Dental implants in Munich – implant treatment at Gärtnerplatz

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant acts as an artificial tooth root and is firmly anchored in the jawbone. It can carry a single crown, a bridge or – where many teeth have been lost – implant-supported dentures.

Implants can therefore replace a single missing tooth, several teeth or even all the teeth in a jaw. When closing a single gap, there is usually no need to grind down the healthy teeth on either side.

Digital, guided implant placement

At our practice on Gärtnerplatz in Munich, we plan implants using modern three-dimensional X-ray imaging (cone beam CT, known in German as DVT). This lets us assess the available bone and important anatomical structures in three dimensions before the procedure, and plan the ideal position of the implant precisely.

Where appropriate, this digital plan can be transferred to a custom-made surgical guide. The guide then helps us place the implant in exactly the position determined beforehand on the computer. This allows us to work with particular precision and – depending on the clinical situation – can help to keep the procedure as gentle as possible.

What does implant treatment involve?

Every implant treatment begins with a thorough examination and individual planning. We assess the condition of your teeth and gums and the bone available, and decide together with you which implant solution makes sense. Depending on your situation, we supplement conventional X-rays with a three-dimensional scan (cone beam CT).

Whenever the anatomy allows, we place implants at our practice using a minimally invasive, guided approach. The position of the implant is planned in three dimensions on the computer beforehand and transferred precisely to your mouth using a custom-made surgical guide.

Because the key steps have already been planned digitally, the surgery itself can often be completed in a comparatively short time. In suitable cases, the implant can be placed through a very small opening, without the need to open up the gum over a large area. As a result, larger incisions and stitches can often be avoided.

Keeping the surgical intervention as small and as short as possible can help to reduce swelling and discomfort afterwards. Many patients find the days immediately after minimally invasive implant placement considerably easier than they had expected.

Once the implant is in place, there is – depending on your situation – a healing period during which the implant bonds firmly with the surrounding bone. After this, the final restoration is fitted as planned for you: a single crown, an implant-supported bridge or a more extensive restoration, for example. Under suitable conditions, immediate restoration is also possible.

Bone grafting for dental implants

For an implant to remain stable in the long term, there must be enough jawbone. Once a tooth has been lost, however, the bone can gradually recede. Anatomical factors – such as the position of the maxillary sinus in the upper jaw – can also limit the amount of bone available.

If there is not enough bone to place an implant safely, it can be built up beforehand or at the same time as the implant is placed. The right method depends on the shape and extent of the bone loss and on the planned position of the implant.

Depending on your situation, several approaches may be considered – from smaller local bone grafts and sinus lifts in the upper jaw to more extensive bone augmentation where bone loss is pronounced. Three-dimensional diagnostics allow us to assess the available bone precisely and plan any bone grafting individually.

Single-tooth implants – replacing one missing tooth

If only one tooth is missing, an implant can replace its root and then be fitted with a custom-made crown. One key advantage over a conventional bridge is that the healthy neighbouring teeth usually do not need to be ground down.

The implant takes over the role of the missing root and allows a fixed restoration that blends in as naturally as possible with your existing teeth, both in function and in appearance.

Several missing teeth – implant-supported bridges

Even when several neighbouring teeth are missing, each one does not necessarily need its own implant. Depending on your situation, a few implants can serve as stable supports for a fixed implant-supported bridge.

This means that larger gaps can also be filled with fixed teeth – without removable dentures and without grinding down healthy neighbouring teeth to support a bridge. The number and position of the implants are planned individually, based on the anatomical and functional conditions.

Implants for a jaw with no remaining teeth

Even if all the teeth have been lost, implants can provide a stable foundation for new teeth. Depending on your individual situation, both fixed and removable implant-supported restorations are possible.

The implants act as artificial tooth roots and give the denture a secure hold. Compared with a full denture that rests only on the gums, in particular, this can feel much more stable when you chew and while you wear it.

How many implants are needed and which restoration makes sense depends on several factors, including the available bone, the shape of the jaw, the functional conditions and your own wishes. Planning is therefore always individual and based on three-dimensional diagnostics.

Fixed teeth in one day – All-on-4 and All-on-6

If a jaw has few or no teeth left, a fixed restoration on a small number of strategically placed implants may be possible under suitable conditions. With the All-on-4 and All-on-6 concepts, a complete arch of teeth is supported on four or six implants respectively.

A particular advantage of this approach is that, if the implants have sufficient primary stability, they can be fitted with fixed temporary teeth immediately after the procedure. In suitable cases, you can therefore leave the practice with fixed teeth on the same day.

The implant positions are planned in three dimensions beforehand. Placing the implants in a targeted way makes the best possible use of the available bone, so that – depending on the anatomy – additional bone grafting can be avoided or reduced.

After the healing period, the temporary restoration is replaced with the final, custom-made teeth. Whether immediate restoration using the All-on-4 or All-on-6 concept is possible and sensible for you is something we decide after a careful examination and individual planning.

Implants for a better-fitting denture

A poorly fitting or loose denture can be a real nuisance when eating and speaking, and can affect your quality of life. Implants can give a removable denture additional support so that it sits much more securely when you chew and speak.

Depending on the bone and on your existing denture, just a few implants may be enough to improve its hold significantly. The implants and denture can be connected with special attachments or a bar, for example. You can still take the denture out for cleaning, but it is anchored much more securely in your mouth.

In suitable situations, mini implants may also be an option for stabilising an existing denture. Because of their smaller diameter, they can in certain cases be placed with a comparatively minor surgical procedure.

Which solution makes sense depends on the available bone, the condition of your existing denture and your own wishes. After an examination and, if necessary, three-dimensional diagnostics, we plan your restoration individually.

Frequently asked questions about dental implants

How long does a dental implant take to heal?

Once placed, a dental implant needs time to bond firmly with the surrounding jawbone. How long this takes depends on several factors, including the quality of the bone, the position of the implant and whether any bone grafting is needed. In many cases it takes several weeks to a few months. Under suitable conditions, an immediate temporary restoration may be possible.

Does having an implant placed hurt?

Implants are placed under local anaesthetic, and the procedure itself is usually not painful. Thanks to our digital planning and, wherever possible, our minimally invasive, guided approach, the surgery can often be kept small. This can also help to reduce swelling and discomfort afterwards. Under suitable conditions, larger incisions and stitches are often unnecessary.

When is bone grafting needed before an implant?

An implant needs enough jawbone to remain stably anchored in the long term. If there is not enough bone, bone grafting may be required. Whether bone needs to be built up, and to what extent, is something we assess on the basis of a clinical examination and – if necessary – three-dimensional X-ray diagnostics. Smaller bone grafts can often be carried out at the same time as the implant is placed.

How long does a dental implant last?

Dental implants are generally intended as a long-term solution. How long they actually last, however, depends on various factors – in particular oral hygiene, regular professional aftercare, the health of the bone and gums, and individual risk factors. It is therefore not possible to predict their lifespan reliably in general terms.

Can I have a fixed tooth straight after the implant is placed?

Immediate restoration is possible under certain conditions. The deciding factors include the quality of the bone, the stability of the implant once placed and the particular loads it will bear. In suitable cases, the implant can be fitted straight away with a fixed temporary tooth. For more extensive restorations, this can be done as part of an All-on-4 or All-on-6 concept, for example.

Do I need a cone beam CT (DVT) for every dental implant?

No. A three-dimensional X-ray is not needed for every implant. A cone beam CT can, however, be useful or necessary when anatomical structures, the available bone or the planned position of the implant need to be assessed in three dimensions. For computer-assisted, guided implant placement, three-dimensional diagnostics are an important basis for planning.

Are dental implants still possible later in life?

There is no fixed upper age limit for implant treatment. Far more important are your general health, your oral health, the available bone and your individual circumstances. Later in life, too, implants can be an option for replacing lost teeth or for significantly improving the hold of a denture.

How much do dental implants cost?

The cost of implant treatment depends very much on your individual situation – in particular on the number of implants, the type of restoration, the diagnostics required and whether any bone grafting is needed. Once we have examined you and planned your treatment, we can establish its scope and draw up an individual cost plan for you.