Dental Implants

I’ve heard about implantology and what a difference it could make to your life - whatever your age. What are they and why do we keep hearing more about them?

Dental implants are the modern way of replacing one or more missing teeth.

Part of the reason that dental implants have become very popular is the fact that they give the option to stabilise loose dentures and replace missing teeth with a fixed prosthesis – they can also improve eating and speaking ability, bringing confidence, comfort and enjoyment to

Now here’s the technical bit! A dental implant is a titanium substitute for a natural tooth root. Each implant is placed carefully into a socket prepared into healthy bone of the patients jaw and allowed usually to heal under the gums for a period of 3-5 months.

During this healing period the surrounding bone grows and matures around the implant surface. Once the healing is complete through different components the implants can support either a removable denture or a fixed bridge.

The implants and the teeth they support look and feel like real teeth, and ensure patients enjoy more dental comfort than that offered by traditional dentures; implants are secure and stable in the mouth, and help to maintain the shape and structure of the jaw, which can be adversely affected if teeth are missing from the bone.

Who would be suitable for Implants?

If you have good general health or a well controlled medical condition it is possible to undergo an implant treatment.

However habits such as excessive drinking or smoking can affect the short and long term success of your implant treatment. therefore we strongly recommend cutting down or quitting entirely. Also it is widely advised that dental implants should be placed in a healthy and stable mouth. Therefore basic dental health that includes the treatment of gum disease, repair of decayed teeth and elimination of abscesses is essential for a successful implant treatment. 

There will always be an initial consultation to determine a patient’s suitability for treatment.

If I go ahead with my implants what will be involved?

Dental implants involve a minor surgical procedure as described above and some patients might be anxious about undergoing this. This is something we can discuss before treatment begins as there are several very effective means to help you achieve a relaxed state.

Sedation is probably the most popular way. There are two ways this can be done, either with oral sedation where a short-acting dose of a drug like Temazepam is given, or intravenous sedation where a carefully controlled amount of sedative in administered through a vein for a long as the treatment takes.

During this procedure your heart rate and oxygen levels are monitored. Finally general anaesthesia could be an alternative but is used only for extensive used for complex cases - for example where large numbers of implants are being placed at the same time. Most patients will not require a general anaesthetic since conscious sedation is very much safer and has fewer post-operative complications.

How will the implant process affect me day to day?

Although concerns can be expressed about possible pain and discomfort involved in the procedure, the process is relatively pain-free and patients find themselves able to resume their normal eating habits soon after treatment.

Implants when looked after can also last for many years and there’s a high success rate in their application.

How much will it cost?

Costs vary between patients depending on the scale of the treatment to be undertaken; please speak to our implant co-ordinator for an individually-tailored dental plan, including if required a procedure by procedure monthly breakdown of payments and appointments.

To find out more please contact Chell direct on: (01427) 615 117