When you lose natural teeth, you also lose the tooth root that extends deep into the jawbone. An implant is designed to replace the tooth root artificially. Most implants have three separate components, which are:
This replaces a real tooth root and is
inserted into the jaw during a short surgical procedure.
This connector is fitted onto the screw and used to secure the implant restoration in place. Some zirconia or ceramic implants have the implant screw and abutment as a single unit.
The implant restoration is attached to the abutment. It could be an implant crown. Two or more implants can support a bridge.
Crowns and bridges are fitted onto the abutment permanently. Alternatively, an implant-supported denture clips onto several abutments but can be removed for cleaning.
We know you want your new implant teeth to look beautiful, which is why we use only the best, most lifelike materials, including the latest ceramics and zirconia restorations.
If you choose an implant-supported denture, it will be made from high-quality acrylic, and we can use top-quality denture teeth artfully arranged to look natural. Our cosmetic dentists can custom-design your new restorations to ensure they look natural and function well.
Treatment provides multiple benefits, including:
Dental implant teeth are designed to look and feel natural, and to function fully. They can help to restore self-confidence and self-esteem after tooth loss.
Most people are suitable for implant treatment. You do need to be over 18, as your jaw and teeth must have finished growing and developing. Other important factors include:
We always carefully screen individuals for suitability, based on their oral and general health. It is worth coming to see us even if you are unsure if you are suitable for treatment. Being older is not usually a problem, and we routinely place dental implants in patients in their eighties and older.
Dental Pearl offers a range of solutions to meet all your implant needs, including affordable dental implants. Options include:
These replace single missing teeth.
By strategically placing several implants, we can restore multiple missing teeth or even entire arches.
These provide a cost-effective solution, as relatively few implants can securely hold a removable denture.
This is an advanced procedure in which we can replace an upper or lower arch using as few as four dental implants for support.
The process for getting teeth implants is straightforward and is completed over several months. Your oral health is unique, which is why your treatment is fully customized. However, you can gain an idea of what to expect in the overview below.
Your treatment journey begins with an in-depth consultation at Dental Pearl. We discuss your treatment goals and any concerns you may have.
We review your dental and medical history and conduct a thorough dental examination. This is to ensure that dental implants are the best and most appropriate solution for your tooth loss.
Diagnostic imaging includes a cone beam CT scan. We may also take digital X-rays, photos, and digital dental impressions.
These diagnostics enable our implant dentist to complete comprehensive treatment planning and identify the optimal location for each implant.
Our dental implant dentist will discuss your treatment plan with you. It will outline which implant system we believe will best meet your goals, as well as any additional treatments required, such as removing failing teeth and performing bone grafting.
These treatments may need to be completed separately before implant placement. In certain situations, they can be completed simultaneously with implant placement during a single procedure.
There may be more than one solution; in such cases, we will discuss all possible options and the dental implant cost. We can also discuss temporary teeth to wear during implant healing and until we make and fit your permanent teeth.
Before we begin, we will numb your mouth so your implant treatment is painless. Some people feel okay having an implant placed using a local anesthetic only. However, if you need several implants or are at all nervous, we can use sedation dentistry so you feel relaxed and comfortable during your treatment.
Your implants will be placed using computer-guided surgery, using your custom treatment plan. We use your cone beam CT scan to plan each implant placement. Once complete, a computer-generated stent is created.
This is a template used during your implant surgery, which fits over your gums and guides our dentist. It ensures we only need small incisions and that every implant is inserted accurately, aiding faster healing afterward. Stitches close these incisions, and healing begins.
If required, we will fit your temporary teeth at this stage.
Before you leave Dental Pearl, we will provide clear instructions on aftercare that are tailored to your needs. The information includes how to keep your mouth clean during healing, and suitable foods to eat.
We will also provide advice on managing any discomfort. Usually, over-the-counter pain relief is adequate. Please remember that we are always here to help with any further questions or concerns, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
It typically takes 3 to 6 months for dental implants to heal fully. This involves a process called osseointegration, and it cannot be rushed.
Osseointegration is essential for implant success, and is when new bone is deposited on and around the implant, gradually fusing it in place. During osseointegration, implants must remain undisturbed.
If we have provided temporary teeth, these are designed to splint the implants together during healing, preventing them from moving. Any single temporary tooth is likely designed to be out of your bite and is more for cosmetic purposes only.
After healing is complete, we begin fabricating your final restoration. We take a detailed impression of your implant, and our dental lab will fabricate your new restoration according to our precise instructions.
Once it is ready, we can fit it onto your implant and carefully review oral care instructions with you. Dental implants are not difficult to care for, but you must keep them clean.
Our hygienist can demonstrate how to clean around your new dental implant restoration, using the correct techniques and tools. We will also provide you with a preventive dental care plan outlining how frequently we recommend dental exams and professional dental cleanings.
These dental visits enable us to monitor your dental implants and professionally clean around them, helping them remain strong and healthy for years to come.
Alternatives to dental implants include dental bridges and dentures.
Dental bridges are supported with crowns fitted over adjacent natural teeth. These teeth must be reshaped substantially to create enough room for the crowns.
Dental implants are self-supporting, so there is no need to reshape potentially healthy adjacent teeth to support a dental bridge.
Dental implants can last for many years or a lifetime. Dental bridges need to be replaced after ten to twenty years.
Dental implants protect the bone around them by preventing bone resorption, as they replicate real tooth roots. Dental bridges do nothing to prevent bone resorption.
Dental implant teeth remain firmly fixed in place. Once fitted onto the implants, they cannot move.
Dentures rest on the gums, and as jawbone resorption occurs, they can become increasingly ill-fitting. Denture adhesive can be messy and expensive, and doesn’t offer a permanent solution.
Dental implants provide a biting and chewing strength close to that of natural teeth. Dentures offer reduced biting and chewing strength, and some foods may need to be avoided entirely.
With the right care, dental implants can last many years or a lifetime. Factors affecting their longevity include whether you smoke, your oral care routine, and oral habits like bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching).
Smokers can get dental implants, but will need to quit during healing. We would advise quitting for good, as otherwise the risk of implant failure is higher. If you smoke, we can discuss how it will affect implant treatment and offer advice on quitting.
Yes, treatment is very safe, as we carefully screen all our implant patients and only use the best dental implants available, made by reputable companies.
Dental Pearl provides affordable dental implants. Although you may see cheap dental implants offered elsewhere, these prices may not cover the full cost of treatment, such as the restoration, and they may use generic implants that are not of such high quality.
We believe our patients deserve the very best, and provide dental implants designed to look good and last longer, made using high-quality materials and fitted using the latest techniques.
Dental insurance companies are beginning to recognize the oral health benefits of implants, so you may find your insurance covers at least part of the cost of treatment.
