Many of the most frequently asked questions about Implantation are answered here. If you have any questions that aren't, please do not hesitate to contact us.
What are implants? A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural root and commonly it is screw or cylinder shaped. Implants are usually made of titanium, a metal that is well-tolerated by the body. Over time, the jawbone becomes firmly united with the implant. A small attachment at the top of the implant emerges through the gum. Crowns, bridges or dentures can then be attached to the implant by screws or clips.
Why have implants? Implants are an alternative to conventional bridges and partial dentures. If you find that your full dentures move around a lot, implants will help to anchor the denture in place. When teeth are lost, the jawbone may start to shrink. Implants can help slow this process down. Your dentist may recommend using implants to support a bridge rather than cut into healthy teeth either side of a gap.
Replacing missing teeth is essential to your overall dental hygiene, as a gap leaves the remaining teeth unsupported. If left unsupported, the remaining teeth may drift along the jaw line, reducing the spaces between them; they may become weaker, making brushing and flossing more difficult. Missing teeth can jeopardize the integrity of the jaw line and change the shape of your face. Missing teeth can make you look older and less healthy.
Who is suitable for dental implants?
While increasingly popular, implants are not appropriate for everyone. You need to be medically fit and have healthy gums and a sufficient thickness of jawbone. Your dentist will assess the amount of bone still there. If there is not enough, or if it isn't healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting bone into the area first.
If I do not have enough bone, what can be done? Bone augmentation is a term that is used to describe a variety of procedures that are used to "build" bone so that dental implants can be placed. These procedures typically involve grafting (adding) bone or bonelike materials to the jaw, and waiting for the grafted material to fuse with the existing bone over several months.
After a bone-augmentation procedure, dentists usually wait 6 - 12 months before placing implants, although some dentists may place them sooner.
Sinus augmentation - In the upper jaw above the back teeth, it is possible to increase the height of bone available by creating new bone in the sinus. This procedure is called a 'sinus augmentation'. A skilled surgeon can deliver very predictable results in this location and without the general success of this technique many patients would be unable to have implants in a part of the mouth where teeth are so commonly missing.
How long does implantation take?
From the time of implant placement to the time of placing the first teeth, treatment times can vary between 2 weeks and 6 months.
Your dentist will be able to give you a personalized timetable before the treatment begins.
First stage The dentist will expose the bone in the jaw where the tooth is missing. Then he will drill a hole and insert a metal post into the bone. A temporary healing abutment is often placed on the implant to allow the gum tissues to heal and the maintenance of the emergence profile space to allow for proper contouring of the final restoration. This is usually done under a local anaesthetic, but sometimes sedation or a general anaesthetic is used at extra cost. The gum is then stitched over the post and it is left to heal while the bone grows around the post, making it secure. The surgery lasts about an hour.
A few days later a special laser treatment can be used which aids in the healing process and the stitches are removed. If you prefer, you could theoretically leave the day after the operation and have the stitches removed by your own GP or local dentist but our dentists prefer to complete the work themselves.
In certain cases, implants can be loaded immediately after tooth extraction. If you have your tooth or teeth extracted at home, there is a 8 - 10 week waiting period before implant surgery can begin.
Second stage
During second procedure in which replacement teeth are mounted onto the metal post. This requires a small cut in the gum above the implant. The replacement teeth might be single or in a group, and possibly as a 'bridge', attached to neighbouring natural teeth. They may be fixed permanently or attached in a way that lets you remove them for cleaning. Again this intervention lasts about an hour.
What else can be done with dental implants?
If you have no teeth in the lower jaw, and are not yet ready for multiple implant placements, a conventional lower denture can be considerably improved with two implants placed beneath the front section - this is called an 'overdenture' or retained denture. The same overdenture concept when used to treat the upper jaw, will usually require more implants as the bone is generally softer. Implant-supported overdentures, just like conventional dentures are still removed for daily cleaning, however, once back in the mouth, the implants make them much more stable.
What can I expect after implantation?
Following surgery, there will probably be bleeding, controlled by biting down on some gauze. Swelling may be controlled using an ice pack. Gums are generally sore after both surgeries for 7 - 10 days. You might be given antibiotics or painkillers to take during the period immediately following surgery. You will be able to drink but eating might be difficult for 24 hours after the implantation.
How do I care for my implants? To help maintain your implants you need to thoroughly brush and floss regularly. Your dentist will give you specific advice on caring for your implants. He or she will ask you to attend regular check-ups, and will usually take X-rays each year to monitor them.
What are the risks of implantation? While the world average success rate for dental implants is 97%, our dentistry achieves rates as high as 99.6%. This means that only 1 in 250 implants fail due to medical reasons - with another 1.5 failing due to the patient not giving up smoking on the doctor's advice.
With proper care, implants can last approximately 15 years. Just as you would expect conventional crowns, bridges and fillings to need occasional repairs or replacements during their lifetime, your implant supported teeth will also have similar maintenance requirements. Implant surgery is a safe procedure; however, as all surgeries it carries an element of risk. Before deciding whether or not to have implants, you need to be aware of the possible side effects and rare complications. Our specialists will advise you so you can make an informed decision.
What are the possible side effects of implantation?
Side-effects are the unwanted but mostly temporary effects of a successful procedure. Examples of side-effects include feeling sick as a result of the anaesthesia or sedation and some swelling and discomfort around the implant area.
What complications can occur?
Complications are problems that can occur during or after the procedure. Most people are not affected. The complications of any surgical procedure can include excessive bleeding, an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic or infection. It is likely that you will be prescribed antibiotics and an antiseptic mouthwash to reduce the risk of your implant becoming infected.
Your lower jaw contains nerves, which supply feeling to your tongue, chin, lower lip and lower teeth. In a small percentage of cases during implant surgery in the lower jaw the nerves may be bruised and may cause a tingling or numb feeling in your tongue, chin or lip. The chance of complications depends on the exact type of procedure you are having and other factors such as your general health.
Implants may not be an option for smokers or people with chronic conditions such as poorly-controlled diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer. This is because the implants are more likely to fail due to problems with the healing process.
