The Ultimate Guide to Dental Implants: Everything You Need to Know

The Ultimate Guide to Dental Implants: Everything You Need to Know

15-03-2024

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to dental implants, the transformative solution for restoring your smile and reclaiming your confidence. Implants have revolutionised modern dentistry, offering patients a durable, natural-looking alternative to missing teeth.

In this guide, we’ll delve into everything you need to know, from the procedure and benefits to maintenance and costs. Let’s embark on a journey towards a more confident smile!

Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are titanium posts surgically placed into the jawbone to serve as artificial tooth roots. These posts fuse with the jawbone over time (osseointegration), providing a sturdy foundation for replacement teeth. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, implants offer a permanent solution that mimics the look, feel, and function of natural teeth.

The Dental Implant Procedure

The treatment process typically involves several stages:

1. Consultation: Your dentist will assess your oral health, discuss treatment options, and develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs.
2. Placement: During this surgical procedure, the dental implant is placed into the jawbone beneath the gum line.
3. Osseointegration: Over the next few months, the implant integrates with the surrounding bone tissue, creating a strong bond.
4. Abutment Placement: Once osseointegration is complete, an abutment is attached to the implant, providing a connection point for the artificial tooth.
5. Restoration: Finally, a custom-made dental crown, bridge, or denture is affixed to the abutment, completing the restoration process.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer numerous advantages, including:

• Improved aesthetics: They closely resemble natural teeth, boosting your smile’s appearance.
• Enhanced chewing and speaking ability: You can enjoy your favourite foods and speak confidently with implants.
• Long-term durability: With proper care, implants can last 20-30 years, making them a wise investment in your oral health.
• Preservation of bone density: Unlike traditional dentures, implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss and preserving facial structure.
• Less destructive: Alternatives like bridges involve damage to surrounding teeth while dentures often cause gum recession and plaque buildup.

Candidacy for Dental Implants

While dental implants are an option for many individuals, not everyone is a suitable candidate. Factors such as overall health, oral hygiene, and bone density play a crucial role in determining viability. Ideal candidates typically:

• Have good oral and overall health
• Have sufficient jawbone density to support the implant
• Are committed to maintaining excellent oral hygiene habits

Other variables like uncontrolled diabetes, IV bisphosphonate medication and smoking may also mean implants are inappropriate. But speaking with your dentist is best!

Aftercare and Maintenance

Proper aftercare is essential for ensuring the long-term success of your dental implants. Here are some tips for maintaining your implants:

• Practise good oral hygiene: Brush and floss daily to keep your implant and surrounding teeth clean.
• Attend regular dental check-ups: Your dentist will monitor the health of your implants and address any concerns promptly.
• Keep up with hygiene appointments: Some plaque can remain after at-home cleaning and must be removed with professional help.
• Avoid harmful habits: Refrain from smoking, as it can impair healing and increase the risk of implant failure.
• Protect your implants: Wear a mouthguard during sports activities and avoid chewing on hard objects to prevent damage.

Potential Risks and Complications

While dental implants boast a 95-97% success rate, there are some risks and complications to be aware of, including:

• Failure due to poor osseointegration
• Nerve damage or injury to surrounding structures
• Allergic reactions to materials

All these issues are however very rare and some clinics like ours offer complimentary 2-year guarantees so you can feel relaxed knowing help is available!

Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of dental implants can vary depending on various factors, including the number of implants needed, the complexity of the procedure, and any additional treatments required like bone grafting. Here are some approximate prices at our practice:

• £2000 / implant
• £950 / crown
• £550 / bone grafting

Here in Leicester we also use digitally guided treatment so you have faster placements and healing with more accuracy. While implants may have a higher upfront cost than other tooth replacement options, they offer long-term value and durability, making them a worthwhile investment in oral health and quality of life for many.

Conclusion

Dental implants are a life-changing solution for those seeking to restore their smile and regain confidence in their appearance. But here at the Dental and Cosmetic Clinic in Leicester, we know treatment costs can be expensive! So we are hosting an implant open day on April 5th where you meet experts at no cost with free scans and enjoy a 10%discount if you decide to go ahead with treatment – secure your place here.