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IMPLANTS
A lot is talked about implants and patients quite often ask if the can
have a ‘screw in tooth’ because they know someone who has
had one. Most of these ‘screw in teeth’ are simply crowns
retained by a post in the root canal - usually at the front of the mouth.
However over the last 10 years or so the field of dental implantology
has advanced rapidly giving patients the chance for real ‘screw
in teeth’. Following a period of approximately 3 - 6 months
the implant wil have bonded with the bone to provide a strong permanent root
similar to the root of a natural tooth and this will ultimately support
the restoration ie: crown or bridge. Implants can only be placed where
there is sufficient bone present to hold the implant.
Implants are an alternative to dentures. Some people experience
many problems and find the wearing of dentures completely unacceptable
or so uncomfortable that they go without wearing them. Implants can
help solve the many problems associated with the wearing of dentures
and can be used to replace single or multiple missing teeth. An implant
is a small titanium post which is placed directly into the jaw bone,
it is then left to bond with your own bone substance. Following a period
of approximately 3 - 6 months the implant has bonded with the bone to
provide a strong permanent root similar to the root of a natural tooth
and this will ultimately support the restoration ie: crown or bridge.
Implants can only be placed where there is sufficient bone present to
hold the implant. However all is not lost if bone is not present and
a technique called Bone Augmentation can be used to build up the bone
either at the same time as placement of the implant or prior to implant
surgery.
Though the concept of implants is without doubt an attractive one, they
are more costly than some dental procedures at about £1600.00
for a single implant. However staged payments throughout the course
of treatment can be arranged to make this more manageable.
BONE AUGMENTATION
Bone loss caused by missing teeth may mean that the placing of implants
is not possible. If the bone loss is not too great then the technique
of bone augmentation can be used to encourage the re-generation of new
bone growth and will build up the deficit of bone in that particular
area either at the same time as placement of the implant or prior to
implant surgery.
If you are interested in Dental Implants as an alternative to dentures
to replace missing teeth then pleased speak to the dentist who will
be happy to explain the procedure to you.
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