Dental Implants
- What is a dental implant?
- It is a replacement tooth root that is fixed permanently into your jaw where the original root and tooth are missing. A replacement tooth or bridge is fitted to it so that normal chewing and eating can resume.
- Who is suitable for a dental implant?
- Someone whose general health is good and the availability of sufficient bone in the jaw is a plus too.
- Can a dental implant be rejected by the body?
- As with products used in orthopaedic procedures the body readily accepts dental implant material placed in the bone. The success of a dental implant involves follow-up care, as with any other dental treatment, and the way the replacement teeth are functioning and biting together has to be assessed periodically too. This ensures the long term successful outcome of a dental implant.
- How long will dental implants last?
- With correct care and regular dental check-ups they have the capacity to last a lifetime. The quality of the dental professional and the care given to the teeth both influence their overall condition.
- Do implants need special care?
- Dental implants are treated as if they are natural teeth so regular check-ups as well as regular brushing and flossing are essential. This helps to care for the gums too and gum disease is the single most common reason for tooth loss.
- Is implant surgery painful?
- A dental implant procedure does not involve much pain and it is only necessary to take over the count pain relievers after the procedure has been completed. If a bone craft is necessary then to ensure maximum comfort of the patient a local anaesthetic may be used.
- How long does a dental implant take?
- The time may be as short as 30 minutes or as long as 3-4 hours. This will depend on how easy it is to fit the dental implant and how many are required.
- How long will it be until my teeth will function normally?
- Once the implant is in place it will remain covered beneath the gum for up to 6 months. During this period the jawbone will bond to the implant. Throughout this time you will most likely wear a modified denture or a bridge to ensure maximum use of your teeth. It will be necessary to follow a diet containing soft food for the first two weeks too. After 6 months the implant will be exposed from beneath the gums and a metal post or an extension will be fixed to the implant. This will be left for a further 2 to 6 weeks and then your new replacement tooth will be made and fitted. Impressions of your mouth will be required and the colour, size and shape of your new teeth will be matched to your existing teeth. The overall treatment time could last between 5 and 8 months but longer if bone grafts are required.
- How much does a dental implant cost?
- It is difficult to say exactly how much an implant will cost as it depends on preparatory work necessary but for a single implant you can expect to pay around £900.
- Can any dentist undertake an implant?
- Any dentist can place an implant but the success of it will ultimately depend on the experience and skills of the particular dentist.
- I have no teeth at all and I now wear a full lower and upper denture. I have a lot of difficulty with my lowers. Would I need an implant for each individual tooth on my lower jaw?
- Not all teeth have to be replaced and if you are a good candidate for what is called in-the-bone implant you may need up to 8 implants.
- I asked my dentist a few years ago about dental implants as a way of replacing my lower denture and I was told I did not have sufficient bone in place, which makes my jawbone too fragile.
- If sufficient bone is unavailable in the back or front part of a jaw for an in-the-bone implant, it is possible to place an over-the-bone implant in both areas so fixed teeth can be made which are then attached to the implants.
