Dental implants – using the team to prolong your treatment outcomes
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 1st July 2023
Patients suffering from the physical and mental ramifications of edentulism are granted a new lease of life when they undergo dental implant treatment.
Thanks to the continuous improvement and development of dental implant design and materials, patients can enjoy their new dentition for years, if not decades. As you know, patients play a key role in extending the lifetime of their investment. To support patients post-treatment, the dental team are a fantastic tool to ensure they have the know-how to keep their dental implants clean and healthy over the years.
Dental implant longevity – what we know
A recent study following the long-term performance of 10,871 implants over 22 years found that at an implant level (defined as ‘implant removal for any reason’), the ‘cumulative survival rate at 3, 5, 10 and 15 years was 98.9%, 98.5%, 96.8% and 94.0%’ respectively.[i] At patient level (defined as ‘the patient experiencing at least one implant failure during the follow-up period’), the statistics were ’97.4%, 96.7%, 92.5% and 86%’ at the same follow-up intervals.
These statistics highlight that dental implant survival is often high, but it also underlines the issues that can impact the dental implant’s longevity, ones that clinicians are continuing to battle against. This includes poor patient compliance, with habits such as smoking causing their implants to fail.i As you know, patient compliance and maintenance are crucial factors in the survival of the restoration, but often hard to implement as a professional. Most patients understand the risks, but there are still many who end up foregoing the advice and guidance their clinician offers them.
The role of the dental team
Prior to treatment, patients are informed of what is required from them once their implants are placed. But, as the years progress, it can be difficult to know if they are adequately caring for their oral health, especially if they do not continue with regular dental check-ups. Habits such as smoking only further put the dental restorations at risk, and devising ways of supporting patients when ditching the habit is not straightforward. The latest research continues to support the view that smoking has an adverse impact on dental implants and oral health in general.[ii] Research from the Faculty of Odontology in Sweden found that a higher degree of smoking correlated with a greater degree of marginal bone loss around dental implants.ii Poor oral hygiene continues to be another driving factor in the health and success of a patient’s dental implants. There are many reasons why a patient may struggle to maintain a thorough oral hygiene routine at certain points in their lives, whether due to circumstance, illness, mental health, diet or age.
To help patients care for their oral health and dental implants, the dental team plays a vital role. While patients are given all the information they need before and during treatment, the dental nurse, hygienist and therapist can ensure patients are continually supported in the months and years after their treatment. As such, it is key that the dental team have access to education resources to ensure their knowledge is clinically-relevant and up-to-date. The scope of practice for various members of the dental team mean they can be instrumental in supporting patients, and contributing to the high standards of your dental practice. It also helps to ensure that patients received more tailored communication, helping them understand their role in a way that is more accessible to them.
Prioritise education
It is essential to stay abreast of the latest conversations within the field of dental implantology – doing so will ensure your patients receive only the most cutting-edge information and care. Dental implants are a fantastic option for a range of patients, and by getting the whole team on board with patient education, the risk of restoration failure due to poor compliance can continue to be minimised.
Here at the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI), we are committed to providing outstanding support and education to members of the dental profession. Members have access to: free premium membership of Dentinal Tubules; free implant assessment template on Kiroku; discounted delegate rates for ADI events and access to the ADI Members’ Only Facebook Group. No matter the stage of your career, everyone is welcome at the ADI, for a brighter future of dental implantology.
The dental team form the bridge between patients and healthy restorations. When the team is well-versed in the ever-evolving field of implant dentistry, you can ensure their restorations are beautiful and long-lasting.
The ADI Team Congress 2023 will be held on 4-6 May at the Birmingham ICC. Visit the website for details in due course. ADI members get significantly discounted rates for all ADI events.
Amit Patel –
President of The Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) is registered with the General Dental Council as a specialist in periodontics. His special interests are dental implants, regenerative and aesthetic periodontics. Amit graduated from the University of Liverpool and completed a four year specialist training programme in Periodontics at Guy’s, King’s & St Thomas’ Dental Institute.
[i] French, D., Ofec, R. and Levin, L. (2021). Long term clinical performance of 10 871 dental implants with up to 22 years of follow‐up: A cohort study in 4247 patients. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research. [online] Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8359846/ [Accessed 24 Mar. 2023].
[ii] Ali, A., Al Attar, A. and Chrcanovic, B.R. (2023). Frequency of Smoking and Marginal Bone Loss around Dental Implants: A Retrospective Matched-Control Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, [online] 12(4), p.1386. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/12/4/1386 [Accessed 24 Mar. 2023].
