What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium that a
dentist gently places into your jaw. Dental implants are ideal for
people in good oral health who have lost one or more teeth. We know
how confidence about your teeth can affect how you feel about
yourself, both personally and professionally. 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 in your mouth, 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 your case is suitable. It can be dependent on the
condition of the bone in the area of the planned implants. Only very
rarely is there not enough bone or it is not healthy enough and
therefore it may not be possible to proceed without additional
treatment.
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?
Under proper conditions, such as placement by a dentist and diligent
patient maintenance, 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.