Dental Implants

Dental implants offer one of the most effective and long lasting ways to replace one or more missing teeth, providing a fixed alternative to removable dentures. Tooth loss can result in a whole host of problems. Implants can improve how you eat and speak, prevent shrinkage of the jawbone, and keep existing teeth firmly in place.

Implants are titanium posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone to act just like tooth roots. As titanium is a durable metal that is very well tolerated by the body, these cylindrical posts eventually fuse with the bone, providing a firm foundation for a crown, bridge or an attachent for a denture.

Benefits

• Unlike ill-fitting dentures, which can have a tendency to move around uncomfortably in your mouth, implants stay firmly in place and can be used to support crowns, bridges or dentures.
• Implants help protect the jawbone by keeping it stimulated and they prevent existing teeth from moving around.
• They eliminate the speaking and chewing problems that may be caused by missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures.
• They can provide a significant boost to your confidence by restoring your smile.

Treatment steps

• We carry out a full assessment of your mouth and general health. If we discover you have insufficient bone volume, you may need a grafting procedure to allow for the successful placement of implants.
• The titanium posts are placed in the bone under a local anaesthetic using a relatively simple surgical procedure.
• Titanium is very well tolerated by the body, so over a few months the implants will integrate with the bone.
• Once settled in and fully healed, we can fit replacement crowns, bridges or dentures to the now firmly positioned implants.

Aftercare

You need to maintain good oral hygiene following treatment to ensure your implants remain trouble-free. If well looked after, with a regular brushing and flossing routine, the implants can last for over 15 years. You must  attend regular check-ups and hygienist recalls to your dentist can make sure your implants stay in great condition.

How long can implants last?

After ten to twenty years implants may need re-treating.

Are they suitable for everyone?

Implants are not suitable for the very young or people with gum disease, particularly if this is caused by increased alcohol consumption or heavy smoking.