Dental Implants
Titanium or Titanium + Zirconium screw shaped artificial root replacements. Bone firmly fuses to the implant and when the implant is connected to the replacement tooth it allows the person to eat the full range of foods that can be eaten with natural teeth. Dental implants transfer biting force directly to the bone & so maintain + preserve valuable facial bone. This keeps you looking good and feeling good.
Your Appointment
Begins with a consultation & examination. A full Medical history will be taken, so if you are taking any medicines please bring a full list, so we can place the information in your file. Your mouth in general will be examined with special emphasis on aesthetics & function. Your gum & teeth health and the likely loading to be placed on any replacement teeth will also be assessed. The area of concern will be examined & diagnostic digital x-rays taken. Your treatment options will be reviewed & a decision taken as to whether you are suitable for implant based treatment. If you are deemed suitable and wish to investigate the possibilities further, another appointment will be scheduled.
At your next appointment impressions of your mouth will be taken. These are used for further diagnostics & to allow the fabrication of an x-ray stent. The x-ray stent allows us to calibrate the x-rays so we can take accurate measurements of your bone levels. Once all the information has been gathered assessed and analysed a written treatment plan & estimate will be sent to you. If you have any queries these can be discussed either over the phone or at another appointment as suits you best. Because we have an in house lab and the work is carried out by your dentist, the whole process can be carried out efficiently. Depending on your availability it can usually be completed in a few days.
Uses
To replace single missing teeth, multiple missing teeth or all missing teeth, stabilise loose dentures & as extra anchorage to stabilise teeth during orthodontics.
Benefits
Permits full chewing ability on fixed teeth & make removable teeth (dentures) firmer. Allows consumption of a full range of foods. Studies have shown that this leads to better nutrition & health. Implant treatment is non destructive and is re constructive, replacing what has been damaged by infection, trauma or other cause. Teeth adjacent to dental implants are left undisturbed & intact, so they provide a standalone solution. Successful dental implants are in direct contact with bone and so stimulate the bone to stay. The presence of a functional tooth on a dental implant prevents further bone loss, stabilises existing facial bone allows the person to be restored to their facial form & function. People who wear either complete or partial upper dentures now have the choice of fixed teeth or removable implant supported overdentures which leave the palate uncovered so they can now appreciate the temperature & texture of their food. The pleasure of eating what you want with confidence can be restored with dental implants.
Implant systems
We use the two systems that started it all; Straumann from Switzerland & Nobel Biocare from Sweden. Both systems have scientifically documented reliability & give long term predictable results. Both systems are available worldwide and guarantee parts availability for the patient’s lifetime.
New materials – High Strength Narrow Implants
Traditionally dental implants are made from surgical grade titanium, a metal that is highly biocompatible. Recently the Straumann company has developed a titanium implant with a chemically enhanced rough surface for faster bone growth. The benefit of this is faster healing & reduced treatment time.
A new material developed by the Straumann company combines the biocompatibility of Titanium with the strength / biocompatibility of Zirconium. This allows the use of narrower implants in areas where previously only regular / standard size implants could be used. This potentially reduces / removes the need for bone rebuilding & may allow the provision of fixed teeth in patients where this previously would have been deemed impossible without major grafting procedures prior to implant placement.
Treatment sequence
Sounds long but we have an in house lab for diagnostics so the feasibility tests can mainly be completed in house in a short time period.
- Consultation to achieve a diagnosis, find out what the treatment options are and choose the most appropriate one.
- Feasibility assessment; it might be a good idea, but is it possible? Dental study casts placed in a dental articulator (models of your teeth in a mouth simulator), x-rays with an x ray stent to allow bone measurements to be made + other tests as required. Models + x-rays measured & analysed + Optimal treatment option decided upon
- Definitive treatment plan agreed upon & written treatment plan / estimate sent out.
- Consent form signed & returned to the practice. Followed by construction of a surgical stent for optimal implant placement & bespoke surgical parts ordered
In the case of a dental implant for front teeth the following is carried out:
- Surgical placement of implant + review of healing and follow up x-ray
- Impressions for transitional teeth to trial appearance, speech & function
- Fit of transitional teeth
- Modification of transitional teeth as required & fabrication of templates for definitive teeth
- Definitive teeth fitted
- Maintenance review follow up initial 6 months & annually thereafter
