Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that a dentist places into your jaw. Dental implants are ideal for people with good oral health who have lost one or more teeth. We know that confidence about your teeth can affect how you feel about yourself. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces due to missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don't feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. If you would like to smile, speak and eat again with confidence, there is good news!
Dental Implants have proven to be the answer to many patients' dental problems. By replacing just one tooth, they enable the restoration of a natural smile, improving patient comfort and confidence. Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth.
What can Dental Implants do?
- Replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth.
- Support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture.
- Provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.
Who can have Dental Implants?
We will carry out a thorough examination taking appropriate x-rays, to see if you are suitable. Treatment can be dependent on the condition of the bone in the area of the planned implants. In rare circumstances there may not be enough bone for the implant and therefore it may not be possible to proceed without additional treatment first.
What does the treatment involve?
Placing of the implants is carried out at the surgery, involving a simple operation under a normal local anaesthetic. The after effects are similar to having a tooth extracted i.e. you may feel mild discomfort due to the normal healing processes.
How successful is the treatment?
With proper care and maintanance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates for implants. Being implanted into the bone, as with your natural teeth, implants require thorough cleaning. Cleaning around the implants is no more difficult than cleaning your natural teeth and we will strongly advise all patients to see the dental hygienist on a regular basis to maintain the healthy status of the implant and the rest of the teeth and gums.