Here, we provide answers to several of our frequently asked questions about dental implants in Lyme Regis.
If you are still unsure or would like to ask further questions, please contact our team directly.
A dental implant is a fixed solution for one or more missing teeth and can help restore both your smile and your quality of life.
An implant is made up of an artificial titanium root that is fixed to the jaw, and an abutment, made from titanium, gold or porcelain, which fits to the implant and attaches the crown, bridge or denture fitted on top.
If you are concerned about your replacement teeth looking realistic or coming loose, implants are an ideal option. They are crafted to look and feel just like natural teeth.
Teeth implants also safeguard your overall dental health. Replacing missing teeth is extremely important, as missing teeth cause bone loss which can age your face and could potentially cause adjacent teeth to become loose too.
Dental implants have been used for over 30 years to replace missing teeth. As with natural teeth, they can be damaged by trauma and affected by gum disease and poor oral hygiene. However, if they are looked after like normal teeth, they can last a lifetime.
A natural smile and a healthy mouth are important for your confidence, but it is important to replace missing teeth for health reasons as well.
Some of the health reasons to replace missing teeth are:
Most healthy people, who regularly brush their teeth and visit the dentist, are suitable for implants. Dental implants can be a great solution for people of any age. While implants are suitable for most people, there are circumstances where implants may not be suitable. It’s important that you speak to your dentist if you’re concerned about any of the below.
At Lyme Bay Dental & Implant Clinic we take advantage of new technology and our extensive dental expertise to give you the highest standards of care, with skills in delivering advanced implant placement, especially useful for more complex implant cases.
We have introduced two new procedures recently for this very reason:
CT scanning for diagnosis:
We can arrange for CT scans to be performed during the diagnostic treatment planning stage this gives a clear 3D picture of the jaw anatomy in a patient which is invaluable where more than one implant is being placed or where bone levels are unclear from initial x-rays.
Guided surgery:
This form of ‘virtual dentistry’ enables dentists to diagnose and plan treatment schedules that start with the initial consultation stage right through to the actual procedure. Following a CT scan it is possible for the image to be converted to a highly realistic 3D representation of the patient’s jaw which can be explored from all angles. The dentist can also place ‘virtual’ implants which enables them to check the positioning and make adjustments if necessary.
Assessment:
Every treatment begins with an assessment from your local Lyme Bay Dental & Implant Clinic dentist who will be performing your implant treatment. They will discuss all the options with you, make an assessment of the best solution for you, and ensure you understand every step of your treatment. You will have an x-ray and, in some cases, a CT scan to help visualise your jaw, ensure your gums are healthy and that there is enough jaw bone to place the implant.
The treatment:
This is when the implant is placed into your jaw. It’s a straightforward process which can be completed under local anesthetic. If you are particularly nervous or have a dental phobia, your dentist will make sure you feel absolutely comfortable with the treatment and can provide sedation if needed.
The implants will need three to six months to heal and integrate with your jaw bone to provide a solid support for the crown, bridge or denture.
Depending on your treatment and your dentist’s diagnosis, a temporary crown can be fitted at the same time as your initial appointment. These will stay in place until the final restoration appointment.
It may be necessary to have a separate appointment between six weeks and six months after your initial treatment, to allow the implant to fully integrate. This ensures that your jaw has completely healed before the crown, bridge or denture is permanently fitted.
Restoration:
Once your jaw has healed, your dentist will then take an impression of your mouth. This enables a dental technician to build your bespoke crown, bridge or denture, which will be colour matched to blend seamlessly with your other teeth.
Your smile is now complete.
It’s a straightforward process which can be completed under local anesthetic. If you are particularly nervous or have a dental phobia, your dentist will make sure you feel absolutely comfortable with the treatment and can provide sedation if needed.
The implants will need 3 to 6 months to heal and integrate with your jaw bone to provide a solid support for the crown, bridge or denture.
Depending on your treatment and your dentist’s diagnosis, a temporary crown can be fitted at the same time as your initial appointment. These will stay in place until the final restoration appointment.
It may be necessary to have a separate appointment between 6 weeks and 6 months after your initial treatment, to allow the implant to fully integrate. This ensures that your jaw has completely healed before the crown, bridge or denture is permanently fitted.
Immediate loading is when a dental implant and crown are fitted at the same time. This is as opposed to a Delayed Loading implant, which is a two-stage process, separated by a period of up to six months.
The main advantage of immediate loading is convenience. The procedure can be done in the same day, which is why it’s sometimes known as ‘the same day smile’.
Other advantages are that it’s a quicker procedure, there’s no need to wait for the bone and implant to fuse, and you don’t need to wear a temporary bridge or dentures.
However, the main disadvantage with Immediate Loading is that there’s an increased risk of loss of the implant, due to a failure of the bone to fuse sufficiently to the implant.
Your dentist will advise you on which technique will be the most beneficial for you.
As with natural teeth, good oral hygiene is important for preventing gum disease and prolonging the life of your implants. You do not need to remove the teeth fitted to your implants but clean them as you would your natural teeth. A high standard of daily oral care, along with regular check-ups with your local Lyme Bay Dental & Implant Clinic dentist and hygienist, will help to ensure your mouth stays healthy and your implants last as long as possible.
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