Dental_Implant_2_teeth.jpg

A diagram of a typical dental implant, used to replace a single missing tooth.

Dental Implants

I have been placing dental implants since 1993 and normally place between 100 and 200 each year. I have extensive experience of ancillary procedures, such as pre-surgical bone grafting, sinus augmentation and soft tissue grafts, and am an accredited clinical coach for the Astratech Dental Implant system. I am also a member of the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI), the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI). 

A dental implant is an artificial root, made of surgical grade titanium, that is inserted into the jaw bone and used to support an artificial tooth. Implants can be used to replace single teeth, several teeth or all of the teeth in one or both jaws. One of the major advantages of dental implants is that we do not need to cut other teeth, as we need to for crowns or bridges.

Every patient is different and a full assessment of your individual case will be performed. Once I have determined alternative treatment options for you I will explain these in more detail, before providing you with a written cost estimate.

The Association of Dental Implantology has produced a useful booklet for patient information. If you would like to download a copy click here.

 

Am I a candidate for an implant?

If you are considering dental implant treatment it is important that there is no active periodontal (gum) disease present in your mouth, as this can have a negative effect on your implant treatment. Once gum disease has been treated implant can be placed, however research suggests that failure rates for implants are slightly higher in patients with a history of gum disease.

It is believed that smoking can negatively affect the healing of bone and gum and could increase the chances of losing dental implants. It would be advisable to consider stopping smoking before proceeding with implant treatment.  

Success rates

 

Dental implants are extremely reliable and success rates of up to 98% have been quoted in research literature. It is important, however, to be aware that success rates are different in different parts of the mouth and those quoted for the lower jaw are higher than in the upper. My personal success rate is in the order of 98% in all parts of the mouth.  

Additional procedures that may be required

Defects in the jaw bone may occur following the loss of teeth, trauma or infection. Such damage may result in there being an inadequate amount of bone into which to place an implant. To overcome this we can place bone grafts of various kinds to build up the jaw and regenerate some of the lost bone.

In the upper jaw larger bone grafts can sometimes be required. This procedure is called a "Sinus Augmentation". I have carried out numerous such procedures over the years.  

Such procedures unfortunately add to the costs of treatment and the timescale.