dental implants are very durable. With proper care and good oral hygiene, implants will last for many years or even a lifetime. Decades of research have gone into their functionality and stability, ever since the first patient received modern dental implants in 1965. And they are constantly being developed further.
Cost-effectiveness
Implant treatment can be considered a long-term investment into your health and your wellbeing - in short, an investment into your life. Compared to other restorations, costs can seem higher at first glance. However, higher maintenance costs, the potential increase in lost jaw bone and, ultimately, the loss of even more teeth can make other restorations more expensive in the long run.1,2,3,4
What does treatment look like?
Diagnosis and treatment planning
Your dentist will first examine your dental situation carefully to decide if you meet prerequisites for dental implant treatment. It is essential that your gums and jaw bone are free from inflammation. If necessary, these conditions are treated prior to surgery.
During diagnosis, the dentist also evaluates what type of jaw bone you have and how much of it is left. After years of living with missing teeth, your jaw bone can sometimes be severely reduced. In this case, your dentist will discuss alternative procedures with you to make dental implant treatment possible.
Your dentist may opt to use digital tools to plan your treatment by generating an exact 3D image of your mouth. This will help the dental team immensely during surgery, because it helps them find the best angle and depth for your implant.
Placing the implant
Implant placement usually is an outpatient procedure. Depending on the individual situation in your mouth, implants are placed in a one or multiple-step procedure.
Final restoration
After surgery, your dentist usually places a temporary restoration while the implant integrates with the jaw bone. The integration of implant and bone is called osseointegration (from Greek osteon, bone). Depending on your individual situation, it can take from a few weeks to a few months. In the meantime, your dentist will work with a dental laboratory to design and manufacture your final restoration.
Nobel Biocare implants are designed to maximize the opportunity for Immediate Function. This means, your dentist will often be able to place a temporary restoration already on the day of surgery, you can leave with a provisional set of fixed teeth and reduce the number of visits to your dentist.
A number of conditions have to be fulfilled here. Speak to your dentist to find out if it is possible in your case.
The All-on-4® treatment concept
The All-on-4® treatment concept is a dental implant solution strategically designed for toothless jaws. If you are unhappy with your dentures or no longer want to live without teeth, it might be the right solution for you.
With only four dental implants, the All-on-4® treatment concept can restore a complete jaw of missing teeth.
This technique offers you several advantages:
Shorter treatment time, lower costs
The low number of implants needed for the All-on-4® treatment concept considerably reduces treatment time and often makes this solution more cost-effective than comparable treatment alternatives.
A very elaborate way of placing implants at the back of the mouth also makes it a treatment option for patients whose jaw bone is severely reduced after years without teeth.
Fixed teeth from day one
Depending on your individual dental situation, your dentist can connect your implants to a temporary bridge on the day of surgery. This means you can leave the dental office with a full set of teeth and return to leading a normal life. After a certain healing time, your dentist will exchange your temporary bridge with the final bridge created by a dental laboratory.
Speak to your dentist to find out, if the All-on-4® treatment concept is the right solution for you.
Testimonials
“When I saw my smile for the first time, I was in a state of shock. A few moments went by, and then the tears started rolling down my cheeks. I had regained my smile, but more importantly, I knew that I was about to reclaim my confidence.“ Deborah, US
“The All-on-4® treatment concept was absolutely the perfect solution for me. Since this surgery I have been able to eat anything I want without being afraid. I should have done this before. Thank you team, they were incredible!“ João, Portugal
Trefoil™
The Trefoil system is a unique new solution for the lower jaw. For patients it’s fast and straightforward – you need just three implants to support all your new lower teeth.
Fast treatment
Some treatments may require you to use temporary teeth for weeks - or even months - after the implants are placed. The Trefoil system bypasses temporary teeth and is designed to offer people the possibility of new, life-changing teeth in just one day or a few days after implant placement.5
Renewed quality of life
Your new teeth function as soon as they are placed, so you can eat, speak and smile on the same day. Your dentist will offer advice on whether to wait before eating certain foods. People see a notable improvement in their quality of life with the Trefoil system,6 and it’s an improvement that starts right away.
Teeth that look and feel natural
The prosthesis that is securely fixed to the dental implants is designed to look and feel like natural teeth, and people who have been treated with the Trefoil system have been highly satisfied with how their new teeth look and function.6
Speak to your dentist to find out if the Trefoil system is the right solution for you.
Testimonials
“Trefoil was a radical change for me. With my old dentures I had to eat in small bites; I had to chop everything. And I never had peace of mind because it moved. Now I enjoy eating apples, I can chew peaches, and I can eat meat again. With Trefoil I can laugh with my mouth open again! I am happy, and I recommend Trefoil to anyone who can have it.“ Nancy, Chile
“I struggled for years with broken painful teeth and dentures that really didn’t work. In no time at all I have these perfect teeth that already feel just like they are mine. I can’t wait to have implants for my top teeth too!“ Frank, Australia
Vogel R, Smith-Palmer J, Valentine W. Evaluating the health economic implications and cost-effectiveness of dental implants: a literature review. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2013;28:343-56.
Palmqvist S, Owall B, Schou S. A prospective randomized clinical study comparing implant-supported fixed prostheses and overdentures in the edentulous mandible: prosthodontic production time and costs. Int J Prosthodont 2004;17:231-5.
Attard NJ, Zarb GA, Laporte A. Long-term treatment costs associated with implant-supported mandibular prostheses in edentulous patients. Int J Prosthodont 2005;18:117-23.
Stoker GT, Wismeijer D, van Waas MA. An eight-year follow-up to a randomized clinical trial of aftercare and cost-analysis with three types of mandibular implant-retained overdentures. J Dent Res 2007;86:276-80.
Depending on clinician preference and close cooperation with the laboratory.
Data from the first year of an ongoing study into clinical outcomes of the Trefoil system (2017). https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02940353.
Treatment with dental implants is a surgical procedure and requires prior evaluation by your dentist to make sure