Dental Implants - Stonemead House Dental Practice - UK

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Dental Implants - Stonemead House Dental Practice - UK
What are Dental Implants
Dental implants are small metal cylinders with an external and internal screw thread which are surgically placed into the jaw bone. They're made of absolutely pure titanium and must not be touched by any other type of metal. Each implant is usually called a 'fixture'.
How do they work?
It is an accident of nature that pure titanium is not rejected by the body's immune system. In fact, the bone cells actively grow onto the implant surface and lock it into place. This process is known as ' osseointegration' (or just 'integration'). The integrated fixtures then become like new tooth roots. These can then be built upon to form a crown or a bridge or it can hold a denture in place. Implants can replace a single tooth or a whole mouthful of missing teeth.

Can everyone have implants?
There are a few medical conditions which prevent the use of implants but these are rare. There is no age limit and elderly patients are often quite suitable. However, implants need enough good quality bone to lock into. Certain individuals may not have enough bone in the right place or the bone may be too fragile to support an implant. This can sometimes be overcome by bone grafting or bone augmentation procedures.
Why can't my own dentist do it?
Implant work is complicated and expensive to perform and the training is also expensive. It is regarded as a special form of dentistry and not all dentists have trained or invested in the required equipment.
Will it be successful?
No treatment can be guaranteed to work but implants have a high success rate in the right cases. It is our policy to screen all prospective patients thoroughly in advance to ensure that they're suitable for the technique. We also still use the established protocol of leaving implants in place for months before they're used. To date we've only had one failed implant and it proved possible to successfully replace this one later. It is essential to care for implants properly once they're in your mouth or they may fail due to infection.
Will it hurt?
Not as much as you might expect! The fixtures are placed surgically but the operation has to be done very gently. It is comparable to having a tooth extracted, in terms of discomfort. You'll also need a much smaller operation to uncover the implant later. In cases of bone augmentation or grafting you may expect more post-operative discomfort. Each case is different but you'll be advised before treatment commences of any likely problems.

How long will it take?
Implant work is complicated and must be assessed properly first. A great deal of time is spent in the planning stage before anything is decided. This is because it's better to know before hand if failure is likely. Once the treatment has started, it's necessary to wait for the healing and integration to take place. This normally takes 3 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper jaw. After this the implants have to be built up to make new teeth. The total treatment can take anything from 4 to 18 months, depending on the complexity. Recent research suggests that implant fixtures can be used immediately in certain cases. There is little long term clinical evidence to support this at the moment but we're keeping a keen eye on developments.
What can go wrong?
Complications are rare in implants, provided the planning has been performed properly. Implants can fail due to infection at the placement stage or later if they're not looked after carefully. In rare cases implants can fail due to overloading from the bite. Smoking is regarded as a significant factor in implant failure and it is our policy not to perform implant procedures on smokers.
Do implants need special care?
YES!Implants are not 'alive' but the gum and bone surrounding the implant is and it can get infected. An infected implant will usually fail so good oral hygiene is crucial to success. Also implants are locked into the bone and will not move. (Your natural teeth had a shock absorbing system, which allows them to give under load). In people with a heavy bite the implants can become overloaded and this must be checked regularly. This might be done by your own dentist.
What can I expect after treatment?
The first operation to place the fixtures is usually performed under local anaesthetic. You should expect mild discomfort after this treatment, equivalent to having a tooth extracted. The second operation to uncover the implants is quite minor and rarely causes discomfort. Once the implants have integrated, placing crowns and bridges on top is simply a matter of screwing or cementing them in place. It's actually less uncomfortable than normal crown and bridge work and is usually performed without local anaesthesia. However, because implants are solidly fixed to the bone everything needs to be made to very close tolerances. For this reason implant bridgework is much more demanding than conventional bridgework. Finally you'll be given a post-operative care plan to keep the implants in good order.
Aftercare
Your dentist will receive copies of the X-ray films to put with your dental record card. We'll also ask your dentist to take X-ray films at suitable intervals to check that all is well. If there are any problems or concerns, you may be asked to return here for advice.