What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a titanium metal rod, which is placed into the jawbone. It is used
to support one or more false teeth. In practice, both the false teeth and their
supporting rod are known as ‘implants’.
Are implants safe? How long will they last?
Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. 95 per cent of modern
implants last for at least 25 years.
I have some of my own teeth. Can I still have
implants?
Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants – from one single
tooth to a complete set.
Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth?
It depends on the state of the bone in your jaw. We will arrange for a number of special
tests to assess the amount of bone still there. If there is not enough, or if it
isn’t healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting
bone into the area first.
Do implants hurt?
Placing the implants requires a small operation. This can be carried out under local
anaesthetic with sedation or with a general anaesthetic. You will not feel any pain at
the time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week following the surgery. This
is usually due to having stitches in place, and the normal healing process.
Can I have the new teeth straight away?
No. The implants need to bond (integrate) with the bone after they have been placed.
This takes at least 3 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper jaw. If you are
having one, two or three teeth replaced, you will have a temporary restoration in the
meantime. If you have complete dentures, then you can wear them throughout the healing
period once they have been adjusted after the surgery.
How long does treatment take?
It takes at least 4-6 months from the initial assessment to the time when the artificial
teeth or dentures are finally attached to the implants
A lot depends on how complicated your treatment is. We will be able to give you a
timetable once the surgery has been done.
Are the teeth difficult to clean?
Cleaning around the teeth attached to the implants is no more difficult than cleaning
natural teeth. However, there may be areas that give you problems and you’ll be
shown methods to help.
If I had gum disease when I had my own teeth, will I get it with the teeth
attached to the implants?
Yes, it is possible if you don’t care for them well enough. If you keep them
clean, and don’t smoke, there is less chance of having any problems.
Can I take the teeth out if they are fixed to
implants?
Most artificial teeth attached to implants can only be placed and removed by the
dentist. However, if you have complete dentures fixed to the implants by bars, then
you’ll be able to take them out for cleaning.
Do the implants show?
Your dentist will make sure that the implants won’t show during all normal
movements of the mouth and lips. You will need to be able to see them, so that you can
clean them properly.
Do I have an implant for each missing tooth?
No, unless you’re only having a single tooth replaced. Normally, five or six
implants are used to replace all the teeth in one jaw, as each implant can usually
support two teeth. For a few missing teeth, two or three implants may be used.
What if I get hit in the face?
Implants and the teeth they support can be damaged by an accident in the same way that
natural teeth can. However, if the false teeth are damaged and the remnants are left in
the bone then they may be more difficult to remove than natural teeth would be. After
healing, new false teeth can then be placed alongside the fragments.
What happens if the implant does not bond (integrate) with the
bone?
This happens very rarely. If the implant becomes loose during the healing period or just
after, then it is easily removed and healing takes place in the normal way. Once the jaw
has healed, another implant can be placed there. Or, the dentist can make a bridge,
using the implanted false teeth that have ‘taken’.
Is the treatment expensive?
In many situations, the cost of the treatment is only a little more than the cost of
more conventional treatment with crowns and bridges.
There are advantages. An implant to replace a single tooth avoids the need to cut down
the teeth either side for crowns to support a bridge. Normal dentures often mean you
can’t eat or speak well, due to the dentures moving about. But teeth attached to
an implant don’t cause this problem.
Where do I get this treatment?
Implants are available at our surgery. You are able to make an initial assessment
appointment with our resident consultant implantologist,
Dr Lance Kruger ,
who will assess whether implants are a suitable solution .
He will explain the process and give you an estimate and treatment plan.
Once the implant is integrated, your dentist will arrange for the teeth to be fitted
onto them.