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Dental Implants
We know how much missing teeth can be distressing and how they can knock our confidence. Have you lost all or some of your natural teeth? Thanks to advances in modern dentistry, bridges and dentures are not the only solution to missing teeth.
Implant dentistry offers a clinically proven and safe solution to getting a great smile back and being able to bite and chew with confidence.
How do they work?
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The actual dental implant is a small metal screw that is positioned in the jaw in the space of a missing tooth. The main aim during installation of any implant is to achieve close contact with the surrounding bone in order to ensure success and stability.
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Once fitted, the ’screw’ component provides the foundation for long-term support of crowns, bridges or dentures that can be fixed onto the implant, creating a natural-looking stable restoration.
Life Benefits
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Implants are a natural-looking way to replace missing teeth
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Implants help restore function so you can eat, chew and bite as usual
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When you lose your natural teeth, your jaw bone and surrounding tissues start to resorb or disappear over time. When implants are placed in the jaw, it stimulates the remaining bone to grow and mesh around the metal, along with tiny blood vessels, preventing further bone loss
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Retained bone support prevents the face from acquiring a 'sunken' look
Missing Teeth
When we loose teeth:
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The surrounding teeth can drift towards each other
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The tooth below/above the gap continues to grow
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The bone the tooth used to sit in, shrinks away
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Your face can sink in that region as the bone supports our lower face
As humans we adapt incredibly, however it means the longer the space is left the replacement, can be more challenging.
We can choose to replace a missing tooth with:
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A dental implant
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A bridge
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A removable denture
Bridges
If you need to replace a missing tooth, a bridge could be a good solution for you. This option replaces your missing tooth by holding onto an adjacent tooth or teeth.
How do they work?
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If there are teeth in the area that are sufficiently healthy and strong to support an artificial tooth they may be chosen to support the bridge
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The adjacent tooth (or teeth) are prepared by reducing their size to remove the enamel and make room for the porcelain or metal restoration
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A prosthetic tooth (or teeth) can be suspended between adjacent teeth in this way to provide a functional and cosmetic fixed replacement for the missing tooth
In certain cases it may be possible to use a ‘resin bonded bridge’ which can either have minimal preparation of the adjacent tooth and in some cases no preparation. With correct planning this option can be very successful and conservative to the remaining tooth structure.
Construction of a bridge often takes two visits. The first appointment would involve the preparation of the adjacent tooth (or teeth) and the second appointment would involve the fitting.
Life Benefits
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A natural looking smile
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Return of function allowing you to eat and chew a variety of foods
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Avoid giving your face the ‘sunken in’ appearance
Dentures
If you have multiple teeth missing, one solution is a denture.
Dentures are removable false teeth made from acrylic or metal. They comfortably fit over your gums to replace the missing teeth with the aim to eliminate the potential problems caused by gaps.
How it works:
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A denture is made from hard-wearing material that mimic the look of teeth and gums to give your mouth a natural appearance
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After impressions are taken, a denture is designed in a dental laboratory with a few appointments in between to ensure they are precisely adapted to your mouth
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Dentures are made to fit snugly on your gums and you will be able to remove them for cleaning
When you wear a denture for the first time it will take some getting used to when speaking, or eating, and chewing. It is important that you take extra care when conducting your hygiene regime so that you can avoid bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease.
The hygienist can work alongside you to show you how to best take care of your denture and gums and will tell you about specialised brushes you can use to do this.
Life Benefits
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A solution to replacing several missing teeth
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Designed to give you a natural-looking smile
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Enables you to eat and chew your food more effectively
Periodontics
Periodontal disease is more advanced gum disease which generally progresses by:
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The bacteria in your mouth destroy the attachment of the gum to the tooth forming a “pocket” between the gums and the tooth
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Bacteria then live in the pockets beneath the gum line and end up destroying the supporting bone
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Due to the this, periodontal disease can cause- bleeding, swollen gums, bad breath, long teeth, gaps between teeth, tooth movement, increased risk of root decay, tooth sensitivity, loose teeth, difficulty in chewing and earlier tooth loss
Anyone can get periodontal disease but some get more severe disease than others. This is largely dependent on individual risk factors including:
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Smoking
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Genetics
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Poorly controlled diabetes
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Stress
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Immunodeficiency
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Medication
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Pregnancy
On some occasions, periodontal disease can be treated and maintained by your regular Dentist or Hygienist. However, if your condition has not responded well to previous treatment or if it is severe, then you may benefit from a referral to a periodontal specialist.
You will have a comprehensive assessment and be offered specialist treatment options but their is always a team approach so we will work closely with your dentist and hygienist in order to provide you the best overall care.
Life Benefits
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Treatment and stabilisation of advanced gum disease
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Increase the longevity of your own teeth allowing you to keep your own teeth for longer
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Comfortably eat/chew
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Enhanced gum and overall health (there are studies that show a link of gum disease to heart disease/ diabetes)
