Dental Implants
Your trusted dentist in Bermondsey
Dental implants offer one of the most effective and long-lasting ways to replace one or more missing teeth, providing a fixed alternative to dentures. Teeth can be lost for several reasons including decay, trauma, infection, or gum disease, and this loss can result in a whole host of problems. Implants can improve how you eat and speak, prevent bone loss in the jawbone, and keep existing teeth firmly in place.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone to act just like tooth roots. We use titanium as it is a durable metal that is very well tolerated by the body. These tiny cylindrical posts fuse with the bone, providing a firm foundation for a crown or bridge restoration to be placed on top.
Benefits of dental implants
- Secure – unlike ill-fitting dentures, which can tend to move around uncomfortably in your mouth, implants stay firmly in place. They will not slip when you are eating or speaking or become loose over time. As they are held in place by your bone, you can be confident of their strength and durability.
- Supportive – dental implants help protect the jawbone by keeping it stimulated and they prevent existing teeth from moving around.
- Effective – they eliminate the speaking and chewing problems, which might be caused by missing teeth or ill-fitting dentures. Dental implants are a well-established, safe, and highly effective way of replacing one or more missing teeth in any part of your mouth.
- Aesthetic – implants look and feel just like natural teeth. You will be able to eat, drink, and talk just as you did before, as well as show off a winning smile.They can provide a significant boost to your confidence by restoring your smile.
- Innovative – implants use cutting edge digital dental technology combined with specialist expertise to create the next best thing to a natural tooth.
Why choose Advanced Dental Practice?
- Our dentists have placed many implants and are knowledgeable and highly-skilled.
- We use state-of-the-art equipment to ensure your comfort throughout the implant treatment.
- We offer finance options so you can spread the costs of your dental implants.
- We create personalised treatment plans to suit your needs and fit in with your lifestyle.
- We use high-quality implants.
Treatment steps
- We carry out a full assessment of your general health, how your teeth fit together, your oral health, and the density of your jawbone. If we discover you have insufficient bone volume, you may need a grafting procedure to allow for the successful placement of implants.
- The titanium posts are placed in the bone under local anaesthetic using a relatively simple surgical procedure.
- Titanium is very well tolerated by the body. Over a few months, the implants will integrate and bond with the bone – a process known as osseointegration.
- Once settled in and fully healed, we then fit crowns or bridges to the now firmly positioned implants.
What types of dental implants are available?
Single implants
A missing tooth can be effectively replaced using a crown fitted to a single dental implant. The replacement tooth is strong, secure, and durable, able to withstand pressures from chewing, and looks just like your existing teeth. Alternative options for a single missing tooth are available, including a single tooth denture or bridge, but these are not as effective as an implant. A single implant can be fitted with no damage to the remaining healthy teeth, prevents unwanted movement and strengthens the jaw.
Multiple implants
If you have several missing teeth, there are various implant options to consider to fill the gaps. Separate single implants can be placed, but you do not necessarily need an implant fitted for each missing tooth. Strategically placed implants can be used to support a bridge to replace a few adjacent teeth. This method is particularly effective in cases where the jawbone may not be sufficient for implant treatment in some places.
Full arch implants
Traditionally, dentures have been the go-to option for replacing a full upper or lower arch of missing teeth. However, despite the advances in denture treatment, they can be uncomfortable to wear and do not stop the jawbone from degrading over time. Dental implants are seen as the superior alternative and offer two main full arch options:
- A fixed full arch bridge of new teeth, supported by four or six precisely placed dental implants. Once they have settled, your new teeth will feel completely natural and enable you to eat, drink, and speak as you did before.
- A denture, anchored into place by dental implants. Implant-supported dentures are much more secure and do not move when worn, giving you back your confidence and a full smile.
Finance options available
We know that dental implant treatment can seem expensive, which is why we are pleased to offer flexible payment options to help spread the cost.
Aftercare
You need to maintain good oral hygiene following treatment to ensure your implants remain trouble-free. If well looked after, with a regular brushing and flossing routine, they can last well over 15 years. You should also attend regular check-ups so your dentist can ensure your implants stay in great condition.
See the results of Dental Implant treatment
To see more before and after treatment images visit our Dental Implants Smile Gallery.
Frequently Asked Questions
You shouldn’t feel any pain during your dental implant treatment, as we use local anaesthetic during the surgery. We can also provide sedation for very nervous patients when necessary. Afterwards, you may feel some discomfort, but this does not last long and can be managed by taking painkillers as advised by your dentist.
The whole dental implant process takes several months, as the implant needs time to heal and attach to your bone before fixed permanent teeth can complete your smile. The implant surgery itself is a relatively quick procedure, but healing can take up to six months. Your new smile will be worth the wait!
Dental implants have the potential to last for the rest of your life, provided they are properly looked after. As they are attached to your jawbone, they mimic natural tooth roots. You need to remember to brush and floss twice a day, look after your overall health, and visit your dentist for regular check-up appointments. The replacement tooth fixed on top of your implant may need to be replaced over time due to wear and tear.
You should treat your dental implants just like natural teeth and include them in your normal oral hygiene routine. As they are made from artificial materials, your implants are not vulnerable to decay or cavities, but you will still need to brush and floss to keep the gum surrounding the implant healthy and problem-free. Keeping your gums healthy is paramount to keep your implant restorations.
Dental implants usually affect how you talk in a very positive way! You may find it easier to pronounce certain words or speak clearly when you no longer have a missing tooth, and you will certainly speak more confidently with securely supported implants than any other restorations like removable dentures.
Yes, teeth implants are very successful at replacing a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. We can insert several strategically placed implants to support a bridge or partial denture, replacing several adjacent teeth. Dental implants can also be used to replace a full arch of upper or lower missing teeth, giving you back the confidence of a full smile.
