Dental implants; like any other treatment; are not for everyone. However; to find out; you need to attend for a consultation where your moth is examined as a whole and your status is assessed. X-rays and scans may be necessary to ascertain the availability of bone and its density for appropriate planning. We use the latest techniques in dental implant planning which makes the procedure more predictable, fast and safe. Please call for an appointment or to request a free 15 minute call with our specialist.
A dental implant is screw or a plate, which is surgically inserted in the available bone in the jaw, to replace the root of a missing tooth.
After a suitable healing period (4-6 months), a peg or a post is attached to the implant, onto which, a crown is manufactured and fitted. Simply it replaces a missing tooth in its entirety.
Dental implants are manufactured from commercially pure Titanium; a material which is widely used in orthopaedic surgery and in dentistry.
Commercially pure Titanium encourages bone growth, and fully integrates with it. This integration is a rigid bond, which allows stresses to be distributed in a favourable and constructive manner.
After administration of a local anaesthetic to numb your gums, (and under intravenous sedation if required); a little cut (keyhole) is made through your gum.
A suitable site is prepared in the bone using special instruments. Once the site is prepared to optimum dimensions, the implant is inserted..
If you wear a denture; it will be slightly modified to avoid undue trauma to the implants, and to ensure uncomplicated healing.
A temporary fixed bridge can also be constructed (ask the dentist about the suitable type of bridge).
You will not be aware of anything during surgery, and certainly you will not experience any pain. Slight tapping might be felt from time to time as the implant site is being prepared.
Every effort will be exercised to prevent undue complications after the procedure; however, the following is not uncommon and is of a short-term nature:
- Slight swelling and bruising of the lip.
- Discomfort in the area, and mild to moderate pain.
- Lip numbness, and a feeling of “stuffy nose”
- .Mild dizziness.
Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories will be administered before surgery, and more will be given to you to take for 10 days after. This regimen is standard and should be adhered to; to minimise post-operative complications.
Post-operative response is an individual reaction, therefore, it is difficult to say who will have what!
You must arrange to take about 2-3 days off work.
Post operative complications are of temporary nature and usually subside within 7-10 days.
Yes, in some instances, implants can fail due to infection, trauma, or general sluggish healing. In comparatively healthy individuals, this failure is a rarity, however, contributing factors are:
- Smoking: Tobacco smoking reduces blood supply to the oral tissues, and hence the failure rate in heavy smokers is higher. If you are a smoker, you have to be aware of this, and you MUST refrain from smoking for at least 24 hours prior to the procedure and 24 hours after.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol reduces the resistance of tissues to trauma, causes tissue dehydration and general sluggish healing. Therefore you MUST NOT drink any alcohol 24 hours before, and 48-72 hours after surgery.
- Bad oral hygiene: Neglected oral hygiene leads to increased likelihood of failure, as surgery sites can easily become infected with plaque bacteria. As a rule, I do not perform implant restorative treatment on patients unless their oral hygiene is excellent!
- Trauma: During the early healing phase, any excessive trauma from dentures or otherwise, can complicate the healing and lead to loosening of the implant.
- Drug interaction: Certain medications can cause sluggish healing, and may contraindicate implant placement. This shall be discussed at the initial consultation visit.
This is a new alternative for patients that want to replace their denture or their failing teeth with fixed teeth. Conventional implant treatment to replace all teeth usually involves the placement of between 6 – 10 implants in order to have enough strength for a fixed implant bridge. However, in the Fixed Teeth in a Day treatment the end implants are placed at a 45 degree angle, this increases their strength and ability to support a fixed bridge. This allows us to be able to anchor a fixed bridge with fewer implants than normally used. .
The fixed teeth in one day implants can be immediately loaded; instead of waiting months to heal The fixed provisional bridge can be completed on the same day……!!
This is one of the most exciting options we have ever had in implant dentistry because the goal of most patients who wear dentures is to be able to go back to a time when they had fixed teeth. For many patients, due to cost, this was not possible. With Fixed Teeth in One Day, many more patients now have the option to quickly, and with significant cost reductions, get fixed permanent teeth.