Dental Implants

A genuine alternative

What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are artificial root replacements upon which a crown or similar prosthetic construction is fixed. An implant is virtually indistinguishable from the natural tooth and contributes considerably to the patient's quality of life.

How does a dental implant work?
For years the only restorative solution to lost teeth were crowns, bridges and dentures. Today implants are becoming more and more popular, as they provide an aesthetically pleasing, durable and reliable alternative.

In contrast to traditional procedures, where the crowns and bridges are fixed to the remaining teeth, an implant consists of a titanium screw, which is placed in the jaw bone. Once the screw is firmly anchored in the bone a crown is fixed to the top.

The dental implant procedure
The procedure is simple and uncomplicated and is carried out under local anasthetic. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting but it takes a while for the implant to anchor in the jaw. Following this the crown can be fitted. Dental implants are a very successful dental procedure, however there is no success guarantee and the patient must be aware that he will be required to follow a meticulous dental hygiene routine. This is discussed in detail with the patient before the treatment begins.  

When does an implant make sense?
An implant enables a single tooth to be replaced without forfeiting the neighbouring teeth, as for example with a bridge. Implants can also be used to anchor partial or complete dentures.

We have been performing this procedure for a great number of years in our practice and regularly visit training courses to ensure that we are always up-to-date with recent innovations in this area.