The ITI DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM

 
The doctors of North Iowa Oral Surgery Associates P.C. utilize Straumann ITI dental implants. The ITI®DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM, developed and scientifically documented by the ITI and Straumann since 1974, is based on artificial roots which are firmly anchored in the jawbone to assume the function of natural roots for the fixing of crowns, bridges, or dental prostheses.

The ITI® DENTAL IMPLANT SYSTEM offers decisive advantages over other systems:

• one-stage operations (only one surgical intervention is necessary);
• a shorter healing phase;
• an earlier return to normal use of the teeth;
• lower treatment costs.

The system also enables a variety of prosthetic options, has an extremely long working life, and restores to the patient the feeling of "real" teeth.

Function and aesthetics of natural teeth

Our teeth are not only essential for life as chewing tools, but they are also an important element of our harmonious facial expression, and thus of our personal charisma.

Distinct, unmistakeable facial expressions and untroubled laughter are determined to a great extent by the appearance of the teeth. Healthy and cared-for teeth are a vital requirement for our aesthetic appearance and clear enunciation.

No matter what we do, the condition of our teeth is used as a yard stick, by which we and our life circumstances are judged, whether we like it or not!        

Tooth loss – what can be done?

In the course of life, teeth can be lost because of decay, gum disease, or accidents. The cosmetic defect due to the loss of a single front tooth often causes more trouble than the loss of a molar.

A missing tooth can become noticeable functionally and aesthetically, so that our eating habits and our outward appearance are impaired. We would like to have a dental replacement, which is as inconspicuous as possible, and which should correspond completely to the natural model in function and appearance.

Conventional methods – and their disadvantages

Natural teeth can be replaced by bridges or dentures. For bridges, healthy dental enamel has to be sacrificed by grinding the adjacent teeth.

The gap in the row of teeth is closed by an intermediate element; however, the lost dental root is not replaced, which has consequences for the jawbone, because this will "atrophy" with time – it lacks the pressure from chewing transmitted by the root, which normally stimu-lates it to constant regeneration.

Dentures lead to an inescapable atrophy, and the denture has to be constantly corrected. The result is a denture, which often fits poorly and this impairs many who wear dentures greatly in their quality of life; in the extreme case, this can go so far that they generally avoid social contact.

Dental implants – a "natural" solution

Dental implants are an effective replacement for lost teeth. As anchors
in the jawbone, dental implants form a stable foundation for permanent attachment of the crown; grinding of adjacent teeth does not take place, and loss of bone tissue by atrophy is prevented, since implants, as "artificial tooth roots", transmit the chewing forces into the jawbone.

A single implant as root substitute is the most elegant way of achieving a cosmetically ideal closure of the gap. In completely edentulous jaws, dental implants are a secure fixation method for removable full dentures and so spare the patients the usual disadvantages of conventional "false teeth".

How does a dental implant work?

The ITI dental implant is a screw-shaped buttress, which replaces the natural tooth root. The implant is inserted in the jawbone, where it will be firmly embedded in the bone after about 6–8 weeks.

During this healing phase, ITI dental implants are usually not covered by soft tissue, so a further surgical procedure is not required when the crown is attached. ITI dental implants are made from commercially pure titanium.

This material is integrated without complications by the body's tissues, no allergical rejection reactions occur. Firm anchorage in the bone and harmonious adaptation of the gum margin to the implant body result in a solid foundation for reliable and long-lasting dental substitution *

* Buser D, Mericske-Stern R, Bernard JP, Behneke A, Behneke N, Hirt HP, Belser UC,
Lang NP: Long-term evaluation of non-submerged ITI implants.
Clin Oral Impl Res 8: 161–172 (1997)

 

What conditions must be met for implantation?

When the body has finished growing and provided the jaw anatomy and general medical requirements are met, most gaps in teeth can be closed using dental implants.

Basic requirements for implantation are an adequate bone supply with regard to quality and volume, good oral hygiene, and normal wound healing capacity.

Before implantation, the natural teeth are rehabilitated, and any gum disease is treated and eliminated. Important factors of long-term successful implantation are conscientious oral hygiene and regular checkups with the dentist.

Major and minor bone grafting

Over a period of time, the jawbone associated with missing teeth atrophies or is reabsorbed. This often leaves a condition in which there is poor quality and quantity of bone suitable for placement of dental implants. In these situations, most patients are not candidates for placement of dental implants.

We now have the ability to grow bone where needed. This not only gives us the opportunity to place implants of proper length and width, it also gives us a chance to restore functionality and esthetic appearance. The bone graft procedures are referred to as:

Sinus lift procedure

This procedure involves elevating the sinus membrane and placing the bone graft onto the sinus floor, allowing implants to be placed in the back part of the upper jaw

Ridge-augmentation

In severe cases the ridge has been reabsorbed and a bone graft is placed to increase the ridge height and/or width.
 
These procedures may be performed separately or together, depending upon the individual's condition. There are several areas of the body which are suitable for attaining bone grafts. In the maxillofacial region, bone grafts can be taken from inside the mouth, in the area of the chin or third molar region or in the upper jaw behind the last tooth. In more extensive situations, a greater quantity of bone can be attained from the hip or the outer aspect of the tibia at the knee.

These surgeries are performed in the office surgical suite under I.V. sedation or in the case of major bone grafting, under general anesthesia in the hospital.

What costs can be expected?

Since every implantation represents a completely individual problem, and solutions are tailored to the special requirements of each single case, it is not possible to give general guide-lines concerning costs. The dentist will draw up a personal treatment and cost plan.

A highly elegant method

Several million patients world-wide can already report on the benefits of implant-supported tooth replacement.

Implants are increasingly recognised as beneficial alternatives to the more traditional methods of tooth replacement with their described disadvantages.

With conscientious care – ITI dental implants will give you the best functional and aesthetic service. The gain in personal quality of life is considerable * .

ITI dental implants have been in use for over 20 years on a scientific basis, and they have been subject to the strictest quality controls in research, development, manufacturing, and from the start.

* Burkhardt R, Marinello CP, Kerschbaum T, Andreoni CJ:
Psychologische und soziale Auswirkungen implantatgetragener Rekonstruktionen.
Acta Med Dent Helv, Vol 5: 1– 8 (2000)

Patient Experiences:

 

          
Edentulous patient (Patient with no teeth.)

Alfred B., 76 years of age. Retired

 

Alfred B. is not a stereotypical retiree. For Alfred, at 76 years of age, a four-day hike in the Swiss Alps is a 'walk in the park' as he puts it. Since his retirement, Alfred has made sure that he keeps as active as possible and in doing so has maintained his health. What had bugged him for years, though, was his full denture: it just never seemed to sit comfortably and chewing had become a constant problem.

Alfred maintains that "as anybody who wears dentures knows, the fit doesn't get better, it gets progressively worse." After having had his denture relined on numerous occasions, he decided he finally had to do something about the problem. Three years ago, a dentist friend suggested to Alfred that dental implants could solve the problem. Alfred hasn't regretted it since then and now claims, "For the first three days, I had slight gum pain, but since then I've had absolutely no discomfort whatsoever. Now I'm good for another 10 years!"

Since Alfred has had dental implants placed, which hold his denture firmly in place, he can even sit down to a good steak without worry of irritation.

           Missing single tooth

Isabella J., 38 years old. Teacher.

 

Isabella had lost her first upper molar due to decay, and had managed fairly well without it. When her dentist told her, however, that her second molar was also beyond repair, things took on a new perspective. Her first reaction was, "I cannot wear a partial denture, I'm only 38 years old and what will my students think of me."

The more she thought about a partial denture, the more it became a problem for her. Her dentist therefore recommended a fixed bridge be placed over the two small molars to replace the missing molar. Isabella's hesitation was that two healthy teeth would need to be cut back to replace only one of the missing teeth. A second option the dentist offered was that Isabella visit a colleague of his who was more specialized in dental implantology. Upon examination, it turned out that Isabella had adequate bone quantity to allow implants to be placed.

After waiting three months for the bone in the region of the extracted tooth to regenerate itself, two implants were placed in a 35 minute surgery. Six weeks later, the impressions were taken and Isabella had her permanent crowns cemented to the implants eight weeks after the implants had been placed. "The entire process was no worse than a normal visit to the dentist, and I couldn't believe that it was all completed within 8 weeks. The technology nowadays sure is amazing!"

 

 

           Accident

Gary N, 33 years old. Bank employee

 

After studying economics, Gary joined a renowned bank as an analyst. Since then he has started his climb up the corporate ladder. In his spare time, which he claims is never enough, Gary is an active mountain biker. This love of active sports is what brought Gary and Straumann together. Gary unfortunately misjudged the depth of a puddle during one of his 'biking tours' and ended up flying head over heals off his bike. He immediately tasted the blood in his mouth and knew that this time he'd done some damage.

A short assessment of the injuries showed a cut upper lip and a central incisor broken off below the gum level. Upon presentation at the local outpatients' dental department, his lip received three stitches, and Gary N. was informed all they could do for his tooth was to provide pain killers until he could visit his dentist the following day. Gary's dentist duly removed what was left of the root and started discussing treatment options with him.

For Gary, the treatment option was clear, an implant and as quickly as possible. As the removal of the root had not damaged the bone structure, Gary's dentist decided on an immediate implant placement. Since the front tooth region is aesthetically crucial, the implant was placed in a slightly subgingival position. After three months, during which time Gary wore a provisional plate, he received his crown.

As he says today,"Now that I have such a perfect 'new tooth' I can say that it was not that much of a problem. Thanks to the implant, absolutely nobody can see that I have a false tooth and I have perfectly restored function."