Considering Dental Implants?
In the last decade dental implants have become widely used in mainstream dentistry and are usually the treatment of choice to replace a missing tooth. Here at Diana Dental we are placing implants regularly and are finding that more and more patients in Stoke on Trent are enquiring about them. If this treatment is something you have been considering or maybe even ruled out for any reason this might help!
What is a Dental Implant?
An implant is an artificial replacement for a tooth root, usually made from titanium. Once fitted, they will provide the foundations for the long term support or crowns, bridges or dentures.
Who is suitable for Dental Implants?
They are suitable for most adults with good general health. Habits such as heavy drinking or smoking can increase the number of problems associated with the initial healing and therefore maybe bad for the long term health of the gum and bone surrounding the implant. However, each case is different and if you do have any medical problems then please let us know and we can discuss this further.
How will I know if I am suitable?
We will provide a full consultation for you. You will need to have x rays and in some cases a CT scan may be required to assess the health and suitability of the bone. Establishing good dental health is a key stage in any treatment plan.
Do you need to have a healthy mouth?
We will ensure that you are dentally fit before we start the implant treatment and that this will be carried on for long after the implant has been placed for you.
How long does treatment take?
This varies from patient to patient, once you have had your initial assessment and we have all the records we need we will be able to give you an estimated treatment completion time.
How long will Implants last?
Once the implants and the surrounding soft tissues are seen to be healthy and the new teeth comfortable and correctly adjusted, it is the quality of your personal attention to oral hygiene and willingness to attend regular maintenance reviews that will have the most influence on how long the implant will last.
It could probably be said that implants will last as long as natural teeth. Well maintained implants placed in adequate bone can be expected to last for many, many years and possibly for your lifetime. However, just as you would expect conventional crowns, bridges and fillings to need occasional repairs or replacements your implant supported teeth may also have similar maintenance requirements over the years.
Is it uncomfortable when implants are being placed?
Most of you will be familiar with the dental anaesthetics used for routine dental treatment and also how effective they are. Implants are placed using the same anaesthesia. Afterwards you can normally expect a little bit of swelling or bruising afterwards and you might need to take some over the counter medication if you feel it is sore afterwards. Healing is generally straightforward and we will review you to make sure that everything is as we expect it to be.
How do I look after my Implants?
It is important that you maintain good oral hygiene with your implants to improve their lifespan. Cleaning your implant is not difficult. We will arrange an appointment with Kelly our oral health educator to go through with you how to do this.
If you are interested in using dental implants to replace missing teeth then please call us on 01782 307 066 to arrange a consultation. Not a patient? No problem we can still see you and we also take referrals from other practices.
