Tomas Stumbrys, Head of Papadent Dental Clinic, answers these and many other questions
Everyone wants the best result in the shortest possible time, but is it possible? Lithuanians living abroad often return to their home country not only for holidays, but also to visit dentists. There is a perception that all holidays are devoted solely to dental treatment, leaving no time for loved ones. What can be done to keep visits to the dentist as short as possible and to make sure that only one or a few visits are enough? Tomas Stumbrys, head of the Papadent dental clinic, says that patients who plan their visits in advance, consult online and by phone, spend much less time in the dentist’s chair, and the dentist is ready for the patient’s arrival.
How do I prepare for an implant procedure? Is it necessary to take antibiotics before the implant procedure? Deividas, 38 years old
The implantation procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, but if the duration of the procedure is long or complex, sedation is also used. No painkillers or antibiotics are prescribed before the implantation, but must be taken after the procedure and follow the doctor’s instructions. It is very important to have a professional oral hygiene treatment before the implantation to remove tartar and prepare the patient for the implantation.
Are implants placed in every tooth? If I don’t have 10 teeth in total, will I need 10 implants? Karolina, 67 years old
Implants replace the artificial tooth root. If several adjacent teeth are missing, then 2 implants are threaded and a fixed dental bridge is placed on top. If no teeth are present in the entire jaw, we can restore dental function using just 4 implants. However, if individual teeth are missing, then single implants can be threaded and fixed dental crowns can be placed. In this case, it is best to consult a dentist or send a panoramic CT scan of your teeth to be used to draw up a preliminary treatment plan.
I am very scared of the treatment, I haven’t been to the dentist since I was a child, can I have an anaesthetic? Juozas, 43 years old
All dental procedures can be carried out under sedation, which involves intravenous medication and local anaesthesia. The whole procedure is supervised by an anaesthesiologist. The patient relaxes, does not feel stressed and remembers almost nothing of the procedure, and wakes up feeling rested.
I lost my front tooth during the trauma, and now I wear a removable plate, but it falls off and is uncomfortable. Would it still be possible to have an implant? Marija, 21 years old
If you have lost a tooth recently, it is likely that the bone will not be numb yet and we will be able to place an implant straight away. Otherwise, if you have been missing a tooth for a long time, you may need to regrow the bone first and then have an implant. A CT scan can show the current state of the bone, and this will help to determine whether additional bone grafting will be needed before the implant is placed.
I would like to have the implant done in one day, as I will only be flying to Lithuania for the weekend. Is this possible? Deimantas, 35 years old
Implantation is usually done in one visit. If you still have a tooth or root that needs to be extracted, it would be replaced with an implant and, if it is an aesthetic area, a temporary crown would be placed at the same visit. This is called a single-mouth implant. In order to plan your treatment, you should first get a panoramic or CT scan before you register, once we have detailed information about the condition of the tooth and bone, we can prepare for the implantation and do it all in one visit.
I have chipped part of my front tooth and now I don’t smile because it is so visible. Will I need to have it removed? Are there other ways to fix it? Inga, 38 years old
The treatment of the tooth depends on the nature of the decay and the condition of the tooth itself. If the tooth has already been treated endodontically and the nerves have been removed, there is a chance that it will need to be removed, an implant threaded through and a fixed temporary crown placed. Otherwise, if the tooth has not been treated, the tooth can be restored with an aesthetic filling or a crown can be fabricated to strengthen the tooth and restore its former shape and function.
The dentists who examined my tooth, which needed root canal treatment, advised me to have it extracted and implanted. Can I consult you again? What information will I need for a consultation? Bronislava, 59 years old
If your dentists advise you to remove a tooth that needs root canal treatment, it is likely that the root of the tooth is cracked, but if you have a dental or panoramic CT scan of the entire jaw, we could give you a detailed description of the situation and provide you with a consultation and treatment plan.
All the bridges of the upper teeth have fallen out and the bone is severely calcified. Dentists in England say that there is not enough bone for implants. What can you suggest? Ernesta, 48 years old
At Papadent Dental Clinic, we use the 4-implant denture technique, whereby if you don’t have a single tooth, the entire jaw is replaced using just 4 implants. In 9 out of 10 cases, there is always enough bone. A CT scan shows the bone density and thickness of the jawbone, and we plan the implant placement according to each patient’s individual condition.
I have a responsible job and I communicate a lot with people. I have a bridge on several teeth that needs to be removed and implants threaded. I am very scared of having to go without teeth and I am procrastinating. What to do? Aloyzas, 31 years old
If the dental bridge is in the aesthetic zone, we use immediate implant placement, in which the current bridge or tooth roots are removed in a single visit, the implants are threaded in their place, and a fixed bridge of temporary teeth is placed. The people around you won’t even know you’ve had an implant because you won’t be without teeth for a single day.
If you would like to consult us about your dental condition, please contact us at info@dantugydytojas.lt and we will provide you with detailed information and a treatment plan.
