Dental Implants For Missing Teeth

Dentures aren’t the only available option for Acton patients who have lost some of their teeth

Single dental implant in place in the jawAgeing is a fact of life and one that has its pros and its cons. Maturity brings benefits but also, for a lot of people, an increasing number of health challenges, including oral health ones. We will discuss the wider range of these in a future blog, but today we want to look at the one that many of us dread as we become older, and that is the possibility of tooth loss.

Even in our more mature years, we still want to look our best and also be able to eat any food that we want, unrestricted by the limitations that dentures can sometimes put on us. Dentures have their uses of course, but an increasing number of people are turning to dental implants for a more natural and positive solution.

It isn’t just older people that lose teeth, it can happen at almost any age for a number of reasons including oral health neglect, side effects of illnesses or medication and even injuries caused by accidents, especially if you play a high contact sport. This can have a devastating impact on the confidence of people that this happens to and while dentures can fulfil a limited role, we believe that teeth implants offer a much stronger, secure and long lasting solution for replacing missing teeth.

Dentures or implants?

You might ask, why not simply have dentures fitted if you lose teeth? After all, they have been around a long time and are a tried and tested solution.  This is true and dentures are significantly more aesthetically pleasing and comfortable than they used to be. However, the fact remains that some people do find that they are not entirely stable and can move around in the mouth. Aside from the very odd occasion when they may physically come out at just the wrong moment, this movement can cause soreness of the gums due to the friction. It is also likely to cause the wearer to avoid eating certain things due to the difficulty in chewing some foods when wearing dentures. At the heart of the reason for the instability problem lies the fact that dentures replace only the crown of the tooth and not the root. This is the issue that the dental implants that we provide at the Acton Vale Dental Centre can resolve.

High quality dental implants

Using good quality implants is essential for a successful procedure. Many cheaper types of implants simply won’t fuse with the bone into which they are placed; a process known as osseointegration. A strong and stable tooth requires this firm ‘anchor’ for a crown to be attached to via a type of ‘collar’ known as an abutment. At our Acton clinic, we use Nobel Biocare implants, a very high quality product.  It is worth noting that the quality of implants may be an issue if you take up ‘cheap’ offers abroad. This is likely to be one of the areas where costs are cut and could well result in a failed implant.

Missing a tooth or teeth?

Many people understand that dental implants are used to replace individual missing teeth. It is true that this is one of their most common uses but they can also be used for multiple consecutive tooth loss. Instead of replacing each tooth individually which would require extensive treatment and be very costly, implants can be placed in positions to support a fixed bridge of replacement teeth. This could be to replace anything from three consecutive teeth to a full arch. Indeed, replacing a full arch of teeth usually requires only between four and six implants that are strategically placed before a full bridge of teeth are attached. This particular treatment can sometimes be carried out in just one day. For anyone who already uses dentures and would like them to be more stable, we can also use implants to secure them firmly in place. Why not give us a call if you feel you would like to find out more about this.

How painful is the procedure?

This is probably the most common question that we get asked about dental implants. This is understandable as people aren’t generally used to the idea of something being ‘screwed’ into the jawbone. We understand people’s concerns but it is worth remembering that this is no longer an experimental procedure and has been around for a long time, and also has a very high success rate providing that the correct aftercare is taken.

As to the level of discomfort the procedure causes, this will depend to a degree on your own concerns about receiving treatment. A lot of people become anxious about seeing a dentist and will very likely anticipate more discomfort than they will actually feel. Our experienced implant team will be there to guide you gently through the procedure and we are confident that you will relax as you realise that you are in good hands.

Naturally, the procedure is carried out using a powerful local anaesthetic so you shouldn’t feel any actual pain, though there may be a degree of discomfort similar to what would be expected with other invasive treatments.

There may be some swelling and soreness following the treatment and there are ways that this can be managed until it subsides shortly afterwards. We will offer advice about this to make this short period as comfortable as possible for you.

In short, dental implant may require a more complex procedure than having dentures, but we are sure that you won’t regret it and given that implants can last for 20 years or more with no further work on them required if good care is taken, you can just go about your daily life eating and speaking with a confidence that dentures often don’t provide.

If you would like to discover more about this popular tooth replacement solution, why not arrange to have an initial consultation with us? You can discuss the treatment, cost and payment plans etc during this time. To arrange yours, please call the Acton Vale Dental Centre today on 020 8749 3267.