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Dental Implants
The best like-for-like replacement for missing teeth

Dental Implants

Dental implants are the best like-for-like way to replace missing teeth, both from an aesthetic and a practical point of view. They enable you to chew, speak and smile with confidence and help you maintain your appearance by stopping bone loss. Unlike a traditional bridge, they will not affect healthy adjacent teeth, and also pose a lower risk for cavities as they are easier to clean.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are made up of three parts:

  1.  The implant — a titanium screw that is placed inside the jawbone. Jaw bone grows around it and holds the implant firm to provide permanent support for crowns and dentures.
  2. The abutment — a metal cylinder that is attached to the implant so it protrudes above the gum line.
  3. The crown — an artificial tooth made out of porcelain, created individually for each patient to match your existing teeth in shape and colour, which is cemented onto the abutment.

Benefits of dental implants:

  • Enable you to chew, speak
    and smile with confidence
  • Stop bone loss
  • Maintain your appearance
  • Will not affect healthy adjacent teeth, unlike a traditional bridge
  • Lower risk for cavities and are easier to clean than a traditional bridge

What will happen without treatment?

Your jawbone begins to shrink. Losing your teeth will affect your smile and change the shape of your face.

Procedure

Preparation

Following a consultation, your dentist will take x-rays and create a model of your existing teeth to determine the implant position. A head CT scan may also be required. Occasionally, a bone graft will be needed to provide adequate bone for the dental implants.

Implant placement

Dental implants are placed into the bone using local anaesthetic. The bone and gums will be given time to heal before an abutment and crown are then attached.

Crown placement

Once the bone has healed around your implant, your final crown will be placed to restore your natural smile.

Anyone who has suffered tooth loss due to injury, disease or decay may be a candidate for dental implants.