Our Talented Dental Implant Experts
What is a Dental Implant?
SW1 Dental implants are a great solution for patients who have lost a tooth or teeth due to tooth decay, gum disease or oral injury.
Tooth loss not only affects how we eat and speak, but it can also affect self-image and general confidence. Dental implants will last a lifetime with proper care. Dental Implants provide secure replacement of teeth to ensure proper bite function, facial form and a confident smile.
Dental implants consist of titanium posts, abutments and a crown/Bridge or Denture, which in turn serve as both replacement tooth roots and teeth. Implants are securely fitted within the jawbone structure, naturally fusing with existing bone structure through a process of osseointegration.
Before & After photos
BEFORE
AFTER
Are you suitable?
Anyone who has lost one or more teeth may be a suitable candidate for dental implants. The reason for the tooth loss could be traumatic, age-related or due to gum disease. Dental implants are the easiest and least invasive way to restore the mouth of a patient who suffered from tooth loss.
How it is planned
During the consultation a short questionnaire about your general medical condition will be assessed. Then I will examine the jawbone to decide whether you are suitable for treatment. If the maxillary or mandibular bone has resorbed and is too narrow for inserting the implant, a bone reconstruction procedure may be necessary to build up the jawbone and allow the implant placement.
X-rays like intraoral, OPG, or a CT-scan are part of the standard assesment plan for a patient who needs a dental implant.
Sometimes bite impressions may be necessary to obtain customized models and measurements for a correct planning of the treatment.
Implant placement
The dental implant procedure is carried out under local anesthesia and consists of a small incision of the gum where the implant will be inserted. The site for the implant is then prepared with gentle drills and the implant can finally be inserted in the jawbone.
The implant must stay under the gum for all the osseointegration period before being used to anchor the new teeth. This period may vary from 2 to 6 months.
Depending on the need for bone graft /Sinus lift procedures, the total time for the treatment can vary.
In various cases it is possible to have the implants and the temporary teeth on the very same day. This is called "Immediate loading", and can be applied to cases of single or multiple edentoulism.
Immediate restored post-extractive implants offer an important option for the treatment of patients with high aesthetic requests and expectations, especially involving frontal sites.
Tooth loss not only affects how we eat and speak, but it can also affect self-image and general confidence. Dental implant treatment is aimed at providing secure replacement teeth to ensure proper bite function, facial form and a confident smile.
Depending on the stages involved in surgery, such as whether a bone graft or sinus lift is necessary, treatment and healing times may vary. However, immediately loaded mini dental implants can provide tooth replacement and restoration within one surgery.
Restoring Dental Implants
Dental implants may support different teeth solutions, such as single ceramic crowns, bridges and dentures.
The majority of implant supported restorations are attached to the implant using abutments that are securely screwed to the implants. The crowns and bridges may be cemented to the abutment or screwed to the implant depending on the patient's anatomy.
Overdentures are used when patients have no existing bone structure within the jawbone and are attached as removable substitute teeth. Bar- or ball-retained techniques are used to secure the overdenture to two or four dental implant posts.
Replacement teeth fitted to dental implants are made to resemble healthy teeth. These teeth are cosmetically symmetrical and create a stunning smile. Those with dental implants experience greater confidence and enhanced self-esteem. Dental implants do not interfere with daily oral function and look the same as normal teeth.
How they feel
The chewing sensation of the dental implant may feel different because the implant is not attached to the periodontal ligament as with natural teeth. However, this initial sensation will shortly become unnoticeable.
Dental implants allow tooth movement without direction or reciprocal action, offering secure anchorage to ensure replacement tooth prostheses such as crowns, bridges and dentures do not slip or shift during oral function.
What are the alternatives?
Missing teeth could be replaced by bridges or partial/full removable dentures. Dental implants are the most conservative way to restore missing teeth, bacause they don't involve treatment ont he adjacent teeth and have very good stability and excellent aesthetic results.
In the last few decades implant supported restorations have become a valid option for the treatment of partial or total edentoulism, thanks to the improvement of the materials and the clinical procedures. Along with these changes, the requests of the patients began to differ: in the past, in most of the cases, edentolous ridges were restored after a long period without teeth. Now patients prefer the immediate restoration of a tooth that has to be extracted. The simplification of the treatment plan, with the reduction of the number of operative steps, represents a real challenge for the clinician in terms of selection of the case and surgical-prosthetical skills.
Risks I need to know
As with all surgical procedures there are risks, such as bleeding, bruising, infection and nausea. After dental implant treatment patients may experience temporary side-effects and slight discomfort. These affects soon pass and patients will then experience the benefits of their dental implants. After treatment normal oral function may be resumed for eating, drinking and speaking.
Take the first step replace that missing tooth and you will never look back!
TESTIMONIALS
I am grateful for the enthusiasm, time and expertise that I have been fortunate enough to benefit from.
Michael Sharp
I never thought I would be able to have Implants. Marco was outstanding. I now have teeth to enjoy food and smile comfortably again!
Sarah Young