What Are Dental Implants? Benefits, Types and Procedure

Dental implants are a modern tooth replacement solution that surgically places titanium posts into the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots, topped with an abutment and a porcelain crown. This approach restores near-full masticatory function, prevents jawbone resorption and preserves long-term facial aesthetics. Currently, the cost of implant treatment typically ranges from 20,000,000 to 390,000,000 VND, depending on the surgical complexity, implant type, whether it is a single-tooth or full-arch restoration, and individual patient needs.

Thoroughly researching dental implant solutions is a crucial first step toward restoring your chewing function and regaining a confident smile. Join Platinum Dental as we explore everything you need to know about dental implants including the structure, procedure, benefits and costs in the comprehensive guide below.

1. What are dental implants?

Dental implant (also known as Implantation) is the most advanced method of restoring missing teeth today, using Titanium posts implanted directly into the jawbone. After the post is firmly integrated with the bone, a dental crown will be placed on top, recreating a complete tooth in structure and function that ensures chewing function, aesthetics, and feeling almost like a natural tooth.

2. What is the structure of dental implants?

A complete dental implant consists of three main components that are firmly connected to one another: the implant post, the abutment and the porcelain crown. Let’s take a closer look at the technical characteristics and main roles of each component below.

2.1 Porcelain Crown

This is the artificial tooth body that is fixed on the implant through the abutment joint, perfectly recreating the chewing function and natural appearance. The dental crown is usually made of solid porcelain or a combination of porcelain and alloy, with a hollow design inside to closely fit the joint. The shape, color, and size of the dental crown are individually designed to harmonize with the remaining natural teeth, bringing an aesthetic and natural smile.

2.2 Abutment

Abutment is the connector piece, connecting the implant post and the dental crown above, helping to form a unified body and ensuring its tightness and firmness. Abutment is often straight or inclined depending on the position and aesthetic requirements, typically made of Titanium, precious metals or Zirconia – materials with high durability and load-bearing capacity to ensure long-term life like implant posts.

2.3 Implant Post

This is an artificial tooth root, shaped like an elongated cylindrical post, made of Titanium – a biological material that is highly compatible with the body. The surface of the implant post is often designed with spiral grooves or roughened surface to optimize the ability of jawbone osseointegration. The implant post is placed directly into the position of the missing tooth, acting as a solid “new tooth root” and the foundation to support the dental crown or dental bridge above. In the current market, there are many different types of implant posts in terms of brand, origin, and technical characteristics.

3. Who needs dental implants?

Dental implants are an ideal solution for adults missing one or more teeth due to trauma, severe decay or periodontal diseases seeking a stable, permanent restoration. More specially, an experienced implant dentist typically recommends this method for the following cases:

• People who lose one tooth, several teeth or the entire jaw, making it difficult to chew and affecting daily activities, facial aesthetics, and confidence in communication.

• People who face long-term tooth loss leading to jawbone loss, causing sunken and sagging face and making the face look older than its actual age. Implants not only restore teeth but also help prevent jawbone resorption and maintain facial structure.
• People with weak teeth or adjacent teeth that are not strong enough to have a dental bridge. In this case, dental implants are the ideal solution because there is no need to perform tooth reduction, thereby preserving the maximum amount of natural teeth.
• People who have undergone dental restoration using traditional methods such as removable dentures or bridges but may experience damage, looseness, infection, or have had to face multiple adjustments, causing inconvenience and unnecessary expenses.

4. Benefits of dental implant

Dental implants are widely recognized as the most effective solution for anyone who has lost their teeth with many outstanding benefits such as restoring up to 99% of chewing ability, preventing jawbone loss, preserving facial structure and providing a natural, aesthetic appearance similar to real teeth.

4.1. Near-total restoration of chewing function

Dental implants are designed to look exactly like natural teeth, with Titanium posts implanted directly into the jawbone, ensuring absolute enduring strength. Thanks to that, patients can comfortably chew all kinds of chewy or hard food without worrying about slipping, loose, or uncomfortable teeth like when using removable dentures. Clinical studies show that the ability to restore chewing function can reach 99% compared to natural teeth.

4.2. Prevent jawbone resorption and protect facial structure

When a tooth is lost, the jawbone in that position will gradually disappear due to the lack of stimulating force from the tooth root. Implant dental teeth help overcome this by integrating the Titanium post with the jawbone, acting as a “biological tooth root” to maintain bone density and effectively prevent jawbone resorption. Thanks to that, the facial structure is maintained, limiting the condition of sunken and sagging cheeks or premature aging.

4.3. High aesthetic value and natural beauty like natural teeth

Dental crowns are made from high-quality materials such as Zirconia, Emax… with colors and shapes personalized for each customer to ensure absolute harmony with the remaining teeth. In addition, the gum also adheres closely to the dental crown like natural teeth, making it difficult for people to distinguish which is a fake tooth. This is a factor that helps customers feel more confident in communication and always have a naturally radiant smile.

4.4. Long-lasting and sustainable results

With the safe material Titanium, dental implants have a very long service life, which is 20 years or more on average, and can even be used for a lifetime if properly taken care of. Compared to traditional methods such as dental bridges or removable dentures, dental implants are not only more durable but also reduce the risk of requiring repeated treatments.

4.5. Maximum natural tooth preservation

The big advantage of dental implants is that it does not affect adjacent teeth. While the method of making a dental bridge requires tooth reduction to make posts, implants are placed independently at the position of missing teeth. This helps to preserve the remaining natural teeth to the maximum, keeping the teeth healthy for a long time and reducing the risk of complications.

5. Dental implant procedure and treatment duration

The medically standardized dental implant procedure consists of five basic steps: a general examination, implant placement surgery, placement of a temporary crown, monitoring of the healing process, and completion of the fixed crown restoration. In high-standard implantation dentistry, the total treatment timeline spans from a few weeks to a few months, depending on individual bone condition.

5.1. Step 1: General examination and personalized treatment plan

First of all, the doctor will conduct a general examination, check the oral health and take a 3D Cone Beam CT scan to be able to accurately assess the density and volume of the jawbone in the area requiring implantation. Based on these results, the doctor will create a detailed treatment plan: suitable type of implant posts, required number of implant posts, implementation time and estimated cost. In some cases, the patient may need to perform additional blood tests to ensure medical conditions before surgery.

5.2. Step 2: Implant surgery

Before the surgery, the patient will be re-examined for general health and given anesthesia or pre-anesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the procedure. The doctor will then place the implant post into the jawbone in the pre-planned position. With advanced technology and digital support, the implant post placement is quick, accurate and minimally invasive.

5.3. Step 3: Using temporary crown to maintain aesthetics and chewing function

After the implant post is placed, the patient’s dental impression will be taken to design the temporary crown. The temporary crown is placed in the implant area to ensure aesthetics and chewing function while waiting for the implant post to integrate with the jawbone. Particularly in the case of full mouth dental implants, some clinics can perform temporary fixed restorations immediately after surgery, helping to shorten treatment duration.

5.4. Step 4: Follow-up visit and healing monitoring

After a few days to a few weeks, the patient will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment so that the doctor can check the healing process, osseointegration, and detect any complications early. A follow-up appointment on time helps ensure the implant post is stable and ready for the next stage of restoration.

5.5. Step 5: Fixed dental crown placement to complete the dental implant procedure

After about 6 weeks to 6 months (depending on the patient’s condition and the type of implant used), when the implant post has fully integrated with the jawbone, the doctor will place a fixed dental crown on top of the implant post through the abutment joint. This restoration process usually takes place in 3 – 5 appointments and is completed in about 5 – 14 days.

6. Dental implant methods

Two most common methods are single-tooth implants for cases involving the loss of one or a few isolated teeth and full-arch implants (the All-on-4 or All-on-6 techniques). Join Platinum Dental as we explore the details, features and benefits of each solution below to help you choose the best option that suits your needs below:

6.1. Single-tooth Implant

The method of implanting a single implant to replace a single missing tooth. This is the ideal choice to help restore chewing function, prevent adjacent teeth malalignment, and protect the jawbone from long-term jawbone resorption.

6.2. Full-arch Implants

Comprehensive restoration solution for cases of complete tooth loss or being on the verge of completely losing all teeth . The All-on-4 and All-on-6 techniques help restore the entire jaw with only a minimum number of implants, shortening treatment time and bringing a natural, healthy smile and significantly improving quality of life.

7. How much does dental implant treatment cost?

The overall investment for dental implant VietNam treatments ranges from 20.000.000 to 280,000,000 VND, from 1.111 to 15.556 AUD or from 769 to 10.769 USD, per tooth or for a full-mouth restoration package. The actual price will depend on the number of teeth requiring implants, the brand of implant posts selected, the restoration technique (single-tooth or All-on-4/All-on-6) and the quality of each patient’s jawbone.

For individual dental implants, Platinum Dental applies a detailed price list as follows:

For full-arch implant cases, Platinum Dental offers more favorable prices:

* Important note:

• Prices may vary depending on jawbone condition, number of implants and type of restoration chosen.
• Some cases of long-term tooth loss may require additional bone grafting/sinus lift costs.
• Platinum Dental is committed to transparent pricing, with no hidden costs.
• Prices may vary depending on the market and material brand, especially for high-end imported implant brands. Contact Platinum Dental directly for detailed advice and accurate quotes for each specific case.

8. What should you keep in mind for a successful dental implant?

To ensure the highest possible success rate for your dental implant procedure, you should undergo a general health checkup, stop smoking before treatment, follow a soft-food diet, practice gentle oral hygiene and attend regular follow-up appointments as directed.

8.1. Before dental implant

• Thorough general health examination: You should inform your doctor about any underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or medications. Some cases may require blood tests to ensure treatment requirements.
• Stop smoking at least 1 – 2 weeks before surgery: Nicotine reduces blood flows that nurture tissues, affecting wound healing and osseointegration. Therefore, you should stop using any type of tobacco at least 1 week before surgery.
• Eat a light meal before treatment (if not under anesthesia): You should eat a light meal and avoid being hungry or too full before going to the dentist.
• Get enough sleep and keep your mind relaxed: A healthy body and stable mind will help the treatment process go smoothly with very few complications. Consequently, you have to get enough sleep and maintain a relaxed, stress-free mindset before surgery.
• Comply with doctor’s instructions: If you are required to take pre-treatment medications (such as preventive antibiotics), ensure you take the exact dosage prescribed by your implant dentist.

8.2. After dental implants

• Cold compress for the first 24 hours: It helps reduce swelling and mild pain. Each time apply for about 10 – 15 minutes, 1 – 2 hours apart.
• Limit chewing in the implant area: During the first 1 – 2 weeks, you should only eat soft, chilled, easy-to-swallow foods.Avoid hard, chewy, and hot foods.
• Do not rinse your mouth vigorously or touch the implant area with your hands/tongue: Any manipulation of the implant site after surgery can increase the risk of bleeding and infection, affecting the healing process. So, you should rinse your mouth gently with warm water or saline solution as directed by your doctor and avoid touching the affected area as much as possible.
• Do not smoke, drink alcohol or coffee for at least 2 weeks after treatment: These substances slow down the healing process and increase the risk of infection.
• Gentle oral hygiene: You need to use a soft-bristled toothbrush, saline solution, or mouthwash under the doctor’s instructions. Additionally, you can use water flossers once the Implant area has completely healed.
• Scheduled follow-up appointment: Monitoring osseointegration and the healing process is mandatory to ensure long-term success. Thus, you should return to the clinic for check-ups, monitoring the healing process and the rate of implant integration with your jaw according to your scheduled appointment with the dentist.
• Adhere to periodic post-restoration care: After the dental crown is placed, it is necessary to maintain the habit of dental check-ups every 6 months to keep the dental implant stable and durable.

9. Platinum Dental – A Trusted and Safe Dental Implant Clinic

In addition to strictly following post-implant dental care guidelines, choosing a leading provider for dental implants in Vietnam with specialized expertise and modern technology plays a crucial role in maintaining long-term stability.

At Platinum Dental Group, precision and patient comfort are enhanced through state-of-the-art digital dentistry. Therefore, dentistry not only requires a team of highly-skilled and experienced doctors, but also invests in modern equipment and strictly adheres to anesthesia, surgical and post-operative care procedures.

• Highly specialized, experienced dentists: The team of dentists at Platinum Dental has received in-depth training and possesses many years of practical experience. Building on this foundation, our dentists will personally evaluate your jawbone and listen to your specific needs to develop a treatment plan tailored to your individual situation. Moreover, all surgical procedures are performed both meticulously and gently to ensure precise control during implant placement as well as proper positioning of the abutments.
• State-of-the-art equipment for a gentle, comfortable treatment experience: To enhance diagnostic quality, Platinum Dental is fully-equipped with a 3D Cone Beam CT imaging system, an iTero 5D Plus dental scanner and the PIC system for scanning dental impressions on implants. These modern technologies help dentists establish precise treatment plans, minimize invasiveness and optimize procedure time. Combined with advanced anesthesia techniques and attentive post-operative care, patients will always enjoy a comfortable dental implant experience.
• Strict sterilization protocols to prevent cross-contamination: Safety is always one of Platinum Dental’s top priority, ensured through rigorous infection control procedures. To achieve this, our dental implant center features dedicated surgical rooms and sterilizes all instruments in strict accordance with international medical standards. This closed treatment environment effectively prevents cross-contamination and safeguards patient health.
• Genuine, imported dental implant materials: All implant posts, abutments and porcelain crowns at Platinum Dental are custom-designed for each patient. Combined with Navident dynamic positioning technology, this ensures precise implantation, shortening treatment and recovery times.

The article above provides a comprehensive overview of dental implant solutions, covering everything from their structure and benefits to the standard treatment process. We hope this information will help you gain a better understanding and feel completely at ease as you take an active role in caring for your oral health and restoring a healthy smile.

>> Contact Platinum Dental today to schedule an in-person consultation with our team of specialists and receive detailed advice on a treatment plan tailored to your needs!