5 Things You Should Know Before Getting Dental Implants
Published by
Gary Moynes
on
From the beginning of the journey, we focus our role on empowering patients and giving them confidence to make the best decisions for their needs. We are happy to serve as a trusting partner for patients from our initial consultation.
We welcome all of our patients into a professional environment in order to discuss their concerns, and establish the right treatment pathways for them. After careful consideration we will provide a patient specific dental implant treatment plan for them to consider. They will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions during this process. Our free consultation allows anyone with missing or failing teeth to explore their dental implant options without a costly initial outlay. If you are suitable for dental implant treatments, you will be provided with a written treatment plan for you to consider.
- What are the best options for a missing tooth?
There are several different dental solutions for missing teeth, and which is best for you will depend on factors such as cost, gum health, existing implants or other dental treatments, and more.
Dental treatment options for missing teeth can include;
- A dental implant provides the ultimate tooth replacement and is the closest option to the real tooth that has been lost. Dental implants are very durable and will last many years, without having to worry about decay, and they do not suffer from corrosion or the effects of sugar, acid and bacteria in the mouth.
- A fixed bridge can be attached to the teeth either side of a gap in the mouth. A bridge does offer a fixed alternative, but requires the other teeth to be strong enough to support the restoration.
- A removable denture is often offered. They are the “old fashioned” way of replacing missing teeth - the first recorded denture was made in around the 7th century B.C! Dentures come with a number of issues around comfort, difficulty with wear, as well as putting pressure on remaining teeth and gums.
2. Are there benefits to multiple dental implants?
Dental implant treatments are becoming increasingly sophisticated, able to replace a greater number of missing teeth than ever before - allowing patients to restore their smile with a permanent dental solution that removes the need for traditional dentures, and restore multiple teeth with less need for repeated surgeries and other treatments.
Multiple missing teeth can often be replaced using a bridge on implants, thereby reducing the cost, as not every tooth being replaced requires its own implant, and can often result in visual improvements in your smile as well as mouth functionality, and offering a permanent solution to missing teeth.
3. What is bone grafting?
Bone loss can occur for many reasons, including following the loss of teeth, from pre-existing tooth infections and as a result of gum disease. This means bone grafting, sometimes called bone augmentation, is necessary to achieve a good dental implant outcome.
Should you require grafting, we will explain why and how this can be achieved, along with the preferred materials for an individual’s requirements. In most instances grafting is carried out at the time of implants being placed so completion of treatment is not delayed. Occasionally, it is necessary to graft in advance of implants being placed.
4. How long can treatments take?
Whilst some treatments can be completed over a short time period (often referred to as smile-in-a-day or all-on-four dental implants), the amount of time a treatment plan takes to complete is dependent on the patient. Many patients will be able to complete their treatments over the course of 3 or 4 visits, on average over 4 months, but more complex cases may take more time.
Treatment time is ultimately dependent on achieving the best possible outcome for the patient, guided by their particular circumstances and outlined during the consultation process.
It is important to remember that no dental treatment is permanent, in the same way that natural teeth can be lost with poor dental care or when accidents occur. However, dental implants are regarded as the most direct replacement for natural teeth, offering dental solutions that (with proper care) can often last a lifetime.
Dental implant aftercare is vital in order to maximise the lifetime of your implants, as well as providing secondary benefits like caring for your remaining teeth and maintaining dental hygiene. Just like with natural teeth, to keep your dental implants healthy for life it’s important to properly clean them every day and see a dental professional regularly.