Single dental implants

To be suitable for dental implants, you do need to be in good general health and have excellent oral health. If you require other dental treatment, such as fillings, we will recommend that you have these done first. You will need adequate bone in your jaw to support the implant.

We will take a 3D scan of your jaw as part of the assessment process to evaluate your bone levels. The implant can be ‘virtually’ placed and planned using the 3D software, so we know exactly the implant procedure before we even pick up an instrument!

Sometimes deformities in the jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. We can use a bone substitute to correct the problem and build up the missing jawbone. We can do this with a mixture of synthetic bone and your own blood plasma (L-PRF) to get great results and faster healing.

There are many advantages to dental implants, including improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth, and because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent. Other advantages include:

• Improved speech – With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth, causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your teeth might slip.
• Improved comfort – Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
• Easier eating – Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favourite foods with confidence and without pain.
• Improved self-esteem – Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
• Improved oral health – Dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
• Durability – Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
• Convenience – Removable dentures are just that, removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.

It is important to keep your dental implants clean from plaque and prevent peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is inflammation in the gums around implants. It is caused by bacteria from plaque that builds up along the gum line.

If plaque is not removed, it soon turns into hard tartar, and over time, the bone around the implant will start to break down. If left untreated, the implant will become loose and fall out.

Depending on whether the implants are for a single tooth, a bridge or supporting a denture, you may need a special brush to reach where the implant meets the gums. Your dentist or hygienist will help you with this.

Use interdental brushes or specialist floss to reach the sides of the implants and in between the adjacent teeth. Use a single tufted brush to clean around the small implant posts under a denture.

Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care with a good oral hygiene routine. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply. After treatment, your dentist will advise the correct care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. You will need to attend the hygienist regularly.