Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth, bridge or denture. Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason. Dental implants, whilst high-tech in nature, are considered the treatment of choice in most cases, because they do not rely on neighbouring teeth for support.
Dental implants look and feel so natural that you may forget you ever lost a tooth. You know that your confidence about your teeth affects how you feel about yourself, both personally and professionally. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don't feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own! Under proper conditions, and with diligent maintenance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates for implants.
What results can I expect from Dental Implants?
- How will my new teeth differ from real teeth?
- I'm a very nervous patient - what's it like having implants fitted?
- How long will my new teeth last?
- Can I eat whatever I want?
- Can any problems occur?
- How do dental implant supported teeth differ from a conventional prosthesis?
- Who is suitable for dental implants?
- How many teeth can be supported by implants?
- What is a Dental Implant?
- How will my new teeth differ from real teeth?
- With implant supported teeth it is almost impossible to tell the difference compared to natural teeth. With an implant-anchored full bridge there is a narrow space between your gum and the prosthesis which is externally invisible and facilitates cleaning.
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- I'm a very nervous patient - what's it like having implants fitted?
- Having dental implants fitted is a very straightforward procedure. The vast majority of cases are performed here, at the practice, with local anaesthetic. This is classed as a minor surgical procedure and as sterility is paramount, we use operating theatre type protocols when putting in dental implants. The procedure is pretty quick, and is no worse than having a tooth extracted. Afterwards you will have some stitches, but you will experience very little pain. Should you be particularly worried about the procedure we can give you sedation.
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- How long will my new teeth last?
- With proper care and cleaning, dental implants can last a lifetime. Like natural teeth, with the passing of time, the crowns could become worn or damaged. The big difference is that your new teeth can easily be repaired or replaced, using the same implants for support.
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- Can I eat whatever I want?
- Yes, there is no difference between natural and implant-supported teeth in what you can eat. If you have experienced problems earlier, you will be pleasantly surprised at the positive change that has taken place.
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- Can any problems occur?
- A few people can have initial problems speaking clearly after receiving an implant-supported bridge or denture. Usually, this adjustment phase lasts only a few days before normal speaking returns. This occurs much less frequently than with a conventional bridge or denture.
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- How do dental implant supported teeth differ from a conventional prosthesis?
- Compared to a conventional prosthesis, implant supported teeth:
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- Function, look and feel like natural teeth.
- Allow you to speak, smile and eat with confidence.
- Are comfortable and stay in place.
- Do not need other teeth for support and do not require "cutting down" or preparation of other teeth.
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- Who is suitable for dental implants?
- If you have good general health then dental implants will almost certainly work for you. However, habits such as heavy drinking or smoking can increase the number of problems associated with initial healing and thereafter may negatively influence the long-term health of gum and bone surrounding each implant. Remaining teeth might also be compromised making treatment planning less certain. Some dentists will decline to place implants if smoking cannot be reduced or given up altogether. If you have any other complicated medical problems then speak us abou it - it is rare to have health problems that prevent the use of dental implants.
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- How many teeth can be supported by implants?
- All the common forms of tooth replacement, such as bridges or dentures can be replaced by dental implants. If you are missing just one natural tooth, then one implant is normally all that will be needed to provide a replacement. Larger spaces created by two, three or more missing teeth do not necessarily need one implant per tooth, however the exact number of implants will depend upon the quality and volume of bone at each potential implant site. Occasionally, it is even possible to join natural teeth to implants with a conventional bridge. In the upper jaw, bone density is generally poorer than in the lower and if you have no teeth at all, we will generally want to place a minimum of 6 implants to support a complete arch of 10 or more replacement teeth. In the lower jaw, the bone towards the front of the mouth is often very strong and as a direct result, fewer implants may be needed than are required to treat a whole upper jaw. A simple treatment plan to provide 10 or more teeth in the lower jaw might be possible with as few as 4 implants, although it is still more common to use 5 or 6. If you have no teeth in the lower jaw, and are not yet ready for multiple implant placements, a conventional lower denture can be considerably improved with two implants placed beneath the front section - this is called an 'overdenture'. The same overdenture concept when used to treat the upper jaw, will usually require more implants as the bone is generally softer. Implant-supported overdentures, just like conventional dentures are still removed for daily cleaning, however, once back in the mouth, the implants make them much more stable.
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- What is a Dental Implant?
- Almost all dental implants in use today are made from titanium or titanium alloy, materials that have been shown over many years to be well tolerated by bone. The terms 'osseointegrated implants' or 'endosseous implants' are widely used to describe dental implants that can develop and maintain a close union with bone in order to support replacement teeth. There are many different implant systems available and when competently used they can all deliver a highly reliable form of treatment. A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural root and commonly it is screw or cylinder shaped. Each implant is placed into a socket carefully drilled at the precise location of the intended tooth. If an implant has a screw-thread on its outer surface it can be screwed into position and if it does not, it is usually tapped into place. The main aim during installation of any implant is to achieve immediate close contact with the surrounding bone. This creates an initial stability, which over time is steadily enhanced by further growth of bone into microscopic roughnesses on the implant surface. In order to support replacement teeth, dental implants normally have some form of internal screw thread or post space that allows a variety of components to be fitted. Once fitted, these components provide the foundation for long-term support of crowns, bridges or dentures.
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