By Clifton Wan, General Dentist and Implant Surgeon, Abbots Lodge Dental Practice and Ferring Dental Practice.

As we successfully treat and prevent more dental diseases, more of us keep our own teeth for longer (thankfully, the days of removing all teeth to be replaced by dentures as 21st birthday presents are long gone!). Unfortunately, the need for removal of teeth still arises, either from infection, breakdown, gum disease or trauma.

Losing a tooth has a knock-on effect on the way you chew, the surrounding bone in your jaw, the neighbouring teeth and the soft tissue that the tooth supports. Replacing teeth can be important for restoring form, function and aesthetics.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental Implants are gaining popularity in the UK as the most tooth-like replacement for a missing tooth. They are made of titanium and placed in the jawbone underneath the gum. The material is specifically treated to allow the bone to stick to the implant in a process called “osseointegration”. Success rates for this process are as high as 98%. Once healed, the implant to bone connection is incredibly strong and allows us to use them in a number of different ways. We can use a single implant to replace a single tooth, multiple implants to support multiple teeth or to support and stabilise dentures.

Are Dental Implants right for me?

A careful and thorough consultation and assessment are required in order to determine whether dental implants are likely to be suitable for you.

At Abbots Lodge Dental Practice, we offer a free initial implant consultation to discuss your needs and whether dental implants would be the right option for you.

If it is, we will carry out a comprehensive examination using state-of-the-art technology to aid our treatment planning for you. We benefit from on-site CBCT scans (3D x-rays to view exact dimensions of your jaw), intra-oral scanning, clinical photography and Digital Smile Design software to help us precisely plan your care.

What is involved?

The treatment is considered a minor surgical procedure. Most commonly carried out under local anaesthetic and occasionally with intra-venous sedation. With the careful steps we take during the planning phase, the procedure takes a shorter amount of time. Once the implant is installed there is a three month healing period before impressions are taken to fabricate a bespoke tooth which is then attached to the implant.

Once completed, it is important to keep everything in a great condition so that the treatment will last as long as possible. We will recommend regular appointments with your dentist and dental hygienist to maintain the health of your teeth, implants and gums.

Can my dentist provide Dental Implants?

Possibly, providing dental implants requires further training following initial qualification as a dentist. Please discuss with your dentist if they are happy to provide this for you, if not, we would be very happy to help!

If you have been considering replacing missing teeth, or want to explore your options, we’d be delighted to see you. You can call us on 01903 783154, e-mail us at info@abbotslodge.com or simply pop-in to arrange an appointment.