Dental Implants

What is a Dental Implant?

 

A Dental Implant is a titanium screw that is placed in your jaw bone to hold a permanent crown. You normally place 1 implant to support 1 tooth but it also possible to place 2 implants to support 3 teeth, 4 implants to support 10 teeth or 6 implants to support 12 teeth.  There are various other combinations depending upon the situation.


Reasons for Implant Placement :-

 

1.   Missing teeth

2.   Teeth of poor prognosis due for extraction

3.   Dentures that are ill fitting and loose

4.   Replacement of dentures for fixed teeth

5.   Trauma resulting in tooth loss



Treatment Scenarios:-

 

I have a missing tooth or a tooth has been extracted recently.

 

After an extraction, the bone begins to resorb ( shrink ) and so depending on how long ago the tooth was extracted will depend on the amount of bone resorption. Examination of the site along with an x-ray will determine if there is sufficient bone for placement of an Implant.

 

 

I have a denture which is loose fitting.

 

If you have a full upper or lower denture and your denture is loose and you have to apply denture fixative to help hold the denture in, then you either have an option to have a new denture made or if there is sufficient bone available, then you may either be able to have a couple of implants to help support the denture or you can have several implants placed and a fixed bridge in order to replace wearing a denture altogether. Again an examination and appropriate x-rays will be taken to assess the remaining bone levels.

 

 

I have remaining teeth which are of poor long term prognosis and will need extraction soon.

 

If you have teeth which are broken or loose and you believe that they may need extraction, then it may be possible to remove them in advance, while there is still sufficient bone and have dental implants placed to give you back fixed teeth again. Examination and x-rays will determine the best possible solution for this situation.


 

What are the benefits of dental implant treatment?

Missing or failing teeth can negatively impact your confidence and your daily life, including what you can eat. Implants are a popular, long-term solution that can restore your smile.

1. Natural-looking solution: Dental implants are titanium posts that are fixed into the jawbone. The bone gradually fuses to the implant, making it strong and secure so it can function like a natural tooth.


2. Implants are topped with a crown (false tooth) that’s matched to the shade, shape and size of your remaining teeth, making it feel comfortable and look natural.


3. Fixed and long-lasting: Implants are a fixed, long-term solution that can last 10 years or more, as long as they’re cared for properly. As implants are a fixed solution, you don’t need to worry about removing them to eat or sleep, and there’s no risk of them falling out.


4. Prevents bone loss: When you lose a tooth, the jawbone beneath it shrinks as it’s no longer stimulated by the tooth root. Over time, this can change the shape of your face, causing you to look older than you really are. Dental implants stimulate the jaw, just like natural teeth, preventing further bone loss.


5. Enjoy your favourite foods: If you have missing teeth, you may struggle to eat chewy or hard foods, such as apples, crunchy vegetables, and some meats. Dental implants restore your bite and allow you to chew properly, so you can enjoy more of your favourite foods.


6. No need to prepare healthy teeth: Unlike some treatments to replace missing teeth, dental implants don’t require preparing any of your neighbouring, healthy teeth.




When are dental implants not recommended ?

 

1. You have active gum disease.

2. You smoke (incl. e-cigarettes and vaping )

3. You drink heavily

4. You have diabetes which is not well controlled

5. You have had radiotherapy in or around your jaws

6. You take recreational drugs

 

Active Gum Disease.

 

Your mouth needs to be in very good health prior to have dental implants. If you have active gum disease then this will affect the healing of the bone and soft tissues after implant placement and cause failure of the dental implant to integrate with the bone. You will need to have regular hygiene treatment to improve the overall health of your mouth to a level that is appropriate for dental implant treatment.

 

 

Smoking.

 

Smoking causes bone loss around your natural teeth and is often the cause of premature tooth loss. Dental implants work by integrating with your bone in the jaw and so smoking reduces the chances of this significantly. Smoking also causes a dry mouth, reduced blood flow in the mouth and slows healing and integration of the implant. There is also an increased chance of infection in the mouth and further bone deterioration. I personally won’t place dental implants in anyone who smokes due to the increased chances of failure. 



Treatment charges.


We charge £2195 for an implant and one crown. This includes the surgery for implant placement, review appointment, and provision of one crown after approximately 2 months. 

The overall cost of treatment will depend on the number of implants, the number of missing teeth and whether we are replacing teeth with individual crowns or bridges or dentures.  You will be given a complete treatment plan with costings for your appropriate treatment. 

Examples:-

So it may be possible to place 2 implants and restore with a 3 unit bridge to replace three missing teeth. The cost for this will be £5190.

You may have 4 implants in the upper jaw and a 10 unit fixed bridge. The cost for this will be £12580

Treatment Protocol.

If you need extractions prior to implant placement, then this is normally done and the gum and socket allowed to heal for atleast 4-6 weeks before the implant can be placed. The gum needs to cover over the socket completely. On the day of surgery, the gum is opened up and the bone is prepared and the implant is placed. A special healing cap is normally placed in the implant and the gum is sutured around it so that it sticks out above the gum. The implant is left to integrate for atleast 2 months and the healing cap allows the gum to heal and shape.  After 2 months, the healing cap is removed and a special scan of your mouth is taken as a digital impression and the healing cap is replaced back in the implant. The digital scan goes to our laboratory, who will make the foundation for the crown( abutment ) and the Porcelain crown. This is then fitted 2 weeks later. 

We are planning to be able to 3D print our own Porcelain crowns in the practice and so this will reduce the time it takes for the crown to be made from 2 weeks to a couple of days. 

This treatment protocol will vary depending on the number of implants being placed and the final restorations, whether they are individual crowns, bridges or dentures. 

What Implant system do we use?

There are literally hundreds of dental implant manufactuers in the world today. Only a few are very well respected and have stood the test of time.  We use a brand called Neodent. It has been around for 30yrs and has very good long term data and is a subsidiary of Straumann, which is one of the largest dental implant manufacturers in the world today. We take this seriously as it guarantees the success of the treatment.