Dental Implants

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What are implants?
Implants are one way of replacing missing teeth. In many situations, dental implants are the most pleasing aesthetic solution for replacing missing teeth.

A titanium post is placed in the jaw bone to support a replacement tooth. This acts like the root of a natural tooth.

Implants can be used to support crowns, fixed bridges or dentures. One implant can support one or more false teeth. Five or six implants are usually used to replace all the teeth in the jaw. Implant treatment normally has two stages.

First, the implant is carefully placed into the jaw bone. Then, when the jaw has healed, replacement teeth are attached to the implant. In some situations it is possible for temporary teeth to be attached to an implant at the time of fitting.

Would implants be right for me?
First, you should decide whether implants could be the right option for you. Contact us to arrange an implant consultation and discussion, and we will let you know the possibilities. Our highly experienced team will be only too happy to help you with any questions you may have.

If you decide to go ahead this is a broad outline of what will happen.

Implants are placed into carefully prepared holes in the jaw under local anaesthetic. (You can opt to have sedation for this procedure also.)

The gum heals over the implant and under the gum the bone then grows around the implant to hold it firm. This can take several months.

Implants usually have two sections - the titanium post in the jaw and an extension or abutment that is added later when the post is secure. Attaching the abutment usually entails a small cut in the gum above the implant and then the abutment is screwed into the implant. Crowns or bridgework can then be attached to the abutment.

You might have more than one implant. The replacement teeth might be fixed permanently (like a crown or bridge) or attached in a way which lets you remove them for cleaning (like a denture).

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