Services

"DENTAL IMPLANTS"

To loose our teeth is something that many of us fear, but today this does not have to be a permanent problem. We have a safe and reliable system for replacing teeth, whether you have lost one, several or all of your teeth. The result looks and feels just like natural teeth and allows you to live, laugh and enjoy life with full confidence. At our Birmingham dental Implant clinic we have many years of expereince in restoring smiles using the latest implant systems.

What is a Dental implant?

Almost all dental implants in use today are made from titanium or titanium alloy, materials that have been shown over many years to be well tolerated by bone. The terms 'osseointegrated implants' or 'endosseous implants' are widely used to describe dental implants that can develop and maintain a close union with bone in order to support replacement teeth. There are many different implant systems available and when competently used they can all deliver a highly reliable form of treatment. We use the Astra Tech system, our first fixture was placed over 12 years ago, it’s still looking great. When the same patient lost another tooth 7 years ago they insisted on an implant replacement.

A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural root. The main aim during installation of any implant is to achieve immediate close contact with the surrounding bone. This creates an initial stability, over time (typically 3 to 6 months) this is steadily enhanced by growth and maturation of the surrounding bone to lock the fixture into position. In order to support replacement teeth, dental implants normally have some form of internal screw thread or post space that allows a variety of components to be fitted. Once fitted, these components provide the foundation for long-term support of crowns, bridges or dentures.

What results can you expect?

They function, look and feel like natural teeth.
The implants will allow you to speak, smile and eat with confidence.
Comfortable and secure, and don't need other teeth for support.
They do not require other teeth to be "cut down".

How will you know if you are suitable for implants?

If you have good general health then dental implants will almost certainly work for you. However, habits such as heavy drinking or smoking can increase the number of problems associated with initial healing and thereafter may negatively influence the long-term health of gum and bone surrounding each implant. Remaining teeth might also be compromised making treatment planning less certain. We will decline to place implants if smoking cannot be reduced or given up altogether.
When consulting us to find out more about dental implants you will be expected to answer detailed questions concerning your medical history and there will be a complete examination of your mouth and remaining teeth to discover the nature and extent of any current dental problems. If you do not have up-to-date x-rays of your remaining teeth you may also be required to have new ones taken. Sometimes models and photos will also be needed so that these can be examined after your visit. As described earlier, establishing good basic dental health is a key stage in any treatment plan. At this first appointment you should be made aware of which problems are urgent, and what treatment is required to stabilise any gum or tooth related problems. It would be reasonable to expect a verbal outline of how your particular implant treatment might be approached.

What should you know before you start treatment?

It is accepted practice that you should be given a written summary of your treatment planning discussion(s), highlighting your current dental situation and any alternatives there are to dental implants. This summary will include an over-view of the anticipated treatment stages and give you some idea of how long treatment is likely to take, how many implants are required and what the fees are expected to be. There may well be other issues specific to your case and these would be dealt with accordingly.

Summary of stages for routine dental implants

Diagnosis and treatment planning after which it may be necessary to carry out repairs or treatment to any remaining teeth.
Implant placement is usually followed by a period of healing lasting from 6 weeks to 6 months. Often the implants are completely hidden beneath the gum. Stitches are normally removed 7 to 10 days after the implant placement.
Several visits may be needed over the next few weeks to adjust temporary teeth or dentures and to monitor healing.
Once the implants have healed uneventfully for the required time, they are uncovered if necessary and made ready to connect the teeth. Sometimes the time allowed for implants to integrate may be increased or decreased to suit the local bone conditions and the overall quality of healing.
In some cases the first teeth fitted to your implants are not the final ones, but replicas of the intended design. This stage can be used to assess the implants, control early loading and in areas where aesthetics are more critical, also gives the gums time to mature around each implant before final teeth are fitted.
Final teeth are commonly fitted between 3 and 9 months after the implants were first placed. The way that the teeth fit together is carefully adjusted so that they do not interfere with each other.
Regular examination and hygiene appointments are then all that is required to maintain the health of the mouth, teeth and implants.

Bruxism

Patients who have a habit of clenching or grinding (bruxing) their teeth may be at risk of overloading their implants. For most people bruxism occurs during sleep, which is why they are generally not aware of it. Heavily worn or flattened teeth, chipped enamel edges and/or regularly breaking pieces of heavily filled teeth are the most common clinical signs of bruxism. The effects of bruxism need to be considered during treatment planning and can be compensated for by placing additional implants, selecting appropriate restorative materials and providing a night time bite guard to protect the new teeth.