Dental Implants
Treatment
Dental implants
As a specialist periodontal practice, we undertake surgical dental implant placement and maintenance care.
Dental implants are titanium screws that are surgically implanted into the jaw bone. They are then left to heal and integrate with bone to gain the strength they need to support a tooth replacement. Implants may be used to replace a single tooth, by supporting a crown, or multiple teeth, by supporting fixed bridgework or a removable denture. Once the implant has been placed and healing is successful, the restoration (crown, fixed bridgework or removable denture) is fabricated by your general dentist.
Dental implants, like teeth, must be cared for carefully to ensure that their foundations remain sound. Careful oral hygiene – toothbrushing, flossing etc- are critical to keep plaque away from the implant and to keep the supporting tissues healthy, as are regular dental visits and hygiene care.
dental implants
Process and procedures
We can work with your general dentist to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. While dental implants have been used widely around the world for many years with high success rates, they are not suitable for everyone. Healthy gums and adequate bone support are necessary to for successful implant treatment.
Implant treatment begins with comprehensive treatment planning, often involving a general check of your dental and gum health, and a 3D x-ray to evaluate your bone. This will help us assess if an implant is a good option for you and determine if additional procedures are required to improve the gum and bone contours.
dental implants
Additional procedures can include:
If the ‘hopeless’ tooth is still present, implant treatment includes careful tooth removal to preserve as much of the surrounding bone as possible.Dependingon a number of factors, implants can be placed at the time of tooth removal; after some weeks healing (most commonly); or after several months healing.
There is always a degree of bone loss due to tooth loss and it is often necessary to add additional bone to support the implant. Grafting usually involves using some of your own bone harvested during the procedure (from the implant site) and some additional animal derived grafting materials. Bone grafting can be done at the time of tooth removal, prior to implant placement, or at the time of implant placement, depending on several factors including the amount of bone that you are missing and the area being treated.
dental implants
Surgical dental implant placement
And any related procedures – are performed under a normal dental local anaesthetic (numbing injections). There is typically a healing period of 3-6 months between implant placement and returning to your dentist for the restoration. The overall timing and fee for treatment will depend on a number of factors including the number of implants placed, the treatment complexity and the different components needed (i.e. grafting materials). An estimate of treatment fees will be provided following comprehensive exmination.
