Dental Implants and All-On-4

Implant dentistry can be truly life changing. They have helped thousands of people to eat, smile and speak with renewed self-confidence.

What is a dental implant?

An implant is a titanium screw that is placed in the jawbone, where it integrates with the bone, and serves as a base for your replacement tooth.

Dental implants feel and behave just like natural teeth.

Are implants safe and how long will they last?

Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. Most modern implants can be expected to last for many years with the right care.

There are many benefits of having implants:

Fixed permanent solution to lost teeth
Improved physical appearance and function
Can be cleaned in the same way as your own teeth
Does not compromise adjacent teeth
Elimination of all common bridge and denture related problems

Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth?

This depends on the state of the bone in your jaw. We will arrange a number of special tests to find out the amount of bone. If there is not enough, or if it isn’t healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants, or a bone graft may be needed.

Implants can also be used to replace multiple missing teeth and are a particularly attractive option for dealing with large gaps. It’s not necessary to have one implant per tooth. Multiple missing teeth can be replaced with fewer well-positioned implants (see below).

What does the procedure involve?

We will be able to give you a rough timetable before the treatment starts on what it involves.

There are two ways implants can be placed:

Immediate - implant placement straight after tooth extraction (see Teeth in a Day)
Delayed - the extraction site is allowed to heal for 4-6 months and a second procedure is carried out to place the implant

Stages in implant treatment

Stage 1 - Extraction of tooth, allowing the area to heal. If the bone is deficient we may need to graft bone at this stage.

If the implant is being placed immediately, it will be placed at the same time.

Stage 2 - Once the implant has integrated, typically 3-6 months, a crown is fabricated by one of our technicians and either cemented or screwed to the implant. The restoration in most cases will appear indistinguishable from the adjacent natural teeth so you can feel confident knowing that you have your natural smile back.

Temporary restoration - Between stage 2 and 3, for teeth which are visible, a temporary restoration is fitted. This may be in the form of a denture, temporary crown or a sticky bridge.

Do implants hurt?

The procedure to place a single implant can be straightforward, with little to no downtime for our patients, however each case is different therefore we always advise a full consultation.

Placing the implants needs a small operation, classified as minor oral surgery. This can be done using a simple local anaesthetic, and sometimes with sedation if you are very nervous. You will not feel any pain at the time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week after the surgery. This is usually due to having stitches, and the normal healing process.

What is All-On-4?

By placing a minimum of four dental implants in strategic positions in each jaw, we are able to provide fixed replacement teeth.

Advances in technology allow us, together with our on-site technicians, to deliver this treatment from our very own surgery.

This is life changing for patients who may have been advised they have insufficient bone for dental implants, or for patients who are unhappy with their current teeth or dentures.

Who can have this treatment?

Most people who request this treatment are unhappy with their own teeth, their existing bridgework or dentures and want an alternative that is permanently fixed into place.

All our patients are assessed on an individual basis, to understand their concerns and establish their needs. We take into account their lifestyle, age and medical condition before proposing a suitable plan.

Benefits of Teeth in a Day

Instantaneous smile makeover with an improvement in appearance and function
You can eat again relatively quickly once the implants have been fitted
Minimal surgical intervention and healing as the treatment carried out in one day
Teeth are fixed in place permanently only removed for annual maintenance
Temporary teeth can often be fixed to limit the need for a denture
Home care and maintenance is relatively simple and easy
Viable alternative to complex sinus grafting and bone augmentation
Cost effective as a whole arch of teeth can be fixed to as few as 4 implants

Stages of treatment

Planning and preparation

Firstly we will assess your mouth to ensure your case is suitable.

X-rays will be taken for provisional planning and arrangements may be made for a CT scan to be taken. This provides us with an accurate 3D map of your jaw and allows for safe treatment planning with predictable long-term results.

Impressions and measurements will be taken to allow fabrication of the temporary bridge.

On the day

Our team will remove your failed teeth or bridgework and place the implants in their predetermined sites.

With the aid of our on-site technician we will work together to modify and attach the temporary bridge to the newly placed implants so you can walk out with fixed teeth.

The procedure can take two to four hours per arch, and both top and bottom can be done in one visit.

You have the option for treatment while you are awake with local anaesthetic, or with sedation if you are a little anxious.

The temporary acrylic bridge is typically worn during the healing phase and will act as a template and as a planning tool for your final smile.

Healing

For 12 weeks you have the opportunity to test your new smile and decide on any changes in the colour, texture and positioning of the teeth. During this period we will ask you stick to a soft diet and maintain excellent oral hygiene which is paramount for the success of such treatments.

Your final smile

Your final bridge is usually ready within four to six months of your initial treatment. It is made up of a computer milled titanium skeleton frame with a choice of composite, porcelain or acrylic teeth.

We will carefully review old photographs that you may have in order to re-create the smile you once had for the most natural look. Alternatively we can modify and make changes to give you the smile you have always wanted.

So if you are suffering with loose dentures, or feel nothing can be done for your teeth, then why not get in touch and see how we can help.