Osseointegration is the process by which a solid bond occurs between a dental implant and the patient’s natural bone. Or put another way, it is healing.
Although it may seem that this concept – together with that of dental implants – has been with us all our lives, the truth is that it is a discovery of the mid-20th century.
Specifically, it was not until 1952 that it was discovered that osseointegration would make it possible to fully develop the field of implantology.
Moreover, this healing is essential to ensure the success of dental implants.
How osseointegration was discovered
The discovery of osseointegration, as is often the case with the great discoveries of history, was completely fortuitous.
The origin of implantology as we know it today is due to the research of the Swedish professor and physician Per-Ingvar Brånemark.
Discoverer of osseointegration
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PER-INGVAR BRÅNEMARK
While studying the healing process in rabbits, he discovered by chance that the titanium optical chambers he inserted in his paws welded into the rabbits’ bone after some time.
In view of this reaction in the animals’ bone structures, the members of Brånemark’s team decided to implant titanium parts in their own forearms.
In this way, they demonstrated that osseointegration was sound in the human body as well.
Thus, in 1965, the idea of placing a dental implant to replace a missing tooth was developed and tested.
However, it was not until the mid-1980s that the practice of implant dentistry became widespread among dental professionals.
What is the implant osseointegration procedure like?
When a patient decides to have dental implants placed, and in order for a correct osseointegration to take place, several aspects must be taken into account:
Check the bone structure
Due to a missing tooth, the dental bone loses its natural stimulus and begins to resorb.
It is therefore essential for the implantologist to check that the bone structure has not been reduced.
If this has occurred, it will be necessary to perform a bone graft to ensure the good anchorage of the implant in the patient’s natural bone.
If this is not the case, the titanium screw will not be able to be properly anchored.
Take care of your mouth after surgery
Since osseointegration takes 3 months to finish, it is very important that you take extreme care of your teeth and gums hygiene.
Check the amount of space available
When a tooth is extracted, the space left by the root that used to occupy that tooth is different depending on the tooth.
While a canine has only one root, a molar can have up to three.
For this reason, when a dental implant has to be placed in the space previously occupied by a molar, it is necessary to wait for part of the bone to regenerate.
In this way, the professional ensures that osseointegration will take place without problems once the implant is placed.
Check for infections
It is possible that a person may need an implant due to the extraction of a tooth that had some kind of infection.
In such a case, the entire infected area will have to be cleaned to avoid any inconvenience during osseointegration and to prevent the implant from failing.
Healing of an implant
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OSSEOINTEGRATION
Determine the size, type and exact position of the future implant.
As well as the implantologist’s experience, it is essential to have the right technology for the surgery to be accurate.
In order to obtain as much information as possible before surgery, the doctor performs a 3D CT scan.
For cases in which more than two implants are to be placed, the technique of computer-guided surgery is usually recommended.
Thus, the operation is virtually planned by combining the CT information with the result of a 3D scan.
Knowing the patient’s medical history
Knowing what medications the person is taking, possible allergies or previous illnesses is essential for the proper development of dental treatments.
The osseointegration of a dental implant involves the durable bonding of the titanium screw with the patient’s natural bone.
Depending on the individual circumstances of each patient, the implantologist may prescribe the intake of a drug or antibiotic to avoid complications in the implants during the osseointegration process.
Once the optimal conditions for the intervention have been verified, the dental implant will be placed in the place where the lost tooth used to be and the osseointegration process will begin.
How long does osseointegration take?
The time it takes for a dental implant to osseointegrate completely is 3 months.
During the first 3-4 weeks after placing the screw, there is still no indication that the healing process has begun.
After 2 months, contact between the bone and the implant begins to be seen, with greater resistance and strength of union between the two.
After 3 months, the patient’s bone and the implant device are integrated together to form a solid and effective unit as a substitute for the root and the natural tooth.
From this moment on, it is possible to place the definitive dental crown, which will provide aesthetics and occlusal functionality to the smile.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS
Until this moment, the patient can wear a temporary cover so that the appearance of his or her teeth is not affected.
Factors influencing the failure of osseointegration of implants
The osseointegration process has a 97.5% success rate, however there are some factors that can cause the process to be unsuccessful.
This failure is commonly known as implant rejection, although it is not really an incompatibility with the body, but a poor healing.
Although it is unusual for implants to fail, there are some factors that can complicate the process:
Smoking
Smoking is a major drawback when it comes to proper osseointegration of the implant.
Nicotine slows down healing and can even cause the area to become infected.
Therefore, professionals recommend eliminating, or at least reducing, cigarette smoking for two weeks before and eight weeks after surgery.
In this way, the chances of rejection are equal to those of a non-smoker.
Osseointegrated implant
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DENTAL IMPLANT
Diabetes
Systemic diseases, such as diabetes, pose a risk to the osseointegration of implants.
Patients who do not have control over the condition may suffer from oral infections.
Oral hygiene
It is well known that poor dental hygiene can cause diseases such as gingivitis or even periodontitis, which put our natural teeth at risk.
And in the case of implants, inadequate implant hygiene can also cause diseases such as mucositis or peri-implantitis.
When this occurs, the inflammation produced around the titanium screw can jeopardize both osseointegration and implant survival.
Check-ups with the professional
To check that the healing process is going according to plan, the implantologist should periodically check the patient’s mouth.
That is why it is vitally important that the person attends the check-ups scheduled by the dentist, as they will help to prevent possible complications during the treatment.
As you can see, the discovery of osseointegration has made it possible for us to place dental implants with the techniques we know today.
Thanks to the development of technology, it is possible to use new techniques that facilitate surgery and the postoperative period for patients.
So, what are you waiting for to get your smile back?
