Dental Implants

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a titanium screw, placed into the jaw bone, to replace the root of a natural tooth and form the sub-structure to which a crown can be attached.

Titanium has the advantage (compared to other metals) of fully integrating into the jaw (bone attaches to the surface of the implant).

How is a dental implant placed?

Following exposure of the bone, a small hole is drilled into which the implant is screwed.

The choice of which implant to place (both the type and the size), as well as how and where to place the implant, is different in every circumstance. Your surgeon will fully assess the implant site, which will most likely include a 3-D cone-beam or CT scan, as well as a digital scan of the teeth, to determine the best way to proceed.

What are the advantages of a dental implant?

Dental implants offer a permanent solution, which is the closest to natural teeth, in both function and appearance. Dental implants can also be used to support a whole arch of teeth (such as all-on-4, or an implant-supported over-denture), or in cases where other options are unsuitable, such as after a tumour resection, or in cases of major trauma.

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FAQs about Dental Implants

Can I have teeth on my implant straight away?

Whether you can have immediate crown placement is highly variable, and depends on:

the site of the implant
the nature of the bone (soft or hard)
whether a bone graft is required

In most cases, if a tooth cannot be placed at the same time as an implant, a suitable, temporary solution can be sought, in consultation with your referring dentist.

Why choose an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are bone-surgery specialists, and deal with the most complex of conditions of the oral cavity and jaws. While in many circumstances general dentists and other dental specialists can place implants, you may be referred to a surgeon for a number of reasons.

If the site for an implant is compromised, this may necessitate a bone graft, sinus lift or other procedure in preparation, which an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon can complete for you. Some particular types of implants, such as zygomatic implants, require specialist-level training due to the degree of complexity.

An Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon can also offer treatment in a hospital setting, if this is required for any reason.

What are the risks of dental implants?

Dental implants are known to have a high success rate, which is well proven in large, long-term studies. However, all implants do carry a small chance of failure, both early (weeks to months), due to infection or failure of integration, and late (years), due to inflammation and slow loss of bone around the implant, or continual force due to clenching and grinding. Your periodontal (gum and bone) health plays an important role, as well as other medical conditions or prior treatment (such as radiotherapy). Smoking is to be avoided at all costs, as this carries a very high risk of failure of integration. Other issues can arise, such as loosening of the tooth from the implant, which can usually be addressed without loss of the implant.

Who will place the tooth on the implant?

Your referring dentist or dental specialist (or in the case of implant over-dentures, a prosthetist) will usually place the teeth for you. Your surgeon will discuss this with you at the time of your consultation.