A dental implant is a titanium insert that is readily accepted by bone, including the jawbones, and therefore can replace the root of a natural tooth. A natural tooth-coloured crown is then placed over the dental implant. The implants are an ideal solution for replacing missing teeth, bridges or dentures; in fact, they are the next best thing to natural teeth, and are a safe, alternative treatment to the existing bridge or denture. Human bony tissue locks into and around the implant, firmly locking it into place. Implants can then be used to support crowns, bridges or unstable dentures and can be used to replace one, several or all the missing teeth.
The advantages of dental implants
When a tooth is lost, an implant can replace that missing tooth and support a crown without the need to damage or compromise adjacent teeth. Where a number of teeth have been lost they can act as bridge retainers and support several teeth, thereby removing the need to wear removable dentures. Loose dentures can be firmly fixed in place using implants as anchors. The dental implants help to maintain the bone volume which in turn helps to support the facial profile and reduce unwanted changes in facial appearance.
The disadvantages of dental implants
The disadvantages of using dental implants are that the treatment may be more expensive in the shorter term than alternative more conventional treatment options and the treatment may take longer to complete.
Success rate of dental implants and their longevity
Long-term clinical trials have proven that modern dental implants have very high success rates which in many instances far out strip the prognosis of more conventional treatments on compromised natural teeth.
The next step
Dr Wellings and his team will carry out a detailed assessment, including taking x-rays of your whole mouth and the proposed dental implant site. They will discuss all dental implant possibilities with you including all alternatives using conventional treatments. This is to ensure that you are in a position to make an informed choice about the treatment plan which is most appropriate for you. In general there are no age restrictions on patients who can have implants. The only exception is that it is best to wait until facial growth is completed at about 18 years of age. The only other restriction is that there needs to be an adequate amount of bone at the proposed implant site and enough space between existing teeth with which to place the implant retained crowns. In many cases an inadequate amount of bone can be overcome by bone grafting, and space can be recreated by conventional dentistry with the aid of orthodontics.
During implant surgery
The vast majority of dental implant treatment is carried out under simple local anaesthesia. In some cases, where it is felt appropriate following discussion with you the patient, local anaesthesia can be supplemented with either oral sedation or intra-venous sedation. The dental implant placement procedures are painless, although in certain cases you may have some discomfort in the first few days following surgery. Barkhill Clinic follows a standard protocol of instructions and medication post-surgery in order to ensure that the healing period is as symptom-free as possible for you.

To find out if you are suitable to have dental implants, please contact the Clinic to arrange an appointment with Dr Ian Wellings.