| What we do – Dental
Problems |
| Dental Implants |
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| What are dental implants? |
| Dental implants are metal
posts which may be inserted into the jawbone and used
to support a crown or bridge or denture to replace missing
teeth. |
| How are implants placed? |
 Implant treatment requires
precise planning to ensure that the implant is in the
correct position and the crown, bridge or denture is
of the correct design to produce a stable replacement
for the missing teeth. Xrays and measurements must be
taken to ensure that there is sufficient strong bone
to support the implant. The procedure involves drilling
a hole into the jawbone into which the implant is placed.
As the jawbone heals it fuses with the implant. Some
months later the implant is exposed and an attachment
is placed onto the implant which carries the crown or
bridge or denture. The crown or bridge is usually permanently
attached to the implant by screwing or cementing onto
the attachment whilst a denture is clipped onto the implants
and can be removed for cleaning. |
| How long should implant treatment
last? |
| An implant should last a
lifetime if it becomes fused to the surrounding bone.
The crown, bridge or denture, which the implant carries
will require replacement in the usual way after 10 or
more years. |
| Can implants fail? |
| As with any area of dentistry
implant treatment can be unsuccessful. Sometimes the
implant loosens because it has not fused with the bone.
This may be because of an infection surrounding the implant
or because there was insufficient good quality bone to
secure the implant. |
| A major risk factor in implant
failure is smoking, and every effort should be made to
stop smoking before implants are provided. |
| The crown, bridge or denture
must be carefully designed to minimize the stresses placed
on the implants and if poorly designed will cause the
implants to become overloaded. |
| Implants may be placed in
an incorrect position and become overloaded which may
also lead to failure. |
| The site at which the implant
protrudes through the gum into the mouth is susceptible
to infection and must be kept thoroughly clean to prevent
this. The crown, bridge or denture may loosen if not
properly connected to the supporting implants. |
| Implants ought to be successful
if properly planned and executed and are an effective
and aesthetic method of replacing missing teeth, without
involving or damaging the adjacent teeth in order to
support a bridge or denture. |
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