Dental Implants

A dental implant (also known as an endosseous implant or fixture) is a surgical component

that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a

crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor.

Loose of a tooth can have a dramatic impact on the look of your smile and may affect your

confidence and even the way you speak and chew.

Loose or uncomfortable denture?

Loose and uncomfortable dentures are at best a nuisance and at worst impossible to

manage. They can have a severe impact on your quality of life.

A long-lasting solution

Implants are widely recognized as dentistry's closest replacement for natural teeth. They

are the state-of-the-art treatment in modern dentistry and are often the perfect option for

rebuilding your smile.

Appearance

Teeth supported by dental implants often look and feel like natural teeth. Patients find that

implants, through supporting a natural smile, improve their confidence and self-esteem.

The ultimate in comfort,

Dental implants are fixed in place and function almost like natural teeth, eliminating the

discomfort that can be caused by removable dentures.

Dental Health

Dental implants can avoid the need to adjust or damage adjacent healthy teeth. Your own

natural teeth are left undisturbed, protecting your long-term oral health.

Treatment that can last a life time

Dental implants often last longer than any other form of dental treatment. With the proper

care led by your dental team, implants can last a lifetime.

Dental implants offer a permanent solution for your missing teeth.

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. Often the implant can be placed at the same time as removal of the

tooth all in one day. 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 roughness 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.

Are implants for me?

You should discuss with your dentist whether implants would be right for you. Patients need

to have healthy gums, enough jawbones to take the posts and support the replacement

teeth. They must also be prepared to maintain good mouth hygiene and visit the dentist

regularly. Implants patients need to be in good general health, because of the surgery

needed. Some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, osteoporosis or chronic sinus problems,

could interfere with healing and make implants more likely to fail. Make sure that you tell

your dentist about any medicines that you take regularly, and your smoking habits.

Implants involve undergoing surgery twice or more over a period of several months. Since

they are complicated form of treatment, implants can be expensive.

What will my dentist do?

Your dentist should tell you about the stages of treatment, who would be carrying out each

stage and the timetable for completing treatment. You might be referred to a specialist.

Bone is exposed in the jaw where the tooth is missing. Then a hole is drilled and a metal

post is inserted into the bone. This is usually done under local anesthesia. The gum is then

stitched over the post and is left to heal for several months, until the bone has grown

around the post, making it secure. A second operation then happens, in which replacement

teeth are mounted onto the implants. This requires a small cut in the gum above the

implant. The replacement teeth might be single or in a group, and possibly as a bridge,

attached to neighboring natural teeth. They may be fixed permanently or attached in a way

that lets you remove them for cleaning.