ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS RIGHT FOR YOU?
As the Dental Implant market has grown incredibly over the last 10 years, dental implants are fast becoming the treatment of choice for many edentulous(missing teeth) patients. Shorter treatment times and a wider knowledge and acceptance amongst the general public of the benefits of dental implants are not the only reasons! A few more reasons include:
Improved quality and ease of use. Today's dental implants last longer and are easier to place and restore than implants from 25 years ago. In fact, implants are now recognised as the best choice in many cases by both specialists and general dentists.
Demographics. Baby boomers are looking for ways to maintain a youthful, attractive appearance. Dentures are not for them.
The Smile Factor. Cosmetic dentistry has become an acceptable part of UK culture. Implants are an integral part of this.
Extremely high success rates for dental implants. Depending on the source of the data, dental implant success rates are 95% or higher over 10 years - notably higher than many traditional services, including root canal treatment and dentures. This has led to more practices offering dental implants as a preferable treatment alternative to crowns, bridges and removable dentures.
A better option for patients with missing teeth. Most patients wearing full dentures would benefit from dental implants in many ways. Patients need to think of implants, not as an expensive luxury, but as a standard quality-of-care option.
Increased insurance coverage. More dental insurance companies are covering some of the cost of implant treatment. An implant with a crown is usually about the same cost as a three-unit bridge, but statistically lasts much longer.
BUT WHAT EXACTLY ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
A dental implant is used to support one or more false teeth. It is a titanium screw that can replace the root of a tooth when it fails. Just like a tooth root, it is placed into the jawbone.
ARE IMPLANTS SAFE AND HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST?
Dental Implants, much like natural teeth, will last for as long as you care for them.
How well you look after your implants - and whether you go for your regular maintenance appointments - will have the biggest impact on how long they will last.
If your implants are well looked after, and if the bone they are fitted to is strong and healthy, you can expect them to last for many years. However, just as with other surgical implants (such as a hip replacement) there is no lifetime guarantee.
CAN IMPLANTS ALWAYS BE USED TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH?
It depends on the condition of the bone in your jaw. Your dentist will arrange for a special CT scan to find out the amount of bone present. College Street Dental Centre, Petersfield, have their own CT scanner onsite, many other practices send their patients to us to have their scans. If there is not enough bone, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting bone material into the area first.
HOW LONG DOES THE TREATMENT TAKE?
Your dentist will be able to give you a rough timetable before the treatment starts.
Usually the permanent false teeth are fitted 3-4 months after the implants are put in.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
After your implants have been placed, the bone in your jaw needs to grow onto to them and fuse to them. If you are having 2, 3 or more teeth replaced, you may have a temporary denture in the meantime. If you have full dentures, you can keep wearing these while your implant are healing.
DO THE IMPLANTS SHOW?
Most implants look exactly like natural teeth.
CAN I GET THE TREATMENT ON THE NHS?
Implants are not normally available on the NHS. Implants are available privately. However, in many situations, the cost of the treatment is only a little more than the cost of more conventional private dental treatment such as crowns and bridges. Over the long term, implants are usually a more cost-effective and satisfactory option.
There are other advantages too. If you have an implant to replace a single tooth, there is no need to cut down the teeth either side of it. If you had a bridge, your dentist would need to do this.
Normal dentures often mean you can't eat or speak well, because the dentures move about. But teeth attached to an implant don't cause these problems.
WHERE DO I GET THIS TREATMENT?
Talk to your dentist, so they can refer you to an experienced "implantologist" for assessement and treatment. Here at College Street Dental Centre, Petersfield, our Principal is our Dental Implantologist. Having been placing dental implants for 10years, Dr Khalessi is able to talk to you about your dental implant needs and perform the procedure in an experienced, safe, efficently and reassuringly friendly manner.
Contact the Practice for more information on dental implants on 01730 263180 or info@smileabout.co.uk.
For further information or advice contact College Street Dental Centre in Petersfield, Hampshire on 01730 263180
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