Dental Implants
Dental implants are a very successful treatment for replacing a missing tooth. Implants look, feel and function like a natural tooth.
Full dental implants have become increasingly popular - helping patients to achieve the perfect smile.
There are so many benefits of a dental implant.
Implants are self-supporting and so other teeth are less likely to be overloaded or damaged.
If a tooth is removed from the jaw bone, gums tend to shrink away in the site as part of the healing process. This can cause discomfort / impact on aesthetics. A dental implant placed in the same site (ideally within 2 months), can help to retain the bone and gum just like a tooth does.
It is not usually necessary to plan an implant to replace every missing tooth. In fact it is possible to rebuild a whole lower set of teeth sometimes on only 4 implants.
Implants can also be used to stabilise dentures. So you can still enjoy your steak without worrying about your denture moving!
Implant treatment has two different stages.
Stage 1: About 6 – 8 weeks after an extraction has been carried out, an implant is placed in the jaw. This time allows the tooth socket to be verified and completely clear of infection or inflammation.
Stage 2: Approximately 8 weeks after the implant is placed, the gum is opened and an abutment is fixed to the implant. Once the abutment is placed, the gum tissue is then closed around, but not over, the abutment. Afterwards, the gums must heal for one or two weeks before impressions are made of the mouth and remaining teeth in order to recreate the perfect fake teeth implants. These impressions are the key to making a realistic-looking artificial tooth.