Dental Implants
The Next Best Thing to Natural Teeth
If you’re missing one or more teeth, dental implants provide a strong, stable, and natural-looking solution. Using titanium posts placed in the jaw, dental implants support replacement teeth or bridges, effectively mimicking the function of tooth roots. This ensures a long-lasting, reliable restoration.
Why Choose Dental Implants?
Teeth can be lost due to gum disease, decay, trauma, or injury. Missing teeth, especially visible gaps, can significantly affect your confidence. Dental implants offer a permanent solution, giving you stable, supported teeth for life. With implants, you can talk, smile, and eat without worrying about your restoration slipping or failing.
While there are various options for replacing missing teeth, dental implants stand out as the superior choice. They are long-lasting, secure, and help strengthen your jaw. Additionally, implants are versatile and can even support and retain dentures.
The Dental Implant Process
Consultation: Your implant journey begins with an initial consultation where we discuss your desired outcome, create a treatment plan, and outline the expected duration and cost of the treatment.
Planning: We use X-rays and scans to get a clear picture of your jaw. It’s crucial to have enough bone density to support the implant. These images help us pinpoint the optimal placement for the implant. For a single missing tooth, the implant is placed where the tooth root used to be.
Placing the Implant: Using anaesthetic, we ensure you’re comfortable during the procedure. A temporary crown or bridge is placed at the site to protect it while the implant fuses and heals, which takes a few months. Once healed, we expose the top of the implant to take impressions of the area.
Preparing Your New Teeth: Digital impressions are used to craft perfect replacement teeth from tooth-like porcelain in a dental lab. Once ready, we fit and secure them on top of the implant using a special dental adhesive.
Smile! The fitting session is where you finally see your full smile restored. We check the fit and ensure you’re happy with the result before fixing the new teeth in place.
For expert dental implants in Southend, book your consultation today and rediscover your smile!
FAQs
Can I Have an Implant?
If you have enough bone density, you can have an implant. We assess your jaw’s health first. If needed, a bone graft can replenish lost bone tissue. Severe gum disease cases may also require bone replacement to ensure jaw health.
Does It Hurt?
Dental implant procedures shouldn’t hurt. We use local anaesthetic, and any post-surgery discomfort is manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. For anxious patients, sedation is an option. Many find implant treatment less painful than a tooth extraction.
How Long Does It Take?
Fitting a dental implant is a quick surgical procedure, taking about 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the number of implants. Healing and fusion with the jawbone take around 3-6 months before the new teeth can be fitted.
How Long Do They Last?
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. Maintain good oral hygiene, overall health, and regular dental check-ups. The crown or bridge may need replacement over time due to wear and tear.
Will People Notice?
Dental implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth. They provide a stable foundation and, with the natural-looking replacement tooth on top, others won’t notice you have an implant.
How Do I Care for My Implants?
Keep a regular and thorough cleaning routine to ensure your implants last. While replacement teeth resist bacteria, the supporting gum tissue and bone do not. Keeping your mouth bacteria-free ensures the longevity of your implants.
