Dental implants in Rabat

What is a dental implant?

An implant is a small screw, usually made of titanium, placed in the jawbone where the root of the tooth used to be. Titanium is well tolerated by the body: bone grows against its surface and eventually holds it firmly in place. This process is called osseointegration.

Once the implant has integrated, a connecting piece called an abutment is screwed or cemented onto it, followed by a ceramic crown whose shade and shape are matched to the surrounding teeth. The whole unit behaves like a fixed tooth: you chew, speak and brush as normal.

Implants are not only used to replace a single tooth. Several implants can support a fixed bridge or stabilise a loose denture. The number of implants and the type of restoration depend on the amount of bone available, the position of your remaining teeth and your own priorities.

Who are dental implants suitable for?

Implants are an option for most adults who have lost one or more teeth, whether through deep decay, a fracture, an injury or gum disease. They are also worth discussing when a tooth that cannot be saved has to be removed: the implant can then be planned from the time of the extraction.

Some situations call for extra caution or for postponing treatment:

• poorly controlled diabetes, which slows healing;
• heavy smoking, which increases the risk of failure and of infection around the implant;
• certain treatments for osteoporosis or cancer, which you must always tell us about;
• radiotherapy to the head and neck;
• untreated gum disease, which needs to be stabilised before any implant is placed;
• in teenagers, jaws that have not finished growing.

This is why a medical questionnaire and, where needed, a conversation with your GP are part of the first consultation.

The initial assessment: seeing clearly before treatment

A well-placed implant is above all a well-planned implant. At your first appointment, Dr Fenjero Walid examines the area to be treated, the condition of your gums, your bite (the way your teeth meet) and your overall oral hygiene.

A panoramic X-ray gives an overview of both jaws. When the width and height of the bone need to be measured precisely, or when sensitive structures lie close by (the nerve in the lower jaw, the maxillary sinus), a three-dimensional cone beam scan is requested. A digital impression taken with the intraoral scanner completes the records, with no impression paste.

This information is used to choose the length and diameter of the implant, its angle and its position in relation to the future crown. Where appropriate, the clinic uses guided surgery: a guide made from the digital plan directs the drilling to within a millimetre. If there is not enough bone, a bone graft may be suggested before or during implant placement.

How an implant is placed at our Agdal clinic

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic at the clinic. You are awake but the area is numb: you feel pressure and vibration, not pain. For a single implant without a graft, the time in the chair is usually measured in tens of minutes; it takes longer when several implants are placed or a bone procedure is added.

Depending on the technique chosen, the dentist either opens the gum or works directly through it, prepares a site in the bone and places the implant. The gum is then closed with a few stitches or left around a healing screw.

Next comes the osseointegration phase, which generally lasts from several weeks to a few months depending on the quality of the bone and the area treated. During this time, a temporary solution can be arranged so that you are not left with a visible gap. In selected cases, a temporary tooth can be attached to the implant quickly: this option depends on the stability achieved on the day of surgery and cannot be promised in advance.

Once the implant has integrated, a new digital impression is taken to make the final crown.

The cost of a dental implant in Morocco: what affects your estimate

This is one of the first questions patients ask, and a fair one. However, there is no single fee that applies to everyone, because implant treatment is a series of procedures that varies from one patient to the next. Several factors come into play:

• the number of implants and where they are placed;
• the implant brand and system chosen;
• the examinations required (panoramic X-ray, 3D imaging, surgical guide);
• whether a bone graft, a sinus lift or a gum graft is needed;
• the type of abutment and crown (ceramic, zirconia);
• any temporary solutions during healing.

For this reason, we do not publish prices online. After the consultation and examinations, you receive a detailed, itemised estimate that lets you compare options, ask questions and check with your insurer. A price quoted without an examination cannot take account of what actually makes a case straightforward or complex.

After placement: recovery and long-term care

In the days after placement, mild swelling and some tenderness in the area are normal. They are managed with the prescribed painkillers, a cold compress on the cheek and soft, lukewarm food. Avoid smoking, spitting forcefully and chewing on the treated side. A mouthwash may be recommended for a few days.

Once the crown is fitted, the implant needs the same care as a natural tooth, with one particular point to watch: it has no nerve, so it gives no warning when the gum around it becomes inflamed. Careful brushing, interdental brushes or suitable floss, and regular check-ups with professional cleaning help prevent peri-implantitis, an inflammation that can weaken the bone around the implant.

How long an implant lasts depends largely on this care, on stopping smoking and on regular follow-up. No lifespan can be guaranteed, but a well-maintained implant can stay in place for a very long time.

Implant, bridge or removable denture: how to choose?

An implant is not always the only answer. A conventional bridge is anchored to the neighbouring teeth, which have to be prepared: this makes sense when those teeth already have crowns. A removable denture costs less at the outset but is less stable and does not stop the bone from shrinking.

An implant has the advantage of preserving the adjacent teeth and stimulating the bone, in exchange for surgery and a longer treatment time. At your consultation in Rabat, these options are set out side by side, with their benefits and limitations in your particular situation. To discuss them, you can book an appointment at the Agdal clinic.