Implants

Missing teeth alter more than our appearance.

It’s important for our general health, especially good nutrition, to have teeth that are well-balanced and fit for purpose.

Missing teeth can lead to:

• altered speech
• jaws that don’t bite together well and therefore cause problems with chewing
• movement of remaining teeth to fill the space
• reduction of the strength, shape and density of the jaw, as teeth stimulate bone growth
• a reduced tone of facial muscles
• a decrease in gum tissue
• the loss of more teeth
• lowered self-esteem
• less participation in social activities that involve eating

As children, our baby teeth fall out. But as adults, we don’t want to lose our permanent teeth.

• Teeth are often knocked out, or badly damaged in accidents.
• Some people have congenitally missing permanent teeth, which is one more reason why children should have their developing teeth examined regularly by a dentist.
• Gum disease is the most common cause of tooth loss which is why a good oral hygiene routine is so important.
• Smoking decreases the blood flow to the gums increasing the chance of gum disease.
• Diabetes can lead to gum disease and subsequent tooth loss.
• Loss of bone density, especially in patients with osteoporosis, can cause teeth to become loose.

In short, a dental implant is an artificial tooth that’s fixed into a patient’s jaw.

Consider the structure of a tooth. There’s the root, the pulp, the dentine and the enamel. Having a dental implant allows for the structure of a whole tooth to be replaced. And, like a tooth, there are several parts to the artificial tooth.

• An implant is like the root of a natural tooth and is surgically fitted into the jaw bone. Once there, it becomes integrated with the bone.
• A linking abutment connects the implant in the jaw to the artificial tooth it supports.
• Aesthetic and functional, a crown fits over the abutment to closely resembles a natural tooth.

This is a difficult question to answer, as people have different lifestyles, priorities and expectations. It’s important to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages and reach your own decision.

Although dentures are usually cheaper than implants, they can be more problematic for the wearer than implants. The greatest advantage of implants is that they are fixed in place and function more like real teeth.

If you’re considering changing your dentures, it’s worth booking a consultation with your dentist to find out if you’re a suitable candidate for implants. They do not work for everyone, and your dentist can help you think about the pros and cons. Armed with more information about implants, including a cost estimate, you’ll be in a better position to decide whether or not to go ahead with dental implants.

If you are a registered NHS patient, your dentist will consider if an implant is clinically necessary as there are restrictions applied to cosmetic dental treatments.

The NHS states:
“Implants are… sometimes available on the NHS for patients who can’t wear dentures or whose face and teeth have been damaged, such as people who’ve had mouth cancer or an accident that’s knocked a tooth out.”

If you are registered as an NHS patient, a bridge or dentures may be the only solution your dentist can offer on the NHS to meet clinical requirements. If you wish to have implants, you may need to consider private care.

For a successful outcome, patients need to be committed to a series of appointments and procedures.
There are several steps to consider:

Initial consultation and treatment planning: Your dentist will take time to explain your options for suitable treatments to you. X-rays and models of your mouth show whether you are a suitable candidate for dental implant treatment or not. If so, our dentist will draw up a treatment plan, outlining the procedure, projected costs and time-frame. The consultation offers an opportunity to ask questions about dental implants, and to set realistic expectations.

Dental implant placement: The first step in building the new tooth involves the surgical insertion of a titanium post into the jaw bone. It is minor surgery, and, for the patient, is the most challenging part of the whole process. Some patients may also need bone regeneration treatment to strengthen the implant site.

The integration period: The time for the implant site to heal is very important. For a strong bond to form between the implant and the bone, the healing stage should not be rushed. It can take anything between six weeks and six months. During this time, patients can wear a temporary tooth or bridge.

Restoration: Once the site is healed and the implant is stable, your dentist works closely with dental technicians to create the functional and aesthetic structures that are visible.

Maintenance: It is vital to maintain a diligent oral health routine and make regular visits to your dentist and hygienist. Your dentist will check the stability of the implant and the health of surrounding gums and bone.

For the surgical placing of the implant, some pain-management is necessary.

• Patient discomfort is kept to a minimum during the surgical process with injections of local anaesthetic. If you are nervous, then talk to your dentist so that you understand what is involved in the treatment in advance, and ask about the option of sedation.
• Once the implant is in place, there may be some soreness as the local anaesthetic wears off, as you would expect after any minor surgery.
• If the pain becomes worse in the days following the implant placement, contact your dentist for advice.
• Once the implant is in place, fixing the upper parts of the new tooth should not cause pain.
• An established dental implant supporting a crown should not cause discomfort. Contact a dentist if there is any pain at a later stage.

It is best to allow plenty of time for implant treatment, because of the different stages. Usually, the treatment will take between three to nine months.

The key factors that determine the length of time the treatment will take are:

• The condition of the bone that will hold the implant.
• The location of the implant site.
• The patient’s oral health, age and general well-being.

Yes, your dentist will give you advice during the different stages of your implant treatment. 

Once the implant is in place and the crown has been placed, the next stage of the implant process is the maintenance phase. To ensure the ongoing health of the implant site there are two elements to aftercare:

• Home routine: It’s important to have a regular and thorough oral hygiene routine at home. Conscientiously brush teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. During the day a social brush or rinsing with water can help reduce bacteria too. One of the two thorough cleanings should be last thing at night. Many dentists recommend an electric brush for more effective cleaning, and special brushes, including interdental brushes, for harder to reach areas. In addition, consider dietary changes to reduce sugar.
• Care at the dentists: Your implant dentist will recommend subscription to a dental plan that includes regular appointments with a dentist and a dental hygienist. It is important that the mouth, gums and periodontal bone stay healthy. Regular professional care ensures you will know if your home care is inadequate and a problem is developing.

In addition, if at any time your implant feels uncomfortable or unstable, make an appointment to see a dentist.

The time an implant lasts for varies from patient to patient.

Implants can be compromised by:

• poor oral hygiene leading to gum disease or infection
• bone loss causing the implant to become loose
• an accident that damages either the crown and/or the implant itself
• tooth-grinding, clamping or uneven wear

An implant can be damaged by accident in the same way as a natural tooth. Often the crown can be restored, without treating the implant.

Also, without good oral hygiene and regular dental checks, bacteria can cause the deterioration of the gum and bone surrounding both real and implanted teeth. If the implanted post becomes loose or the site infected, then restoration is more complex.

In most cases dental implants work well. Dentists are skilled at understanding if a patient is a suitable candidate for implants. Yet sometimes an implant fails.

Modern implant dentistry has advanced to achieve extremely high success rates. There are cases, however, when an implant does not integrate with the bone, or loses stability later. It is fair to ask your dentist, or the practice manager, about their dental implant success rate.

In a consultation with the dentist, ask about the complications that can occur during the treatment and afterwards, so there are no surprises.

There are individual considerations your dentist will assess before a price can be quoted.

Prices will vary according to:

• whether just a single tooth will be replaced by an implant, several teeth or a whole set
• the cost of the materials used
• the need for supportive treatment prior to setting the implant, to treat bone loss or infection, for example

After your first dental implant consultation with your dentist, you will receive a treatment plan. The plan outlines the process you can expect, a projected timeline and the cost.

Although an implant may seem expensive at first when compared to other restorations, in the long-term it is a worthwhile investment in your well-being.

SpaDental offers finance plans to spread the cost of treatment.