Leading health experts in western countries are discouraging conventional dental implants that have low recovery rate, are more painful and costly.
Dr Oliver Hennedige, Director of the ICCDE College of Singapore and the ex-president of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation, stated this while speaking at a seminar here on 'Mini Dental Implants' (MDI), conducted by him on Sunday.
He said the dental surgeons of western countries have found a new technique known as 'Mini Dental Implants' (MDI) which is painless, has fast recovery ratio and less expensive. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in United States has also approved the new technique of MDI, he added.
Dr Oliver said that the advantages of MDI are that it is significantly less damaging and result in quicker healing and it is gaining greater acceptance by the professionals and being appreciated by patients.
While elaborating, he said, the conventional dentures rely upon the residual alveolar ridge and mucous for support and retention and many patients have problems adapting to their complete dentures, especially to its mandibular prosthesis. The widespread use of denture adhesives is one indication that these prostheses are inadequate for many denture wearers.
Numerous people wearing conventional dentures report that they cannot eat foods, particularly those that are hard or a bit solid. This forces the patients to change their diets in unhealthy ways and causes their nutrition to be poorer than that of people with natural teeth.
Two mandibular implant over-dentures have shown to be superior to conventional dentures in randomised and non-randomised clinical trials that ranged in duration from six months to nine years.
Regardless of the type of attachment system used (bar, ball or magnet), the patients are significantly more satisfied with two-implant over-dentures than with new conventional dentures, Dr Oliver said adding that the patients find the implant over-dentures to be significantly more stable, and they rate their ability to chew various foods as significantly easier.
In addition, the patients are more comfortable and speak more easily with implant over-dentures.
Dr Oliver said that various studies on different people have shown that ratings of quality of life are significantly higher for patients who receive two-implant over-dentures (opposing complete maxillary conventional dentures) than for those with new conventional dentures.
He said that there is now conclusive evidence that oral implants may be placed in a single-stage procedure, which reduces cost. Nevertheless, the total cost of providing mandibular two-implant over-dentures is certainly greater than for conventional dentures. However, the difference is not as large as one expects and could be made affordable to everyone who needs it.
The evidence in hand have suggested that the restoration of the edentulous mandible with a conventional denture is no longer the most appropriate first choice Prosthodontic treatment.
Earlier, in his welcoming speech the co-ordinator of the programme, Dr Salman Asif appreciated the speaker for his visit to Pakistan to train dentists about the latest technologies in the dental field and to provide better health services to the community.
A large number of people concerning dental hygiene attended the event.
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