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What Are Dental Implants
Dental Implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them.
Benefits of Dental implants
Dental implants have a long history or reliability, predictability and durability with over 30 years of proven success. Dental implants are versatile and may be used in many different situations and circumstances.
When natural teeth are lost the bone supporting these teeth begins to resorb (shrink away). Dental implants prevent this bone loss, thus preserving strength, facial features and appearance.
These implants can be used to replace teeth with fixed or removable false teeth.
What does "fixed or removable false teeth" actually mean?
The term "fixed" implies a tooth or teeth anchored rigidly onto an implant or implants. A fixed tooth crown is screwed into the implant in the same way as a natural tooth crown is attached to the root of a natural tooth. Where two or more teeth side by side are missing, the replacement teeth are linked together to form a "bridge" which is also screwed into two or more implants.
The term "removable" implies a denture which is anchored rigidly onto two or more implants, to stop it shifting or slipping in your mouth. This is an especially important benefit when eating and speaking. The resultant implant-retained-denture feels more natural than a conventional denture.
For some people, dentures are just not possible due to sore-spots or gagging. The ideal solution for such patients is a full-jaw bridge which is also screwed into 4 or more implants, and is fixed into the mouth.
Are Dental implants for you?
If anyone has missing or loose teeth and/or uncomfortable dentures, then dental implants may be the solution to these dental problems. To receive implants, you must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant(s).
Dr Fearon will check if you have enough bone to house an implant. If not, a grafting procedure may be recommended in order to build up the bulk of bone prior to implant placement. In some cases, the presence of nerves or other structures would rule out the placement of implants.
How successful are they?
The good news is that dental implant treatment is the most successful dental or medical treatment available today. Success rates in excess of 95% have been reported by literally clinical trials following the progress of literally hundreds of thousands of implants. Dr Fearon has himself been involved in such clinical trials.
How long do they last?
Nobody knows for sure just how long implants remain fused to the bone, because they have not been around for long enough to make a definite statement. However the earliest clinical trials, which are of 35+ years duration, show us that dental implants, when correctly placed and managed, have a projected lifespan well in advance of 35 years.
Surgical procedure
The implant will be surgically placed into your jawbone. In order to place the implant in the bone it will be necessary make a small incision through the gum. After the implant is placed in the bone the gum will be stitched (sutured) back over or around it. Sometimes it is possible for Dr Fearon to place the implant without a small incision, and instead a little "punch" of gum is removed from the top of the gum crest, through which the implant can be inserted into the jaw-bone. In this case, no stitches are necessary afterwards.
The implant will then be left to heal in the bone for some months until the union between implant and bone is strong enough to support a false tooth.
Tooth restoration
Some months after the placement of the implant, and after normal healing has occurred, you may have a second procedure in order to expose the top of the implant and check its integration, after which you will have a number of visits for impressions and fittings before completing your tooth restoration. These are necessary to check the implant position, the way your teeth meet (occlusion) and the appearance of your new tooth.
There is a wide range of artificial teeth, i.e. crowns, bridges and dentures that can be placed over dental implants. These can either be screwed or cemented in place. Your dentist will explain the design of your specific dental restoration to you.
After completion of restoring your implants with artificial teeth, your dentist will arrange for a check up visit to make sure the sites are healthy and the implants and restorations are functioning properly. You should then return to your general dentist for ongoing care and treatment. The post-implant hygiene visits and check ups are just as important as the procedure itself.
Strict oral hygiene is required. Your dentist and hygienist will give instructions on proper oral hygiene. With good care your implants should last for many years.
Fees
| Single tooth implant – including surgery and implant retained crown: |
from €2500 |
| Implant anchored denture with a minimum of 2 implants: |
from €4500 |
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