Implants
Whether you’re missing one or all of your teeth, there’s now an exciting option that will help you smile with confidence again. Thousands of people are benefiting from this fabulous tooth replacement technique that can be performed right here in our practice.
Benefits available from dental implants include:
- Replacement teeth look, feel and function like natural teeth
- Improved taste and appetite, as no plastic in palate
- Improved appearance and aesthetics
- The ability to chew without pain or gum irritation
- The ability to chew without pain or gum irritation
- Increased masticatory efficiency, thus less digestive problems long term
- Preservation of the jaw bone and facial profile
- Improved quality of life and self confidence
Implants are essentially titanium screws that are placed into the jawbone. After a few months the implant becomes anchored to the surrounding bone. A natural looking porcelain crown is then attached to the implant to replace the form and function of a real tooth. The finished result? A restoration that looks so natural, no one will know it’s there except you!
Implants can be used to restore:
ONE OR MORE MISSING TEETH: Implants offer an option to restore your mouth back to dental health; easily and safely with very little discomfort. Avoid the unsightly gaps in your smile, and do it without the need for removable dentures
FULL DENTURE WEARERS: Implants can stabilize your denture so that they no longer move while eating or talking, even without the use of denture adhesives. Say good bye to sore spots, restore your chewing power, reduce the progression of bone loss, go back to eating the foods you enjoy or ELIMINATE YOUR DENTURE ALL TOGETHER!!
PARTIAL DENTURE WEARERS: PARTIAL DENTURE WEARERS: Implants are a wonderful alternative for you !! Eliminate your denture and return to the look and feel of natural teeth without having to take your teeth out at night, all can be permanent, eliminate all that is removable
implant treatments
Reasons to choose Dental Sense for Dental Implants:
- Free Implant Consultation
- Competetive Prices and discount for Multiple Implants
- Personalised Treatment and Care from Start to Finish
- Clear Explanations / Illustrations of procedures and costs from the outset
- Only Market Leading Implants from ‘Ankylos’ and ‘Biohorizons’ used
- Single Missing Teeth Solutions to Full Mouth Rehabilitations
- Complex Implant treatments to including: Bone Grafting, Sinus Augmentation
- 24 Hour Implant Aftercare and Support
- Weekend /Late Night Appointments Available
- Payment plans and 0% Finance Options Available
- Access to 3D Imaging CT Scanner (increases predictability and success rate of treatments)
- IV Sedation for a comfortable & relaxing experience
- See what others say - testimonials and experiences can be discussed with other patients.
Most patients can receive implant treatments in our practice. We will use a local anesthetic and if required IV Sedation to ensure maximum patient comfort during the procedure.
Dental implants have helped thousands of people to eat, smile and speak with renewed self-confidence. Patients who practice good oral home care and regular dental checkups can enjoy implants that last a lifetime. So should you have a gap where a tooth has been lost, you may wish to speak to us about the possibility of implants. We can help you decide if a dental implant is right for you.
Dental Implants - the tooth replacement solution
Are missing teeth causing you to miss out on life?
Missing teeth and loose dentures make too many people sit on the sidelines and let life pass them by. However, today’s modern treatment plans can replace everything from a single missing tooth to a completely missing arch. Ask your dentist about the different dental implant options that are available to you. Don’t let another day go by without taking this important first step to restoring your confidence and your smile!
Stop the bone loss that can lead to premature aging.
Losing one or more of your teeth starts a chain of events that can have dire physical and cosmetic consequences. The most obvious result is a gap in your smile. Less obvious is the loss of chewing function and the inability to eat a complete diet that can result from tooth loss. While these are certainly serious issues, a potentially bigger problem lies hidden beneath the surface: bone loss.
Your jawbone needs the chewing action of the teeth to stimulate it and keep it strong. Otherwise it will begin to disappear (atrophy) in the same manner that the unused muscles beneath a cast supporting a broken bone get smaller. Without the support of your teeth and facial bones, your face will begin to look prematurely aged. The good news is that tooth replacement with dental implants offers a solution to help prevent bone loss.
| Facial appearance with healthy teeth and bones | Appearance after tooth loss | Appearance after tooth and bone loss |
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Tooth replacement options
Traditional treatment options for tooth replacement, Crown & Bridge and full or partial dentures, address the short-term cosmetic problem of missing teeth, but do nothing to stop bone loss. Crown & Bridge also requires that two or more healthy teeth be ground down to serve as abutments (posts) for a bridge, leaving them at a much greater risk for cavities and endodontic failure. If the original abutment teeth fail, more healthy teeth must be sacrificed to serve as posts, while you continue to lose bone beneath the bridge.
With implants, however, the healthy teeth are left alone. Dental implants, like natural teeth, also transmit chewing forces to the jawbone, which reduces bone loss. This is why many leading dental organizations now recognize dental implants as the standard of care for tooth replacement.
| Untreated Missing Tooth | Traditional Crown & Bridge | Implant with a crown |
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Who is a candidate?
Dental implants can be placed in most adults who are in good to moderate health. They are not typically placed in adolescents until they have reached their full expected physical maturity. Certain uncontrolled medical conditions may decrease the effectiveness of implant treatment, so be sure to discuss your full medical history with your doctor before beginning treatment.
Every patient is different and patient results may vary. Only a trained clinician can determine the best treatment plan for you. Please ask your doctor to explain the benefits and risks to see if tooth replacement with implants is right for you.
A brief history of dental implants
Even early civilizations recognized the benefit of tooth replacement. Archeologists have recovered ancient skulls where teeth were replaced by materials such as cast iron and carved sea shells. Despite primitive methods and materials, some of these early implants actually fused with the bone. This fusion is called osseointegration, and is necessary for implants to be successful.
Titanium dental implants have been placed extensively since the 1970s. Titanium offers the benefit of being lightweight and strong, and is not rejected by the body (biocompatible). It is the most widely used metal in orthopedic joint replacement and dental implants. Dental implants have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device.
Today’s dental implants
Modern dental implants are precision devices, available in several different designs to address your specific needs. The most common type is a titanium screw that is anchored into the jawbone where it serves as post for a custom-made tooth crown. Once the crown is in place, you may not be able to tell it apart from your natural teeth.
| Natural Tooth | Dental Implants |
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Single Tooth Replacement
An implant may be used to replace almost any missing tooth, provided there is adequate bone at the site. If not, modern procedures can usually be performed to regenerate enough bone to safely place an implant.
The implant is placed in the bone below the gum tissue. A temporary abutment may be placed on the implant until the healing phase is complete. A cosmetic temporary crown can often be made to fill the missing space.
After healing, the abutment is attached to the implant. It will hold a custom-made crown that the dental laboratory will mold and match to your existing teeth.
In the final step, the custom crown is cemented onto the abutment. The tooth has been replaced without disturbing the healthy teeth next to it and bone loss has been eliminated.
Multiple tooth replacement
Implants can also be used to replace several teeth, eliminating the need to grind down healthy adjacent teeth to serve as posts for traditional Crown & Bridge therapy.
The implants are placed in the bone below the gum tissue. Like single tooth replacement, temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete.
After healing, the abutments are attached to the implants. They will hold a custom-made bridge that the dental laboratory will mold and match to your existing teeth.
In the final step, the custom bridge is cemented onto the abutments. The teeth have been replaced without disturbing the healthy teeth next to them, and bone loss has been halted.
Implant-supported prosthesis (removable)
If all your lower teeth are missing, five implants may be used to support a lower denture.
If all your upper teeth are missing, six or more implants may be used to support an upper denture.
The implants are positioned just below the gum tissue and given time to fuse with the bone. Temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete. Your existing denture can be modified so that it may be worn without disturbing the implants during the healing process.
You will be fitted for a custom-made bar that attaches to the implants to support a new denture. Your existing denture may be modified to be worn during this period.
The new denture will have attachments which snap or clip it into place. Your new teeth are firmly supported by the jaw, stimulating it and halting bone loss. You will be able to remove the denture easily for cleaning.
Implant-supported prosthesis (Fixed)
If all your lower or upper teeth are missing, a permanent bridge may be attached directly to the implants. The number of implants is determined by the specific requirements of each case.
The implants are positioned just below the gum tissue and given time to fuse with the bone. Temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete. Your existing denture may be modified so that it can be worn without disturbing the implants during the healing process.
You will be fitted for a custom bridge that screws directly into the implants. The screw holes will be covered after insertion.
Your new teeth are firmly supported by the jaw, stimulating it and halting bone loss. Your dentist will be able to remove the prosthesis when necessary for cleaning and maintenance.
Bone Regeneration/Grafting
Following infection/tooth loss and or periodontal disease bone is destroyed and may not allow successfull implant placement. However at Dental Sense we offer a wide range of augmentation treatments from bone graftings to sinus lifts.
Bone grafting for the dental patient.
Most dental bone grafting procedures are done to restore your bone to its original form following tooth loss, gum disease or trauma. It may also be used to maintain its shape after tooth extraction.
Restoring and maintaining facial bone structure is important for several reasons. Many dental procedures, such as implant placement, require that the bone be as close to its original dimension and position as possible for optimal results. Also, the jaw and other facial bones support the skin and muscle that are responsible for our outward cosmetic appearance. Without the support of the underlying bone, our faces can look prematurely aged.
How does bone grafting work?
During the body’s normal maintenance cycle, specialized cells in the blood continually enter your tissue to remove damaged cells and replace them with new, healthy cells. Grafting procedures place a framework of material in the areas of missing bone into which these cells can enter and start the rebuilding process. Over time your cells will remodel the graft material into your own functioning bone.
Where does bone grafting material come from?
Bone grafting material comes from several sources. Autograft bone is material that is taken from another point in the patient’s body and transplanted to the desired site. It is a good graft material since it contains the patient’s own cells, and carries no risk of disease transmission. The chief drawbacks are that it requires a second surgical procedure, and enough harvestable bone may not be easily available.
Allograft bone is material that was taken from an organ donor and processed to ensure its safety and improve the handling characteristics. The advantages of allograft bone are that it is available in unlimited quantities and it does not require a second procedure to harvest it. Allograft bone has been well documented in clinical trials, and has an excellent safety record.
| Bone Grafting: Before | Bone Grafting: During Healing | Bone Grafting: After |
Cross-section of a jaw that has lost volume following tooth loss. There is not enough bone to safely place a dental implant. |
The patient's cells migrate into the graft and remodel it into new bone. Over time host bone will completely replace the allograft material. |
Restored jaw now has adequate room for placement of a dental implant to replace the missing tooth. |