Implants

The Problem

A single missing tooth can be a troublesome issue for many people. An elbow during a game of football, a calamitous crunch onto a cherry or olive stone, a failed crown, decay or gum disease are but a few reasons for this unfortunate scenario.Missing a front tooth is an obvious problem but missing back teeth can lead to problems chewing and digesting food or discomfort when eating on the gum where the tooth is missing. Other problems include unwanted movement of the neighbouring or opposing teeth, as well as increased pressure on and risk of damage or fracture to the remaining teeth.

What’s the Benefit of an Implant?

Though there are multiple options for replacement of missing teeth, the single tooth implant is currently the ‘Gold Standard’. Dentures are not fixed and need to be taken out at night. They may be loose, cover the palate or the tongue space and affect speech and taste. Bridges involve additional pressure on adjacent teeth and normally involve permanent removal of some of the tooth, which shortens the natural tooth’s life expectancy.An implant supported crown is the closest thing you can have to a natural tooth. It has the most natural appearance and function, is permanently fixed, does not need to be removed at night or interfere with speech and taste, and doesn’t require treating the adjacent tooth structure. The treatment is relatively straightforward and highly predictable.

The Problem

For a variety of reasons, you may suffer the loss of two or more consecutive teeth.This may be gradual, where for several years you felt able to deal with just one missing tooth and chew reasonably well. However after losing another, you are now unable to chew on one side of the mouth and the other teeth are becoming overloaded and uncomfortable.A previously functioning tooth-supported bridge that has failed could leave you with several teeth missing in a row. Or you may have suffered a ruinous trip, fall or accident causing several front teeth to be lost in one go.

What’s the Benefit of Implant Supported Bridges?

Most people do not want to use a removable denture and for larger spaces tooth supported bridges may not be suitable or sensible.Whether your motivation is more cosmetic for the front teeth or functional for comfortable and even chewing on your back teeth, an implant supported fixed bridge may be the ideal solution for you.Implant supported bridges look, feel and function like normal teeth. They are permanently fixed, do not need to be removed at night or interfere with speech and taste, and do not require the adjacent teeth to be treated for the fitting. This solution will restore even, balanced chewing and spread the forces evenly around your mouth, protecting your remaining teeth.It is also reassuring that you do not need to have one implant per missing tooth. For example, three or four missing teeth can often be fitted to two implants at either end of the space to be restored.Implant solutions are the most predictable long-term outcome with the highest success rates.

The Problem

You may be one of the many people who wear a partial or full denture. You may be fed up of having to remove the dentures at night, and you may feel too embarrassed to let your partner or spouse ever see you without your teeth in.You may find them irritating, loose, be paranoid about eating, coughing, sneezing or even laughing in front of others for fear the dentures may move or drop. You may be fed up of having to use lots of paste and powder to try and hold the denture in place, and tired of trying to clean it off your mouth between applications.You may simply be fed up of having your palate covered or feeling the denture on your tongue. You may just want to be able to chew comfortably and confidently, whether that be in a big group or while you share a meal with your family.Denture wear can lead to reduced function, limited food choice, loss of confidence and self-esteem.

What’s the Benefit of Implants with dentures?

Implant can be used in several ways to restore your smile. We can stabilise dentures to make them stay in place firmly, and perhaps reduce the size of the denture, for example covering less of the palate so you can taste, talk and eat more comfortably. This can be achieved with as few as two implants supporting a complete denture.It is often possible to completely replace dentures with a fixed implant solution.You can expect better chewing function and the ability to eat foods you may have found too difficult to eat previously. You will not have to be paranoid about eating and talking in public, since your stable denture will boost your confidence. Maintenance will be more straightforward, and you will not need to worry about applying, cleaning and reapplying denture pastes and adhesives.You will feel more like your old self and be able to eat and behave normally without having to plan what to eat, when to eat, and where to clean your teeth.

The Problem

You may have no natural teeth left in one or both of your jaws (also called arches). You may be fed up of having to limit your diet or avoid certain social situations because you are embarrassed of your dentures or are worried they will let you down. You may have experienced loss of confidence and self-esteem because of the loss of your teeth.

What’s the Benefit of Implant Supported Bridges?

One of the most challenging, but equally most rewarding, dental implant therapies involves the replacement of all teeth in one or both jaws.It requires meticulous planning and the cooperation of multiple implant team members and technicians to achieve. We make use of cutting edge guided surgery, computer-aided design and manufacturing processes to achieve the best implant solution. Various configurations can be used to achieve the full arch restoration, such as multiple smaller bridges or a larger bridge retained over a bar.We will ensure we select the most appropriate restoration for you based on your expectations of treatment, your anatomy and available bone for implant placement, and the budget you are working to.Full arch implant restorations look, feel and function like normal teeth. They are permanently fixed, do not need to be removed at night or interfere with speech and taste, and will allow you to chew and smile confidently, often helping to restore sunken cheeks and lips where the natural tooth support has gone.