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 form the dental implant placement.

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

Unfortunately, not everyone with missing teeth are 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 assessment, some of the criteria we look at are:

1. Availability of bone. As the implant needs to be placed in bone, we need to ensure that there is enough bone. In cases where deficiency in the bone is picked up form 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 increased risk of failure when someone has signs of gum disease.

Unfortunately, not everyone with missing teeth are suitable for implants, all patients need to be assessed individually to ensure we are able to carry out the treatment to an adequate standard and any possible risk factors are picked up.
During assessment, some of the criteria we look at are:

1. Availability of bone, as the fixture needs to be placed in bone, we need to ensure that there is enough bone. In cases where deficiency in the bone is picked up form a CT scan, we may be able to carry out the procedure to create more bone and space.
2. General health of the patient is very important. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes and smokers are at a higher risk of failure. Implant treatment may be possible, but it is really important to ensure patients are aware of the higher risk of failure compared to non-smokers and non-diabetic patients.
3. Patients Oral hygiene regime and technique is also very important. Before treatment is done, the patient must have very good cleaning habits to ensure there is no sign of gum diseases, as this can increase risk of failure. They must also be able to ensure they can keep their mouth clean after the implant treatment is complete to ensure long term success.

With a custom-made treatment plan, we also design computerised 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.

We use “All on X” which means the number of implants per jaw. This can be from 2,4 or 6 implants. The more implants equals 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 complexity of the case). Once it integrates into the bone and becomes firm; this is confirmed with device that takes a 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.

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

Once 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 for regular checkups and hygiene appointments. So the implants are examined for any early signs of problems e.g. bleeding.

It is important to attend for 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.