Missing a single tooth or missing more than one tooth? No problem! Dental implants are the gold standard to replace missing teeth.

Dental implant treatment has evolved to the point where you can replace all your missing teeth in one day, provided certain conditions are met.

Various options are available:

• Replace single or multiple teeth
• Full mouth implants – for patients that have no teeth left or who need all their remaining teeth removed due to dental disease

Replacing a single tooth or multiple teeth

What is a dental implant?

It is a permanent replacement to a missing tooth, that is placed in your jawbone.

It consists of 3 components:

1. Implant – usually made of titanium, but also available in zirconium (which can work well in aesthetically demanding areas). The implant acts as the root of the tooth and is anchored in bone. The bone grows around the implant giving it stability (called osseointegration)
2. Abutment – this is a connector that anchors the implant to the crown of the tooth
3. Crown – this is an artificial tooth that is made to match your natural teeth and is typically made out of porcelain or zirconium.

Why will dental implants benefit me?

• It is a permanent solution – 
  • unlike dentures which get removed every night
• Provides comfort – 
  • Dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth
  • Provides confidence when speaking, eating and smiling
  • Allows you to go back to eating foods that you really enjoy
• Avoids damage to other teeth – 
  • You can avoid having a bridge made, which would result in the teeth on either side of the missing tooth being drilled down to support the bridge
  • Implants are supported by bone and not teeth, therefore saving your natural teeth from damage
• Maintains your jaw structure – 
  • When a natural tooth is lost, and not replaced, the bone that used to support the tooth gradually disappears. This bone loss can affect neighbouring teeth and even make it difficult to retain a denture
  • As more bone wears away (called atrophy), you will lose support of your cheeks and lips, giving your face a sunken appearance and making you look older than you actually are
  • Implants help to preserve bone because they transmit forces to the bone which helps stimulate bone growth

What are the steps in implant treatment?

Diagnosis and treatment planning – 

• Implant treatment is a team sport and involves your surgeon and dentist or prosthodontist.
• At your consultation, you will go through your medical and dental history with your surgeon, you will have dental xrays and 3D cone beam scans done, and you will also have moulds made
• The 3D scans are useful in assessing the amount of bone and quality of bone that is available for the proposed implant treatment. The scans also allow for precise planning of the implant so that it is placed in the most optimal position.

Surgery –

• This can take place either under local or general anaesthesia

Healing phase – 

• It usually takes 3-4 months for the bone to grow around the implant so that the implant is stable enough to have a crown placed.
• However, under certain conditions, an implant can be “loaded” with a crown immediately after the implant is placed. The conditions for this scenario are strict though.
• You may need a second smaller procedure to expose a buried implant in order to place a healing abutment.

Restoration – 

• This will be done by your dentist or prosthodontist.
• This is where the crown will be manufactured and then attached to the implant with an abutment
• You are then ready to use your implant just like your previous tooth

Maintenance – 

• This is very important. Your dental implant needs to be cared for by brushing twice a day and flossing, just like with natural teeth.
• Regular (3-6 month) visits to your restorative specialist is mandatory to ensure the longevity of your implants.

What if I don’t have enough bone or gum for an implant?

This will be determined at the time of your initial consultation.

If you don’t have sufficient bone to accommodate a conventional dental implant, the following may be options:

• Using a shorter implant
• Tilting the implant so that it engages sufficient bone
• Using an angled platform implant to take advantage of surrounding bone
• Having bone graft procedures to build up sufficient bone for implant placement

How long do implants last?

With the correct maintenance, a dental implant can last a lifetime.

It is vitally important to:

• Clean your teeth and implants regularly
• Visit your dentist or prosthodontist every 3-6 months
• Avoid harmful habits such as chewing on hard objects, grinding and clenching
• Avoid tobacco, because tobacco users are more likely to experience implant loss, infection and bone loss around implants.

If you are considering getting a dental implant, please feel free to contact us or book an appointment.