Patient Consultations

Patients just beginning to think about dental implant treatment may find it helpful to attend a complimentary consultation after a full dental examination has been carried out. This discussion will help you consider the options for treating your dental problems and decide whether to proceed with implants.

Once you have decided in principle that you want implant treatment, the next step is to undergo comprehensive oral examinations & x-rays which will help us prepare an ideal plan for your treatment.

Preparation for Dental Implants

Any treatment that needs to precede the implant treatment is first carried out. This might include extracting any remaining teeth that are beyond recovery. If required, bone grafting and any other preparatory surgery is undertaken. Following surgery, a period of healing will be necessary, after which the patient normally attends a review to check that the results are satisfactory to proceed with implant placement. It is also possible that no preparatory treatment will be required in your case.

Implant Placement

The required implant(s) are inserted carefully and painlessly into the patient’s jaw bone. The treatment is normally carried out under local anaesthetic or intravenous sedation. Each implant is then allowed to fuse with the bone. Sometimes the patient may need to wear a temporary restoration while the implants are healing.

Fitting the replacement tooth/teeth (implant restoration)

The process for restoring dental implants is similar to a conventional crown, bridge or denture.

  • After the implants have had time to integrate with the jaw bone, they are uncovered and the abutments are fitted on top. Abutments are the posts onto which the replacement tooth/teeth will be fitted.
  • Impressions are then taken of the patient’s gums, together with the abutments. The impressions are sent to the dental laboratory for the teeth (or prosthesis) to be manufactured.
  • Once the crown, bridge or denture which goes on top of the implants has been produced it is fitted by the dentist and carefully checked.
  • After a few weeks, the patient attends the practice for a review, to confirm that everything is satisfactory.

Same day teeth (immediate placement)

Sometimes, a replacement tooth or teeth can be fitted on the same day as the implant is inserted. This is called ‘an immediate implant’. Whether this is possible depends on the patient’s oral clinical condition and the type of treatment that is required. Consult an implant dentist to find out more.

Eat, talk, smile and laugh with confidence

Dental implants can be used to support single crowns, multiple tooth bridges or full dentures. The aesthetic and functional results are generally better than loose prostheses. When properly looked after, implant supported dental restorations can last a lifetime.

  • A dental implant is a titanium metal rod used to replace lost or failing tooth roots
  • Implant supported false teeth overcome the inconvenience and discomfort of loose dentures
  • With implants there’s no need to damage adjacent healthy teeth to attach a bridge
  • Continuing to use the underlying bone reduces resorption, which can cause later problems

Patients who have benefited from dental implant treatment are normally very enthusiastic about the results.