Dental Implants
Improving rapidly, implants are quickly becoming the nation’s preferred method of tooth replacement, due to their longevity and functionality. Around 95% of implants are still functioning 15 years after they were put in place, and the procedural success rate is 98%.
Firstly, you will have a radiograph, and often 3D scan, to plan for the implant treatment and be walked through the process by our team. Local anaesthetic will be used and a titanium implant is placed to replace the tooth’s root.
Have you lost all or some of your natural teeth? Bridges, dentures and flexible dentures are not the only solution, thanks to advances in modern dentistry. Have you heard of dental implants? Implant dentistry offers a clinically proven and safe solution to getting a great smile back and being able to bite and chew with confidence. This is how they work:
- Dental implants are small metal screws that are placed in the jaw in place of a missing tooth.
- Once established, crowns, bridges and dentures can be fixed onto the implants, creating a natural-looking and stable restoration.
Life Benefits
- When you lose your natural teeth, your jaw bone and surrounding tissues start to resorb or disappear over time. When implants are placed in the jaw, it stimulates the remaining bone to grow and mesh around the metal, along with tiny blood vessels, preventing bone loss.
- Retained bone structure prevents the face from acquiring a ‘sunken’ look.
- Implants help restore function so you can eat, chew and bite as usual.
- Implants are a natural-looking way to replace missing teeth.
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After
Next begins the process of osseointegration, over the first few months, where your existing bone moulds with your new implants to be tight and secure from slipping or movement. Then your specially made dental crown will be placed and fit perfectly in with the rest of your mouth. You won’t be able to tell the difference after a few weeks, and your diet doesn’t have to change at all!
Bone Reconstruction
Many people don’t know this – but when we lose a tooth we also begin to lose some of the bone in our jaw. The bone in the jaw will begin to disappear as it no longer has to hold the root of a tooth in place and if you are missing several teeth, this can even change the shape of your face entirely. Therefore, some people with dentures find them uncomfortable to wear.
If you have an implant soon after the loss of a tooth, this can stave away any bone loss. However, if you miss that short timeframe then the damage to your jaw could already be starting. A bone graft can help avoid this issue and help you keep your jaw safe from deformation.
Small pieces of bone are added to build up the structure which is still intact, and it will either be artificial bone or from other sources – this is usually the patient’s hip. This almost removes the chance of the bone being rejected by your body. There are more complex graft procedures available if necessary, and these will be discussed at your consultation.
Dentures
Whether through disease or accident, we understand that at some point in your life you may end up losing a tooth or two. Brushing, flossing and keeping good general hygiene can limit your chances of tooth loss, but there is never a guarantee you will be able to avoid premature tooth loss. As well as the physical effects, including sunken cheekbones and jawbone issues, there is also the issue of losing confidence in your appearance when you lose teeth.
Whilst there are other methods of tooth replacement, there is no faster method than dentures. Modern dentures are now made to look and feel more natural and comfortable respectively. The ill-fitting, stand out dentures of the past are long gone.
Most people can keep modern dentures in place by natural suction to gums alone, and the concept of an embarrassing ‘falling out’ of the dentures is very unlikely.
It is important to brush and clean the dentures once they are fitted, including in cold water when they are not being worn. Importantly, this allows your gums to rest too. Regular dental check-ups are important to ensure your dentures are still fitted to your mouth and as comfortable as possible.
Implant Referrals
If you are a patient of another clinic and are referred to us, we will be more than happy to help with any course of treatment you need. We are a patient focused practice and often receive referrals from other dental professionals who are confident of the experienced and friendly service we provide to new patients.
We develop relationships with many local practices so we are able to help out when needed, and are most interested in making sure those within our care are offered every reassurance and support mechanism needed during their course of treatment with us.
We will undertake a general oral health examination when new patients arrive with us and ensure the physical and financial information on any procedure is understood fully by the patient before we conduct any work.