Dental Implants
Dental implants are a highly successful solution to replace one or more missing teeth permanently. A dental implant is made of three parts: the implant, the abutment and the crown. The implant is a titanium screw which is placed into the jawbone. After this is healed, the abutment will be fitted which will hold the crown in place.
Dental implants are designed to look completely natural, meaning it will look no different to the rest of your teeth. Your replacement tooth will be strong and hard-wearing, lasting you for a lifetime if you look after it well.
We only use Straumann dental implants which are one of the two leading manufacturers of dental implants and have over 30 years of clinical data backing up their success.
What are dental implants?
We always recommend replacing missing teeth for many reasons. Firstly, your jawbone is strengthened by your teeth and when you lose a tooth, your jawbone can start to shrink. Over time, this can result in your face ageing quicker than it would if you had all of your teeth.
Gaps in your teeth can also cause the remaining teeth to shift position. These gaps can also trap food and be difficult to clean, meaning you can be at risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease.
Another important reason for replacing missing teeth is to boost your self-esteem. When you have gaps within your smile, you can often feel the need to cover your mouth when you speak or smile. Dental implants will allow you to eat and smile with confidence.
Don’t just take our word for it – read our testimonials.
Meet the surgeon
Mr John Tighe has experience of nearly 20 years in dental implant placements to rehabilitate patients with missing teeth including those requiring bone grafting.
View Mr John Tighe’s profile.
Am I a suitable candidate?
Generally speaking, if you are missing teeth, you are a candidate for dental implants. However, it is important that you are in good health as some medical diseases and conditions can affect the success rate of the procedure. If you are a smoker, it is strongly recommended that you stop as it can have a huge impact on the healing process and success of the dental implant.
Before going ahead with the procedure, your dentist will discuss your medical history in detail. This will allow them to decide if you are a good candidate for dental implants.
Types of tooth replacement using implants
A single tooth replacement — if you are missing single teeth where one implant and its associated crown replaces one tooth. Usually we favour a crown that screws directly into the implant.
A fixed multiple tooth replacement — if you are missing more than one tooth. This is fixed in the same way, using the implant and abutment but instead of a crown, a custom bridge replaces the teeth. This is a great way of replacing teeth because the surrounding teeth are not disturbed. This could be replacing two teeth or the whole set of upper or lower teeth or both.
A removable implant-supported tooth replacement — if all of your teeth are missing. Two to six implants are used to support a full denture. Unlike regular dentures, the implants give it support and stability, whilst being comfortable. This gives you more confidence whilst wearing a denture and minimises any future loss of the jaw bone.