Dental Implants

You could lose a tooth at anytime and this could be for a number of reasons.

For example it could be the result of a trauma to your mouth, such a sports injury or any other blow to the face, or as a result of decay, gum disease or simply old age.

Whatever the reason, missing teeth should be replaced both for aesthetic and functional reasons. The most common treatments for missing teeth are either a denture or a fixed bridge.

However, dental implants are now becoming a more popular treatment to replace missing teeth as they provide a longer-term solution, slow down bone loss and preserve nearby healthy tooth tissue. They are also more comfortable than conventional dentures as there are permanently fixed, so there is no chance of them moving or slipping, which is one of the major concerns for people who wear dentures.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for the root of your natural tooth and is anchored into your jaw-bone to support a crown or a bridge or to secure a denture firmly in place.

Implants are made from Titanium, a material that is well tolerated by bone and integrates easily with bone tissue.

What is involved?

Before we begin any treatment, it is really important that we assess the health of your teeth and gums to check for any signs of gum disease or decay, which must be treated first.

We will then put together an individual treatment plan for you which is based on an assessment of the bone quality within your jaw.

Treatment is usually carried out under local anaesthesia and sometimes IV sedation if it is going to be a long procedure or if you are particularly anxious.

The titanium implant is tightly fitted into a socket in the gum where it is then left to heal and integrate with the jawbone which can be anything from 6 weeks to 6 months. This allows new bone tissue to anchor itself onto the surface of the implant.

During this "healing period" you will be provided with a temporary bridge or continue to wear any dentures.

After the healing period, a small post is attached to the implant which also includes a temporary crown.

Four to six weeks after that, once the gum has been allowed to heal, the final permanent restoration can be fitted to the implant.

What are the Benefits of dental implants?

• Reduced bone loss - if you lose a tooth, you will be left with a hole where your tooth root used to be and the bone around this area will slowly begin to disappear. This may change the shape of your jaw and can make you look older.
  A dental implant can actually stimulate bone growth and production, preventing loss of valuable bone structure. Bone loss is a problem for people who have dentures and as the shape of the jaw slowly changes the dentures need to be adjusted or re-made to fit the new shape of the jaw.
• Improved function - Once dental implants are fully integrated into your jaw they function just as well as your own natural teeth and you can eat the foods you want and speak with complete confidence. You will be able to eat the foods that you like and you won’t have to worry about bone loss and loose dentures.
• Improved dental hygiene - Unlike bridges and dentures, which require special cleaning instructions and extra attention, dental implants just need regular brushing, flossing and dental hygiene appointments just like your natural teeth.
• Kinder to your natural teeth - When replacing missing teeth with dental bridges, the teeth adjacent to the gap need to be prepared and healthy tooth structure is removed to accommodate a crown or bridge.
  By replacing lost teeth with an implant, no support is required by the adjacent teeth, and hence your natural teeth do not need to be prepared or altered in any way.
• You simply look better - a dental implant should be indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth. Dentures can come loose and look un-natural if they do not blend with your gums and some bridges and dentures have unsightly metal clasps to hold them in place. Dental implants provide a much better cosmetic and functional end result.

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