Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the fastest growing procedures of today. Dental Implants give patients an immediate and permanent solution for missing teeth, and for people losing their teeth.

A dental implant is commonly made of titanium, a metal that is well-tolerated by the body which is placed into the jawbone. It is used to support one or more false teeth. A small attachment at the top of the implant emerges through the gum. Crowns, bridges or dentures can then be attached to the implant by screws or clips.

Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to disease, an injury, or some other reason.

Dental implants are so natural-looking you may forget you ever lost a tooth. Perhaps you hide your smile because of spaces from missing teeth. Maybe your dentures don't feel secure. Perhaps you have difficulty chewing. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence then dental implants could help. Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants – from one single tooth to a complete set.

Placing the implants in requires a small operation. This can be carried out under local anaesthetic. You will not feel any pain at the time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week following the surgery. This is usually due to having stitches in place, and the normal healing process.

The implants need to bond with the bone after they have been placed. This takes at least 3 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper jaw. If you are having one, two or three teeth replaced, you will have a temporary restoration in the meantime. If you have complete dentures, then you can wear them throughout the healing period once they have been adjusted after the surgery.

There are 2 common types of implant used today:

• Endosteal (in the bone): This is the most commonly used type of implant. The various types include screws, cylinders or blades surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures.
• Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with the metal framework's posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthesis. These types of implants are used for patients who are unable to wear dentures and who have minimal bone height.

Dental Implants are commonly referred to as the "third set" of teeth after the first two have been lost; baby teeth, adult teeth, the finally the implant-supported teeth.

For further information on dental implants please visit our dedicated web site Cosmetic Dentist.