Medical travel

For quite some time we see the trend, that elderly people want to enjoy their lives in every aspect. Limitations like our grandparents took for granted are not accepted so easily anymore. Quite rightly so too! Elderly people view one as one of the fundamental confinements the loss of teeth, as we found in several studies, which results in the necessity of a dental prosthesis. Until recently this was the only solution to the problem. “Previously implants were no option for elderly patients with diabetes, osteoporosis or other typical diseases”, states Prof. Dr. Georg Mailáth-Pokorny one of the founding members of the Viennese Academy for oral Implantology.

Not only a Question of Aesthetics
The prime function of dental implants is certainly not only aesthetics. Although it is one aspect, more importantly beautiful, looked after teeth are an important part for most people’s psychological well being. The relevance of this subject reaches much further. Latest studies show that around 50% of “false teeth” are not perfectly functional. The chewing force is limited and therefore food is not sufficiently chewed or spiked with enough saliva. This again results in a lack of vitamins and microelements, our intestines should store and our body needs. Slowly and unconsciously the patient changes his diet to soft and calorie rich food with little nutrition, and as a result eats less fibres and vitamin rich food. “This results in malnourishment and often overweight. Some loose the pleasure of eating, which results in under nourishment. Both cases have a grave influence on the general health. This is a fact and has to be taken seriously. To this day dental Implantology is slightly rejected or repressed by the geriatric medicine – this is where education is desperately needed”, stresses Dr. Rudolf Fürhauser, also founding member of the Academy for oral Implantology.

Dental Implants instead of Dental Prosthesis
Generally about 6-10% of the entire population is toothless in both jaws. The number of people concerned increases hugely if we take all those in consideration who need to wear dental prosthesis because of just one edentulous jaw or a number of missing teeth. 30-60% of all elderly people over 70 years old have at least one edentulous jaw. A lot of elderly people do not want to accept this situation. “We note a constant rising number of patients, who are over 70 years old. We treated about 2000 patients with implants since the foundation of our Academy in 2004, of which about 155 patients
were over the age of 70 years; some even over 80” says Prof. Dr. Georg Mailáth- Pokorny. This shows that elderly people rethink their situation. Thanks to new implant surfaces the adsorption into the bone is quicker and better, the preparation techniques, which can specifically be adapted to the bone quality, as well as special implant designs, the success rate lies at over 95% says Prof. Mailáth- Pokorny.

Osteoporosis Extends to the Jawbone
A lot of elderly people are affected by osteoporosis. Until now it was thought that osteoporosis has no affection on the jawbone. Therefore this was not considered in regards to dental implants. One of the first studies worldwide on this topic undertaken by the Academy for oral Implantology in cooperation with the syndicate for osteosynthesis, experts studied
the consequences of osteoporosis on the skull by means of animal experiments. “Comparing the skull of sheep with and without osteoporosis showed positive changes in both the upper and lower jaw. We were able to prove these changes in
the edentulous jaw as well as in those areas of the jaw where dental roots were existent. There was a definite loss of bone”, states Prof. DDr. Robert Haas, founding member of the Academy for oral Implantology. At the moment the Academy for oral Implantology in cooperation with colleagues of the University Hospital in Vienna studies the consequences of osteoporosis on the human jawbone. Final results are not available yet, but intermediate results prove
the observations made on animals. Prof. Mailáth-Pokorny adds: “We have an explanation - and we are convinced of this
– for the bad bone quality in the upper less akinetic jaw. The osteoporitic process in the jaw of an elderly person is the reason for the so far less successful results on implants, whereas good results were achieved in the hard bone of the lower jaw. “

Criteria for Successful Implantations for the Elderly Patient
Especially in recent years science achieved a well-grounded insight into  mechanisms, which cause a dental implant firm footing in the jawbone. “We call the sum of all facts, which lead to the firm footing of implants with functional loading, Osseo integration. Today we know exactly its course and the difference between a healthy and osteoporotic jawbone. With this knowledge we are able to adjust and achieve a high success rate also with the elderly patient”, tells us Univ.
Doz., Dipl.Ing. Dr. Reinhard Gruber (Department for Oral Surgery of the University Hospital in Vienna).
The most important facts for success:
Firm footing (stability) of the implant in the jawbone – essential, especially for the less firm bone of the elderly patient.
Various healing times for the implant depending on the bone quality.
Individual biology (biological age). Illnesses of the patient and their influence on the bone quality. “All this means that we have to tailor an implantologic therapy for each patient depending on the biological state and the prime illness.” (Prof. Mailáth-Pokorny).

Is It Possible to Change After Some Time from Dental Prosthesis to Dental Implants?
Wearing a dental prosthesis for a longer period of time leads to bone loss. Usually under these circumstances it is necessary to rebuild bone structure of the jaw before implants can be inserted. Prof. Mailáth-Pokorny: “We use modern procedures to rebuild the bone structure with the relevant bone substitutes together with or without autologeous bone after a longer time of having worn dental prosthesis in order to build up the lost bone structure.”

Why Dental Implants Are Worth Considering in Comparison to Dental Prosthesis …
Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth.
Dental prosthesis leads to the loss of the natural proportions of the face – the face height reduces, the face seems old. Implants give back the natural chewing force and works against an elderly looking face.
With dental implants it is (again) possible to speak, laugh, kiss and eat whatever you wish, just as it once was.