Frequently Asked Questions: Implants

Q.What is a dental implant?

A. A small screw (almost always made from titanium), that acts as the root of a tooth. Dental implants are biocompatible which means they fuse with your bone and become a fastener for your replacement tooth.

 

Q. Can implants be used for a single missing tooth and multiple missing teeth’?

A. Yes

 

Q. Why choose dental implants?

A. If you have a missing tooth and delay having treatment to have it replaced, this can have serious repercussions on your oral health and even extend to your overall health and appearance. You jawbone can shrink without the root structure of a natural tooth, making your face shrink and appear older than it is. Dental implants are:

  • Feel like your natural teeth.
  • A simple procedure.
  • Last a lifetime if properly maintained.
  • Can be maintained by simply treating them like normal teeth.
  • The success rate is extremely high – statistics confirm a success rate of almost 95%

Q. Implants vs dentures and bridges?

A. 

  • Enhanced appearance – Implants reduce the shrinking of your jawbone as well as replace your missing tooth – dentures and bridges cannot do this.
  • Permanent – implants are designed to last a lifetime, as long as they are looked after properly.
  • No need to adapt – Implants allow you to enjoy the foods your like – they are the closest thing to a natural tooth.

 

Q. What happens during treatment?

A. The procedure is normally performed over 3 phases which are a consultation/assessment, the surgical treatment and the restoration stage.

  • Consultation – your implantologist will discuss the whole procedure with you and review your requirements.
  • Surgical – Your implantologist will placed the implant into your jawbone – this will be performed under local anaesthetic. This placement usually takes between forty-five minutes to three hours. For more detail on this phase, visit the Implants page.
  • Restoration – If you required delayed loading, you’ll need to arrange a further visit to see your implantologist.

Q. How will I feel post-treatment?

A. It is likely that you will experience some discomfort – the level of discomfort depends on how many teeth you have had replaced. Your implantologist will supply you with painkillers should you require them.