If you have missing teeth, especially in highly visible parts of your mouth, it can have a great impact on your daily life, as speaking and eating expose your missing teeth to people and smiling becomes something you try to avoid at all costs. If this is the case for you then why not get it fixed by having dental implants to restore your smile to its former glory?
Dental implants
Dental implants themselves are replacements for the root of a natural tooth and can resemble small screws. These implants are fitted into a small opening that will be drilled into your jaw bone in order the support new teeth, which can be one or several depending on what you require. If a tooth has been extracted then implants can often be placed on the same day. This is in order to create immediate contact between the implant and the jawbone to create better stability as the bone grows.
Once this is done, dental implants can support anything from crowns, dentures and dental bridges to help restore your smile.
Overall treatment time
Although the initial process may appear very quick and straightforward, it is important to note that the overall treatment time can take up to three months, due to check ups to ensure the implant and bone have bonded. However this is all dependent upon the patients and what their treatment plan is. Once this is all complete, dental implants can last anywhere between 15 and 20 years, ensuring you get the most out of your smile.
Although dental implants are a great way to help replace teeth and restore your smile, they aren’t suitable for everyone. We will determine this beforehand at Clifton Dental Studio when we check over your jawbone to ensure its health and its density can support an implant. In some cases a bone graft may be required.
If you have a missing tooth or a number of missing teeth you may be thinking about tooth replacement treatment, but which treatment is best and what’s the difference between dentures and dental implants?
Dentures
Dentures are prosthetic teeth, which have been used for decades to replace missing natural teeth. Dentures come in two forms: partial dentures, which are used to replace a small number of teeth and full dentures, which are used to replace an entire arch. Dentures are usually made from acrylic and plastic and we use the highest quality materials and the latest techniques to produce perfectly-fitting, natural looking dentures.
Dental implants
Dental implants work as a more modern tooth replacement treatment and they are suitable for patients of all ages. They can be used to replace single or multiple missing teeth. The aim of an implant is to replace the tooth root. Like a natural root, the implant lies in the bone tissue and this allows optimum stability for the new tooth. Once the implant has merged with the bone, it can be connected to a bridge, crown or denture to complete the replacement. Implants are built to last for many years and they are currently the most durable option on the market.
Which one is best for me?
There are many factors to consider when deciding which treatment is best for you. These may include your dental needs, your budget, treatment time and your preferences in terms of aesthetics and maintenance. Implants last a lot longer than dentures, they are easier to look after, they produce more natural looking aesthetics and provide greater stability than dentures, but treatment can take a long time and implants are expensive. Denture treatment is faster and more affordable.
When you have a consultation, we can weigh up the pros and cons with you and go through the ins and outs of each option to help you decide.
Dental implants are among the most exciting innovations in modern dentistry and they can literally change your life. It may sound dramatic to make this statement, but implants really can have a massive difference on the way you look and feel, as well as your ability to carry out essential functions, such as chewing and grinding food.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a modern solution for tooth loss. The idea is that the implant, which is made from titanium and resembles a small screw, replaces the root of the missing tooth. Once the implant has been placed inside a socket in the jaw bone, it will then start to integrate into the bone tissue, ensuring optimum support for the new tooth. Once the integration process is complete, the restoration is attached and this serves to replace the visible part of the tooth.
Implants are a long-term solution for tooth loss and they are also incredibly versatile, which makes them an excellent choice for patients of all ages with diverse dental needs. Implants are compatible with bridges, dentures and crowns, so they can be used in the place of one single tooth or multiple missing teeth.
How long does treatment take?
Implant treatment usually takes between 3 and 9 months. However, we do offer rapid treatment solutions, including All-on-4. When you have your consultation, your dentist can discuss different options with you.
What are the alternatives to implant treatment?
Other options for tooth replacement treatment include dentures and dental bridges. Bridges tend to last up to 15 years, while dentures need adjusting on a regular basis to fit the changing contours of the mouth. Dental implants are the closest match to natural teeth and they last a lot longer. However, they are more expensive.
We offer a range of tooth replacement treatments for patients of all ages. If you have a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth, we can help you to find an effective solution and enable you to enjoy a healthy, confident smile for 2015.
Our treatments
We are proud to offer a host of tooth replacement treatments to cater for our patients’ diverse needs. Whether you need to replace a single tooth or you are looking for a solution for a number of lost teeth, we can help.
Our treatment options include:
dental bridges
dentures and implant-retained dentures
dental implants
Dental bridges
Dental bridges are commonly used to replace a single missing tooth. They are usually made of a false tooth that is attached to a new crown on either side. Bridges can be made from ceramic or metals, and porcelain bridges are very popular because they provide natural aesthetics. The treatment process is simple and bridges usually last up to 15 years.
Dentures
Dentures are sets of false teeth that are designed to take on the responsibilities of lost natural teeth. We provide complete and partial dentures, both of which are tailor-made for the individual. Modern dentures are aesthetically pleasing, comfortable and functional and they offer a more affordable alternative to dental implants for patients with multiple missing teeth. We also provide implant-retained dentures. These dentures are anchored by dental implants.
Dental implants
Dental implants are a modern solution for tooth loss. These small screw-like appliances are made from titanium and placed inside tiny openings in the jawbone to replacing missing tooth roots. Once the implants have settled, they are then attached to a new restoration. Implants are wonderfully versatile because they can be connected to crowns, bridges and dentures. Implants are designed to last a lifetime and they are very easy to look after.
If all you want for Christmas is perfect teeth, we have just the answer. Our amazing implants are the perfect Christmas gift for patients with missing teeth.
About dental implants
Dental implants are a revolutionary innovation, which has changed the shape of modern dentistry. With this treatment, we are able to offer a permanent solution to tooth loss and enable our patients to enjoy beautiful, functional smiles.
Implants are made from titanium, a biocompatible material that enables the implant to integrate into the bone tissue in the same way as a natural root. Implants are placed inside small sockets in the jaw bone, and the process of osseointegration begins. Once the implant has settled completely, it can be attached to a new restoration and this replaces the tooth crown. Implants offer the same level of stability as a natural tooth root and they are extremely versatile, providing a solution for patients of all ages with diverse dental needs.
Are implants the best choice for me?
Dental implants are suitable for most patients and they can be used to replace single or multiple missing teeth. Implants are often preferable to other options, such as bridges and dentures, because they last a lifetime and represent a long-term option. Implants also help to reduce bone loss and offer enhanced tooth function due to the stability of the new tooth root.
In order to determine which treatment option is best for patients, we offer consultations in which our dentists to analyse a patient’s needs and examine their mouth to ascertain their oral health status. Once they are aware of the patient’s needs and preferences, our dentists can discuss options and help you to decide which one suits you best.
If you’d like to find out more about innovative implants this Christmas, call now and book your consultation!
If you’re thinking about dental implant treatment or you’re looking for a solution for missing teeth in and around Bath, here’s everything you need to know about our innovative implant treatments:
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are small, screw-shaped devices, which are made from titanium. They are used to act as a substitute for a missing tooth root. Implants are placed inside small holes in the jaw bone and secured. They then integrate into the actual jaw bone tissue and this enables them to support a new tooth in the same way as a natural tooth root.
Implants are compatible with single crowns, dentures or dental bridges, which means they are suited to patients of all ages with various dental needs. With implants, we are able to offer a solution for patients with a single missing tooth, several gaps or a full arch of lost teeth.
As well as providing amazing levels of stability, implants also offer incredibly natural aesthetics, durability and enhance comfort. They are easy to maintain and they also help to reduce the risk of bone loss. You will also be able to enjoy clear speech, enhanced facial aesthetics and increased power when you chew and bite food.
How long does treatment take?
Implant treatment takes times because the implants integrate into the jawbone tissue. This process, called osseointegration, can take up to 8 months. Although treatment is not a quick-fix, it does last a lifetime and therefore the results are well worth the wait!
For patients who are desperate for an instant solution for tooth loss, we can recommend All-on-4, a same day implant system, which is a great option for patients who have found dentures troublesome in the past. With this treatment, we are able to fit the implants and the new teeth on the same day.
Call Today On 0117 973 1910 Email info@cliftonsmiles.co.uk
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry