Dental implants in Ireland

Dental Implants: past & present

Dr Richard Lee Kin from Mint Clinic based in Adelaide Road, Dublin 2 is an international author and most recently has published on the new periodontal classification. He is also a specialist in implant dentistry, this is a summary of a previous article entitled ‘Dental Implants – past and present.’

Despite their presence over a number of years, little has been reported about the demographics of implant placement in the Irish population or the complications that occur. Indeed, even though osseointegrated dental implants have been placed in Ireland since the 1980’s. There was no basic demographic data available regarding implant patients or the types of periodontal treatments they received. The Dublin Dental School & Hospital carried out a study from 2000 to 2006 to construct a database of patients’.

Its first aim was to begin documenting the implant patient population in Ireland. A total of 1,111 implants were placed in 452 patients over the study period. Half of the implants supported single crowns. While the other half supported mainly overdentures and full arch fixed prostheses, with few fixed partial dentures.

Only 5 % experienced implant loss and this finding is consistent internationally.

The number of implants placed each year reflects the ever-increasing popularity of implants as a treatment modality. It was noted that there was a seven-fold increase in the number of implants placed between the years 2000 and 2006 (Brennan et al ., 2009 ).

This study was conducted in a hospital setting, but similar increases have been noted in private clinics. In recent years, there has been growing demand in the number of patients having these procedures. This is due to the increase in dental clinics providing this service and advertising directly to the public Despite the many different types of implant systems available, clinicians in Ireland are in general choosing from a small number, around 5- 8. This is in part due to the type of courses organised locally and to the significant expenses involved.

Future problems?

With dental tourism growing and the sheer number of different implants being placed, problems are developing. Significant difficulty may be encountered in not only identifying the type of implant placed but the components needed should a problem develop. International studies have shown complications ranging from mild to severe in almost 80 % of implant patients.

Implants, like teeth can become diseased & if severe enough – even lost.

Today, with increasing numbers of patients receiving dental implants, it is imperative that all dental clinicians are competent in monitoring and maintaining dental implant health to detect possible diseases. There is also an onus of responsibility for patients to attend regularly and for their dental implants to be examined and monitored for early signs of disease.

Practice limited to Periodontology & Implant dentistry

56 Adelaide rd.,
Dublin 2
Ireland
PH: 01 – 6789904
WWW.MINTCLINIC.IE