Smokers, diabetics, the elderly, osteoporosis sufferers, and people who have had cancer are sometimes not eligible for dental implants as their bones do not properly integrate the new prostheses which are replaced at the root. Researchers from the Univerisitat Jaume I in Castellon, Spain have created an implant coated with a new biodegradable material for people who have a bone deficit.
The process will also increase the overall success of tooth implants even for individuals without bone disintegration. The current process involves a titanium radical replacing root of the tooth and it takes at least two months for the implant to be anchored to the jawbone.
The prototype developed will also decrease the waiting time after surgery so that patients can receive the ceramic crown which replaces the part of the tooth giving the patient the look and feel of an actual tooth.
According to the coordinator of the study on Polymers and Advanced Materials, Julio Jose Suay says, “it consists on covering the implant with a biodegradable coating that, upon contact with the bone, dissolves and during this degradation process, is able to release silicon compounds and other bio-active molecules which induce bone generation.”
The research from the study aims to improve the success rate of dental implants however the technology is still years from being implemented in the U.S. and European dental institutions.
If a lost tooth is not replaced with an implant the patient runs the risk of developing periodontal diseases like gingivitis and gum disease. Which can actually lead to the loss of more teeth, this is why it is important to replace teeth if they are lost. It is something of a domino effect.
