Implants
In the past, loss of a tooth or more than one tooth meant an unsightly gap. Options for filling the gap(s) meant either an unattractive denture or bridgework involving removal of healthy tooth tissue from adjacent teeth.
Dental implants offer a fixed alternative to replace missing teeth. A
dental implant is a titanium screw that is placed into the jaw as part
of a surgical procedure. In most cases, an implant can be provided
using a simple local anaesthetic dental injection. When placed, the
implant is normally left for a period of time to allow the healing
process to fuse the implant to the bone. However, in some cases, the
implant can be placed and loaded right away.
All implant-based treatments will involve extensive planning to ensure
optimum implant positioning. This is essential in order to encourage
long-term success and minimise post-operative problems. Planning is
also the cornerstone to achieve a good cosmetic outcome.
In some cases, where there is not enough bone to predictably place an
implant, a bone-graft may be undertaken. This will be discussed in
detail at the initial consultation.
Implants do have advantages over other fixed replacement options such as dental bridgework. They do not involve the preparation of other
teeth and act by attempting to replace the root of the missing tooth.
Dental implants can also be used to support and retain ill-fitting
dentures. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that improving the fit
of dentures with implants can lead to an overall improvement in the
quality of life for an individual.
Octagon Dental Centre is happy to offer a consultation for any patients interested in this procedure. - example work
