Implants

What is an implant?

A natural tooth has a crown - the part which shows above the gum line and a root which is the anchor hidden below the gum line.

When a tooth is missing, a dental implant takes the place of the missing root— in most cases this is a titanium screw that is surgically placed in the bone, which then fuses with the living bone (a process known as osseo-integration) to form a strong foundation upon which a crown bridge or denture may be placed.

Are implants right for me?

If you have one or several missing teeth, you may be a good candidate for dental implants. Implant patients should be in good health with healthy gums and have enough bone in the area of the missing tooth/teeth to anchor the implants in the jaw. However, if you do not have enough bone for this purpose, a bone graft may be necessary. Commitment to daily brushing and flossing around the implanted teeth and surrounding gums, coupled with regular visits to your dentist and hygienist are extremely important to maintain your implants after placement.

What is a bone graft?

Bone grafting is common with dental implants and the bone used for this procedure is one of three types. One technique is to use bone taken from other areas of your mouth or that which is collected in a suction device as the drilling of the sites for the implants occurs. Sometimes bone is taken from areas such as a hip (this requires an orthopaedic surgeon and an operating room). The third source of the required bone is synthetic - this is the most frequently used type of bone for this procedure. It promotes a patients own bone cells to produce new natural healthy bone, usually over a period of about 3 months, at the implant site.

What does treatment involve?

Initially, a thorough assessment including x-ray pictures is carried out and the treatment is carefully planned. The surgical part of the treatment can be carried out using either local anaesthesia or sedation. After administering anaesthesia, your dentist exposes an area of your jawbone and prepares the bone for the implant. The process is repeated according to the number of implants that you need. The screw-type titanium fixture is set into the bone and your gums are then closed with stitches. The actual implant procedure can take between 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the work.

Recovering from implant surgery

In many cases, patients report that dental implants are less troublesome than having teeth removed. With modern anesthesia and close attention to post operative care, you can expect minimal discomfort. In any event there will probably be some dull pain, which can be lessened by taking pain relief tables over 2-5 days. The bone will feel sore and the surrounding gums tender and swollen, but during the first week, this discomfort will gradually subside.

Dependent upon the type of implant and the replacement teeth selected, the total healing time may range from three to six months. During this period, the bone grows in and around the titanium implant, creating a very strong support. Whilst you are waiting for healing and osseo-integration to take place, you may have some form of temporary tooth replacement. If you have only one tooth missing, your dentist may use a ‘Flipper’ to fill the space. This is a false tooth to temporarily take the place of the missing tooth before the permanent crown is placed on the implant. A Flipper can be attached via either a wire or a plastic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth. Flippers are only a temporary solution, whilst you wait for healing to take place and the permanent crown to be fitted.

As our life span increases, permanent replacements such as dental implants are becoming increasingly important. Implants look and feel much better than traditional removable bridges and offer the same benefits as a fixed bridge without the need to remove healthy tooth tissue. Implants can provide you with replacements that are both natural looking and very functional. A Dental Implant will last you a lifetime.