A dental implant is a small titanium screw that is surgically placed into the gap created by missing tooth. Once in position, the implant begins to integrate with the surrounding bone and tissues, firmly anchoring itself in position. When the implant is healed and secure, the second stage of the treatment can begin. The second stage entails the fixing of a crown or bridge firmly onto the implant. This restored tooth will look natural and blend in with the rest of your teeth, as it is designed to match their colour, size and shape exactly.
It is important to replace missing or failing teeth, as with fewer teeth on which to chew, the stresses on the remaining teeth increase and reduce their lifespan. Unopposed teeth can change position and interfere with the way you bite and chew, so causing further damage in the future.
Who is suitable for dental implants?
Dental implants are one of the best solutions to missing teeth. To be a good candidate for implants, you need to have:
- Enough bone in the jaw to support the implant
- Healthy gums
- Good overall health
To benefit from dental implants you must also be committed to an excellent oral hygiene routine, which involves brushing your new teeth twice a day and taking care of the gums surrounding the implanted teeth.
Planning and restoration of dental implants
All implant work begins with a full assessment of your mouth and bite. Once a treatment plan has been created by us, we then involve one of our trusted surgeons who will place the implant(s).
It is very important that implants are placed in an ideal position for both appearance and function. We pre-plan with the surgeon and technician where the implant should be placed and which type of implant is to be used.
After the initial surgery, we will oversee the healing phase. Once the implant has fused to the bone, we then fit the crown, bridge or precision attachment to the implant.
With careful planning, dental implants have proved to be a very reliable restoration with a good long term prognosis.
