Dental Implant Specialist
Professor Dr. Janos Szabo
Professor Szabo has been setting Dental Implants since 1978.
He is regularly consulted by leading international manufacturers of Dental implants over the technical and practical aspects of their product development.
As head of the University Dental School at Pécs he has personally trained many of Hungary's top Oral Surgeons and is an acknowledged expert in the field of Dental Implants.
At his clinic in Heviz the Professor oversees implant surgery for a constant stream of patients from as far away as Australia, Canada, The USA, Japan and from across Europe, the UK and Ireland.
Candidate for Dental Implants?
Surprisingly few conditions indicate against having implants. You should however fully disclose all medical conditions to the Professor before going ahead with this procedure. It is also important to mention if you are a smoker!
What is an implant?
They are artificial 'roots' that we set into the jaw. They are then used to provide anchorage for a new dental crown or bridgework.
An implant on its own will not restore a lost tooth. You will also need an 'abutment' (or post) that screws into the implant together with a new crown which is cemented onto the abutment. When comparing costs it is important to find out the price of all three elements.
Are They reliable?
This procedure has been around since the mid 1960s and is still working effectively in many of the patients who had them fitted back then. As with all technologies, there has been a great deal of development since then and this is now a well understood stable and routine procedure.
Are there advantages?
An implant restoration will give your teeth a far more natural look and feel than the alternative options such as bridgework or dentures. The normal functions of chewing and biting will be the same as with natural teeth and you will not need to worry that they will come out when you eat, sneeze or laugh. They require only the same daily care as your own natural teeth.
Particularly in the case of upper teeth, this type of restoration will mean the taste of food is not impaired by a plate covering the palate.
Importantly they will help prevent the bone loss that normally arises when teeth are lost. This can lead to a partial collapse of the lower part of the face. It is this that causes many of the most apparent signs of aging.
The Process
This is done two phases, which must be separated by a 'healing period' of several months. During the first phase of treatment you will be thoroughly checked-over and a panoramic X-ray of your mouth will be taken. This will enable you and the Professor to plan your treatment in detail.
Next is the actual implantation procedure. This is carried out under a local anaesthetic and with a highly effective sedative as well.
The implantation operation is carried out under strict hygienic conditions. The Professor will open the gum at the site of the implant and, using a low speed drill will make a hole in the jawbone. The implant is screwed into place. A temporary healing cap is placed in its centre. The site of the implant is closed and sutured.
The Professor insists on making post-operative checks over the next few days and after the wound is healed will remove the stitches.
This completes the first phase. A healing period now follows. This is necessary so that the living bone can 'ossify' around the implant so that the anchor is really 'set' in place and better able to withstand the pressures exerted on it once the crown is attached.
After three / six months the second phase can begin. First the Professor makes a small opening in the gum to uncover the implant. The healing cap is removed and an 'abutment' or post is screwed into the implant. Impressions are taken of your teeth and gums. These are then sent to the lab who will use them to make the crowns or the bridge to your exact measurements.
When the lab has completed its work the Professor Szabo will fit the new crowns or bridge. Again, this is a quite painstaking process as your new teeth are adjusted to give the optimum bite.
The Professor may well want to see you the next day, after you have had some time to get used to your new teeth so that final adjustments can be made.
Is the procedure painful?
Implantation is usually carried out with local anaesthetic together with oral sedation. You will therefore feel neither pain nor anxiety during the procedure itself.
You should expect some soreness and probably swelling and bruising following the operation, this will be easily controllable with normally available pain killers. After two or three days you should feel no further discomfort.
How long does an implant last?
Implantation is a permanent way of restoring your missing. It makes a stronger bond with your jawbone than the roots of your natural teeth.
However, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene as periodontal disease can be as harmful as it is to your natural roots
Bone Grafting
Where teeth were lost some time ago and much bone has also been lost, Implantation is still possible; but the bone loss must be compensated for. The jawbone can be augmented with synthetic material to replace missing bone. With the upper jaw it may also be necessary to lift the floor of the sinus cavity to make room for the additional material.
Read More About Bone Grafting
Read More About Sinus Lift
