What Is the Best Way to Replace Missing Teeth?

If you lose one or more teeth then you’ll need to think about the way you’d like to replace them. There are several different options available to you, which include a fixed dental bridge, removable partial or full dentures or you could opt for dental implants. This last option is the most modern way to replace a missing tooth and perhaps you already know someone who has had dental implants in Watton?

Treatment is extremely versatile as dental implants can be used to replace just one missing tooth, multiple missing teeth or even every single natural tooth. One particular way of using dental implants is to secure loose dentures as often this can be done by using relatively few optimally placed implants.

What Is a Dental Implant?

A conventional dental implant consists of three separate parts. The main part is the implant post that is inserted into a jawbone during a small surgical procedure. The post is made from titanium as this is extremely biocompatible with your body. The second part is the abutment that fits onto the post and which is used to support your crown, bridge or denture. The third part of the restoration is the actual replacement tooth.

Who Can Have Dental Implants?

Just about anyone can have dental implants and it certainly doesn’t matter if you are a little older. In fact this treatment is perfect for patients currently struggling with loose and uncomfortable full dentures. It is important that you are in reasonable dental health and that you don’t have any medical issues that could interfere with implant treatment. This is because the implant has to heal or Osseo integrate with your jawbone and anything that affects your immune system, for example diabetes could slow down healing and increase the risk of implant failure. If you smoke then this can also increase the risk of your implant failing so it’s best to give up before you have the surgery.

How Do I Find out More about Having a Dental Implant?

If you are thinking about having a dental implant then it’s best to contact our surgery, Clarence House Dental Care. We can book an appointment for a proper consultation with one of our dentists in Watton. During this consultation we will need to examine your mouth and talk to you about your general health. We may also wish to carry out diagnostic tests which include digital dental x-rays and possibly a CT scan at a later date. The CT scan is extremely useful for showing us how much bone you have in your jaw as implants need to be surrounded by a certain amount of healthy bone so they are properly supported. If you don’t have enough bone then it doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t have a dental implant, but we may need to carry out an additional small surgical procedure called a bone graft which helps repair any lost bone.

Your CT scan will also help us plan the actual surgery at the planning process is extremely important to ensure your dental implant is a complete success. In general, dental implants have a success rate in excess of 95% and can last for many years or even for life. This does depend on good general maintenance, including regular dental check-ups and good oral care at home.

If you are interested in dental implants in Watton, please contact us on 01953 882777 to book your consultation.