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There is a lot of hype, misinformation and other false promises that have unfortunately come to be associated with oral implants, especially when they are carried out as part of international medical tourism. This article will aim to focus on the fundamentals of dental implants Cambridge, how they work, and how to maximise your chances of success.

Oral Implants require a biological process involving bone and titanium called osseointegration. It is the same method that holds surgical pins in place, and that is why titanium has become the default surgical metal.

Osseointegration

Bone tissue is sparsely populated by living cells called osteoblasts that move around a lattice of calcium struts like scaffolders and excrete mucus high in calcium onto the structures, which are then catalysed into their final solid crystalline form.

Once a bone has been broken, fractured or otherwise disrupted, the particles of bone and inflammation makers are released by the tissue, which encourages the migration of osteoblasts to the area to begin repairs. In the case of dental implants Cambridge, the drilling and formation of the new socket is the stimulation that brings osteoblasts to the area. When osteoblasts arrive they come in contact with the titanium implant and begin to lay down and exert liquid bone. Unlike most metals, titanium can form biological titanium crystals as titanium atoms are part of several enzyme complexes. The liquid bone exerted by the osteoblasts adheres to the outer surface of the titanium making a strong connection and fusing the foreign titanium body into the structure of the bone.

The relatively slow growth of bone tissue is limited by its blood flow and metabolic activity and the number of osteoblasts present, which can vary greatly from patient to patient.

Quality of human growth factors, the ratios of oestrogen to testosterone, cortisol levels and diet will all play a role in how rapidly new bone is produced.

Maximising success

Osseointegration is a complicated process. It relies on a host of hormones and multiple different systems. Also, bone growth in adults is, in most situations, irrelevant and a commonly tolerated side effect of often-prescribed medications.

This is also true for medical conditions like diabetes and lifestyle factors like smoking which are particularly damaging to the healing tissues of the mouth, as they are directly exposed to nicotine and other vaso-constrictors in a vapour form in the mouth.

Guidance during this critical stage of dental implants Cambridge is a very important aspect of the entire process. If you are honest with our dentist and willing to make necessary adaptations, you can tilt the scales of fate and have a successful outcome. We can offer you advice and guidance on how to maximise the success of your oral implants during the 3-9 month stage where osseointegration is taking place.

This will require you to visit our surgery to undertake x-rays and checks of the gum tissue, so we can assess how well the gums are healing and whether or not osseointegration is occurring.