Dental Implants

Dental implants are a restorative treatment available at Freshdental Smile Clinic, able to replace missing teeth, fill in unsightly gaps and vastly improve the aesthetics of a smile.  Our expert dentists are well versed in the latest implant procedures; they use the highest quality materials and most modern technology to deliver a unique dental experience. This is an advanced treatment and as such one our patients tend to have many questions about. We have accordingly provided answers below to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding dental implants:

What is a Dental Implant?

When a tooth is removed or lost, whether it is due to injury or decay, a dental implant can offer a replacement for the root portion of the tooth. Made from titanium alloy, the implant is placed directly into the jawbone after which they can support crowns, bridges or dentures to complete aesthetic transformation.

What does treatment involve?

Initially, the dentist will ensure there is sufficient bone to support the implant. Then, if this is found to be the case, the dentist will begin treatment by placing you under local anaesthetic, or for the more nervous patient intravenous sedation, to ensure a painless procedure. A small hole will then be drilled into the jawbone using a special dental drill, wherein the titanium implant is fitted and left to heal for around 3 to 6 months. During this time a temporary tooth will be attached. Then, once integration is complete the dentist will be able to fit a crown, bridge or denture according to your wishes.

How long does treatment take?

The length of treatment will differ per patient. However, on average you can expect treatment to take around 1-2 hours for each implant. Our team will be able to advise on when appointments are necessary and if you will need to take any time off work.

What if I need a bone graft?

A bone graft is a procedure used when there is insufficient bone to support an implant. This is usually due to instances where the patient has suffered from gum disease, lost teeth but not had them replaced or where ageing has weakened the bone. At one time it was believed not possible to use implants in places where there was insufficient bone, but modern advances in dentistry have seen this change. Bone grafts are able to take bone from other areas of the body (usually the hip) or artificial substitutes and to use these to strengthen the jawbone ready for an implant to be fitted.

This is a straightforward procedure and one out team at Freshdental Smile Clinic are happy to discuss with you.

Are dental implants a better option than bridges & dentures?

Though each restorative method has its advantages dental implants are commonly seen as a better option due to the level of stability and comfort they offer. One of the other major strengths of implants is that they prevent further shrinkage of the jawbone when a tooth is lost.

Whereas dental bridges are anchored onto neighbouring teeth for support, implants are placed directly into the jawbone to allow for greater support and tooth strength. What's more, dental bridges tend to last around 10-15 years whereas implants can offer a longer lasting treatment if properly taken care of. Dental bridges and dentures also tend to require neighbouring healthy teeth to be prepared in some way, usually by way of filing. Implants, in contrast, are placed into the jawbone usually without any need to disturb adjacent teeth.

Removable dentures need to be constantly taken out to be cleaned and can be loose for some patients, though they can be made more stable with mini-implants of normal sized implants. Dental implants, on the other hand, are able to mimic the stability of natural teeth and are permanently fixed.

Possible complications

There is the chance that the implant may fail to integrate with the bone and this can cause a failure, but this occurs in only rare cases. By assessing each case individually and scrutinising every step of the implant procedure our team at Freshdental Smile Clinic are able to identify possible risks and achieve smile perfection.