Dental implants are prosthetic elements that are used to replace missing teeth or to attach removable dentures. The implant is the infrastructure that  supports the crown or holds more firmly a removable denture. It resembles the root of the tooth and it is threaded or tapped into the maxillary bone. Implants are made of titanium which gives them an important characteristic:they can be “osseointegrated” to the bonei.e. the implant essentially becomes one with the bone.

Implants are  a  specialty at Drs. Pelcman’s Practice. Dr. Pelcman was a pioneer in implant dentistry. He began performing implants    in 1985, and   received  specialized training in the USA. He has been the representative in Argentina for Park Dental Research Corp., New York since 1992 . Dr. Pelcman has  successfully performed more than 40,000 implants    and numerous grafts and sinus lifts.

Reaching your Objectives

Fluent communication with the dentist. A clear and concise  communication with the dentist helps to assure the outcome that you are seeking. To help you with this, Dr. Pelcman and key members of his professional staff are fluent in English.

Understanding the limitations of the treatment, being realistic about expectations, and having a clear idea of what you want to achieve.

Your anatomic features play a role in the treatment. An evaluation by the dentist will determine if you have sufficient bone structure and quality to sustain  the implants. Grafts and sinus lifts (link) may be performed to make up for the lack of bone structure.  Dr. Pelcman is an expert in such procedures.with many years of experience.

Stages of the treatment

The treatment is divided into two stages. The first  corresponds to the insertion of the implants. For this part of the treatment you would need to stay in Buenos Aires for at least a week. The second stage includes  a waiting time of 3 months, after which you  return to Argentina in order to activate the implant and place the crowns (or removable denture). This waiting time is necessary to allow your bone to integrate with the implant.  The time that you would need to stay in Argentina for  this second stage depends on the number of crowns to be made (or  removable dentures) and normally ranges from one to two weeks.

During the 3 month waiting period, there are different options to mask the lack of teeth:
- you may wear your old denture after it has been adapted by the dentist once the surgery is over.
- if you don’t have a denture, a temporary removable denture may  be prepared.
- in some cases, temporary crowns may be attached to the implant after the surgery (immediate implants).

When large bridges have to be made and if the patient has   firm teeth or healthy roots, they may   be used as anchors for the bridge (this may present an advantage sometimes). In the case roots or damaged or restored teeth are used, a root canal and a post would have to be made.

In regard to  removable dentures, the second stage differs according to two different situations: when the patient has his own denture and wants to attach it with implants or  when the patient wants to have a new denture done. In the first case, the second stage consists of the activation of the implant and the installation of an attachment system. In the second case, the second stage consists of the   preparing a new removable denture and the installation of the attachment system.  

At Drs. Pelcman‘s Practice, Straumann (also known as ITI in the EU) implants from Switzerland and Nobel Biocareare used. In this particular situation, one of the many advantages of these brands of implants  is that they can be activated anywhere in the world . If you are later unable to travel  to Argentina, a qualified dental professional.  may complete the treatment in your home country

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Immediate and Mediate Implants

The treatment with implants can be classified as immediate or mediate. In the first case, a temporary tooth is attached to the implant  after it  is  inserted. Three months later, the crown is made for that implant. In the second case, the implant is inserted in the bone. Nothing will surface out of your gums and a temporary tooth will not  be attached until 3 months after the surgery (until the implant is osseointegrated). After the 3 month waiting period, the implant is activated - this means that the top of the implant is exposed and an abutment, the element that will join the crown to the implant, is threaded or cemented into the implant - and the crown is then made

You might wonder why dentists don’t always apply the immediate system as it is more convenient for the patient. Dentists always try to do the best for the patient, but the fact is that immediate implants are not always  the most appropriate solution. You can make an online consultation in order to know what treatment is best for your case here. 

Before the surgery…

Upon your arrival in  Buenos Aires you will have a first consultation with Drs. Pelcman's Practice. In this appointment, you will get to meet Dr. Pelcman and the staff, seethe facilities, and  pre-surgical studies will be performed. You will be given a complete briefing on the diagnosis, informed of the treatment plan and provided with a written cost estimate for the treatment.

During the surgery…

Anesthesia: the surgery for dental implants is performed with local anesthesia and under sedation (if necessary), assuring a pain-free procedure You will note that our surgery facilities and all surgical instruments are prior to each surgery completely sterilized and  protected to the highest professional standard.

The surgery for one implant normally takes no more than 30 minutes.

In order to  insert the implants, an incision is performed on the gums to expose the bone. Perforations are made with a surgical drill and the implants are threaded or tapped into the perforations. Finally, the incisions are closed with surgical stitches  that  will be removed 5 days after the surgery. 

After the surgery… 

Pain is usually low after this surgery and it is   controlled as required with analgesics that will be prescribed by the dentist. In order to reduce the inflammation, you can apply cold compresses on the face or you may  eat ice-cream,  placing  it so that it melts on the wound (of course the ice-cream is a more  entertaining  choice). If antibiotics are prescribed, take them as indicated. 

SINUS LIFTS AND BONE GRAFTS

Sinus lifts are surgeries with the goal  of increasing  the amount of bone in the back of the maxillary bone so that implants  may  be inserted. In bone graft surgeries, a piece of bone of the patient is relocated and attached with surgical screws to the desired area. The objective of this surgery is to increase the amount of bone. It can be use to insert implants or to heal bone defects (e.g. periodontitis).

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