Dental Implants

Dental implants can be used to replace individual missing teeth or multiple adjacent teeth. They can also be used to replace a whole missing arch of teeth. Rather than replacing these teeth individually, a small number of implants are placed which then hold a fixed bridge of replacement teeth in place.

The implant screw is made of titanium which has the capacity to fuse with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration. Once we have expertly placed the implant, it begins fusing with bone and tissue, forming a solid attachment. We place the final restoration crown once the process is complete.

• Missing teeth: If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants may be the best option for replacement.
• Aesthetics: Aesthetically implants can look like a natural tooth and will sit in the gum in the same way as a natural tooth.
• No damage to remaining teeth: Unlike bridges or dentures, dental implants do not require support from other teeth.
• Prevent bone loss: Having a dental implant in the bone will stop the bone from shrinking and will maintain facial support and structure.
• Increase the life of remaining teeth: Dental implants will protect the remaining teeth from excessive force by spreading the chewing load and will also stop teeth from migrating, tilting and over-erupting
• Permanently Fixed: Dental implants are fixed in your mouth and do not require removal as with dentures.
• No more fillings or sensitivity: Dental implants will never need a filling or root canal treatment and will never become sensitive.

The traditional method of replacing loose or missing teeth has been either with a fixed bridge or with a removable denture. Dental implants are rapidly becoming the preferred treatment for replacing loose or missing teeth. They have been available for over 30 years, but in recent years, procedures have become faster, easier and more cost-effective.

If you do not want dentures, bridges, or crowns to replace missing teeth, then dental implants are then required. If you don’t replace missing teeth, the bone in your jaw can begin to deteriorate. This might cause your teeth to become loose and eventually fall out. In addition, tooth loss can make it difficult to eat and speak properly.

If tooth loss remains over a longer time, patients might notice the teeth in the dental arch shifting out of place. When this happens, it can result in several gaps and misalignments that may need to be resolved with orthodontia.

Dental implants can also be beneficial to the overall beauty aspect of your teeth. With dental implants, you may not feel as self-conscious about how your smile. Dental implants help increase your self-esteem and self-confidence when eating.

Implants are not suitable for everybody. An adequate amount of bone and gum tissue is required for successful implants. Other risk factors, which can compromise treatment, include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, uncontrolled gum disease and patients with systemic diseases that affect the body’s healing capacity. When you attend a consultation all these factors will be discussed to see if you are suitable for implant treatment.

The implant surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic so you will not feel any pain during the treatment. When the anaesthetic wears off, you may experience some tenderness and inflammation but this can be controlled by taking painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Other aspects of implant treatment such as abutment connection and crown connection involve minimal discomfort.

Once a dental implant has been integrated into the jaw bone, studies have shown a survival rate in excess of 90% after 15 years. However, studies have also shown that this is reliant on a high standard of daily cleaning, regular observation and maintenance with a dental professional.

If you have chosen to have a dental implant or would like to explore other options, your dentist is available to answer your questions. After a diagnostic examination, your dentist will recommend the treatment that is best for you and what your investment would be for the procedure. Call either of our surgeries in Oxfordshire or Hampshire and make an appointment.