Dental Implant in Thailand

There are four main types of Dental Implants:

1. Two-Stage Dental Implants:

This type of implant requires surgery to place the dental implant into the jaw bone. After letting the mouth heal for a few months, the patient is required to go back in for another minor surgery and expose the implant and attach the dental implant abutment and temporary crown or restoration.

2. Endosteal/Endosseous Dental Implants:

Implants are placed into the jaw bone and are usually placed in the aforementioned two-stage treatment option. These types of dental implants are often used in place of a bridge or denture.

3. Single-Stage Dental Implants:

This type of dental implant involves placing a longer implant into the jaw and gum so that the top of the implant is exposed. This allows the dentist to go into the mouth after several months of healing and place the abutment and restoration right onto the implant without having to surgically expose the dental implant again.

4. Subperiosteal Dental Implants:

Implants are placed into the jaw bone and the metal post is exposed to hold the restoration. These types of dental implants are most often performed in the single-stage treatment. 

Implant surgery is a three-step process:

1. First, a dentist surgically places an implant directly into the jawbone, positioned like a natural tooth root (Root Canal). The implant will usually remain covered for three to six months to allow bone to develop around the implant to help hold it in place.

2. Once bone has developed, the dentist uncovers the implant and attaches an extension, called a post. The surrounding gum tissue then needs to heal — a process that typically takes several more months.

3. Once healing is complete, the implant is ready to serve as a foundation for the new tooth. The dentist makes a crown (or other artificial tooth replacement) and attaches it to the implant post.

The entire process can take five to nine months to complete, depending on the patient’s situation and speed of healing. Dentists typically give specific instructions on how to care for dental implants. It is important to follow these instructions carefully.

Additional factors to consider:

1. Recovery time and Risks:  Placing an implant is often easier than taking a tooth out and is usually performed using a simple local anaesthetic, injected into the surrounding gum. You will not feel any pain at the time but, just like after an extraction, you may feel some discomfort during the week after the surgery.

How well you look after your implants and whether you go for your regular maintenance appointments, will have the biggest impact on how long they will last.

If you don't look after your implants they will develop a coating similar to what you get on neglected natural teeth. Left untreated, this can lead to gum infection, bleeding, soreness and general discomfort. You could get all these problems with natural teeth.

If your implants are well looked after, and if the bone they are fitted to is strong and healthy, you can expect them to last for many years. However, just as with other surgical implants (such as a hip replacement) there is no lifetime guarantee.

2. Patient reviews often highlight the confidence boost achieved over the physical appearance.