Dental Implants North Watford

Dental implants are made from titanium, we know that titanium is a safe material to use for implants, and rarely the body will reject it (bio-compatible). There have been no reports of any dangerous diseases or any sinister conditions developing from the dental implant placement.

It is still very likely that you are an excellent candidate for implants

Is everyone suitable for dental implants?

Unfortunately, not everyone with missing teeth is suitable for implants, all patients need to be assessed individually with our FREE consultation to ensure we are able to carry out the treatment to an adequate standard and any possible risk factors are picked up.

During the assessment, some of the criteria we look at are:

1. Availability of bone. As the implant needs to be placed in the bone, we need to ensure that there is enough bone. In cases where deficiency in the bone is picked up from a CT scan, we may be able to carry out the procedure to create more bone and space.
2. General health. Implant treatment is still possible but patients with uncontrolled diabetes and smokers are at a higher risk of implant failure compared to non-diabetic and non-smokers.
3. Oral health. Implants have an increased risk of failure when someone has signs of gum disease.

What is the Dental Implant treatment procedure?

With a custom-made treatment plan, we also design computerized guides to help ensure that every implant is placed with high accuracy, safety, and predictability. These guides are made from the CT scans and are 3-D printed.

What does it mean All-on-X?

We use “All on X” which means the number of implants per jaw. This can be from 2,4 or 6 implants. The more dental implants equal the more long term stability and predictability.

Our goal is to have the most predictable, long-term success as possible, so we prefer to over-engineer rather than do the bare minimum. In a scenario where an implant has problems, a prosthesis supported by more than 4- implants can still be maintained and supported predictably and the patient does not have to wear a removable denture.

The implant placement is split into two phases:

Phase 1- placement of the implant. The implant is inserted into the bone and takes 2 hours to place (depending on the complexity of the case). Once it integrates into the bone and becomes firm; this is confirmed with a device that takes stability reading. Then we can move onto the next phase

Phase 2- this is usually 6-8 weeks following the implant placement appointment, this is when an impression/ digital scan is taken to make your implant crown, bridge or denture.

What if I don’t have enough bone to put the implants into?

Unfortunately, implants may not be suitable. There are several reasons for this i.e. long-standing infection, gum recession, teeth that have been missing for a long time, etc.

We can increase the bone volume if needed. In areas of minor deficiency, we are able to add bone during the placement of the implant. In areas of major deficiency, the placement of the implant will be done at a later date. The bone is generally synthetic (man-made), bovine, or from the patient themselves. A bone membrane may also need to be used which again can be synthetic or porcine origin.

For simple cases we tend to carry out the treatment under simple injections.

For more complex cases and anxious patients, we may use sedation techniques, this would be subject to the general health status of the patient.

If the gap is in the front of the mouth and is visible, a removable appliance can be provided as a temporary for the patient’s wishes. After the implant placement, it will be advised not to wear the prosthetic for a week, to ensure adequate healing.

If the gap is at the back of the mouth, we advise not to have any temporary replacements as excessive pressure on the implant can cause it to fail.

Do implants placement hurt?

Once the implant is placed expect some discomfort, bleeding, swelling, and bruising. This is experienced by people in different ways. We give you bespoke simple instructions to keep this to a minimum such as cold application and painkillers

Before, during, and after implants, it is paramount to maintain a high standard of oral hygiene. As with natural teeth, implants can also develop gum infections.

We advise you to attend regular checkups and hygiene appointments. So the implants are examined for any early signs of problems e.g. bleeding.

It is important to attend all your recall appointments, keep your oral hygiene regime as effective as possible, and contact us at Watford Smiles if any concerns. In general, implants can last for 20 years.