We are experts in replacing teeth. Using the latest dental technology at our clinic, dental implants in Thorpe Bay can be made to suit you. Dental implants can be a solution for missing teeth, uncomfortable dentures and can help restore confidence in your smile.
A dental implant is a fixed solution for one or more missing teeth, and can help restore both your smile and your quality of life.
An implant is made up of an artificial titanium root that is fixed to the jawbone, with a crown or bridge fitted on top. They can be made to look and feel just like natural teeth. If you are concerned about your replacement teeth looking realistic or coming loose, implants are an ideal option.
Implants also safeguard your overall dental health. Replacing missing teeth is extremely important, as missing teeth cause bone loss which can age your face, and could potentially cause adjacent teeth to become loose too.
There are several different types of dental implants available in Thorpe Bay depending on your needs. Your private dentist will discuss all the options with you to find the best solution.
Dental implants in Thorpe Bay are increasingly becoming the treatment of choice for tooth replacement in many people. There are very few absolute contra-indications for implant treatment and the majority of patients in good general health can benefit from this technology. Young people who have not finished growing are usually best advised to delay having implants until they have finished growing but there is no upper age limit for treatment. It is important that implants are placed in a healthy mouth and your implant surgeon will assess your mouth and advise if any other treatment is advisable before embarking upon implant treatment.
Dental implants in Thorpe Bay provide a means of tooth replacement that is as close to a natural tooth as currently possible and which can last as long as your natural dentition.
Surgical stage:
Implant surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic, although sedation can be arranged for long or complex procedures or according to patient preference.
Implant placement can be performed as a one stage or two stage procedure. In single stage surgery the dental implants are placed into the jaw and then either restored temporarily or more usually left to integrate with the jaw for up to three months. During this healing phase a small stud is left protruding through the gum. When using a two-stage approach the implant is buried under the gum to protect the healing process - this is often the case if bone grafting techniques have to be used to enable implant placement. Once the dental implants have integrated with the bone a simple surgical procedure is required to uncover the implant to bring it back through the gum.
Restorative phase:
This phase involves the recording of impressions and relationship between the opposing jaws before making the final prosthesis. This may take several appointments over a number of weeks depending on the complexity of the case. At all restorative stages patient requirements are considered and patients are encouraged to have input into the final result. In cases where there has been significant change to the tooth bearing area advanced grafting techniques and/or restorative procedures can be undertaken to optimise the final result.
When are dental implants placed?
Immediate placement means the implant is placed directly into a tooth extraction socket. Immediate placement will reduce overall treatment times but is reserved for cases with sufficient healthy bone to achieve initial implant stability.
If the bone is not healthy or requires augmenting then the implant placement is usually delayed for eight to twelve weeks after tooth extraction.
After care, what's involved?
Implants are not "Fit and Forget” they need the same care and attention as natural teeth. On completion of treatment it will be necessary to attend recall appointment to check the condition of the implants and the replacement teeth they support or retain.
After this, regular reviews are recommended to monitor the condition of the implants and any remaining natural teeth. Also regular hygiene maintenance appointments are essential, as a build-up of plaque will cause inflammation and possible bone loss from around your implants, resulting in their eventual loss. This condition is called peri-implantitis and is very similar to gum disease around natural teeth.
If you have teeth and implants mixed together it is also very important to maintain the health of the natural teeth. Should the natural teeth become infected or are lost for any reason the remaining implants may be damaged by the extra pressure caused by the additional work load.
We generally ask your dentist to carry out implant maintenance for straight forward cases where only one or two dental implants have been placed. If you have one or more potential risk factors for implant complications or we have placed multiple implants we generally take care of the maintenance program. This service is carried out by our hygienists and isn’t included in the initial cost of implant treatment.
We believe the cost of dental implants should never stand in the way of your health. While our prices are competitively aligned with other experienced implant dentists in Thorpe Bay, we also offer 0% finance options to make your dream smile achievable.
SPECIALIST DENTIST IN PROSTHODONTICS
BDS, BSc (Hons), MClinDent, MPros RCS (Edin)
GDC NO. 82530
SPECIALIST DENTIST IN PERIODONTICS
BDS, BDS, MFDS RCS (Edin), MClinDent, MPerio RCS (Edin)
GDC NO. 114278
Specialist Dentist in Oral Surgery
BDS Lond 1999, FDS, FFD, FFGDP, FHEA, DLM
GDC no. 76559
Portman Dental Care Awards
