Implants
At Norfolk Square Dental Practice
We offer high-quality dental implants. Our aim is to plan and provide treatment based on each individual's needs and preferences.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a titanium screw that supports one or more false teeth. An implant replaces the root of a tooth and just like a tooth root, it is placed into the jawbone.
Are implants safe and how long will they last?
At Norfolk Square Dental Practice we plan position and sizes of the implant carefully using digital imaging techniques. Implants are a safe, well-established treatment. It's probably true to say that implants, much like natural teeth, will last for as long as you care for them.
How well you look after your implants - and whether you go for your regular maintenance appointments - will have a great impact on how long they will last.
If your implants are well looked after, and if the bone they are fitted to is strong and healthy, you can expect them to last for many years. However, just as with other surgical implants (such as a hip replacement) there is no lifetime guarantee.
I have some of my own teeth. Can I still have implants?
Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants - from one single tooth to a complete set.
Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth?
It depends on the condition of the bone in your jaw. Your dentist will arrange for a number of special tests to find out the amount of bone still there. If there is not enough, or if it isn't healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting bone into the area first.
Do implants hurt?
Placing an implant is often easier than taking a tooth out and is usually done using a simple local anaesthetic. You will not feel any pain at the time but, just like after an extraction, you may feel some discomfort during the week after the surgery.
General anaesthetics are rarely used for implants and are generally only used for very complicated cases.
How long does it take?
The procedure of placing the titanium screw inside the jaw bone generally takes between one to two hours.
After your implants have been placed, the bone in your jaw needs to grow onto them and fuse to them. This usually takes three to four months. Sometimes the implants may be stable enough when they are placed for the false teeth to be fitted sooner than this.
Our team at Norfolk Square Dental Practice will be able to talk to you about your treatment time.
Do I have to have an implant for each missing tooth?
If you have a single tooth missing, you will need an implant to support it. If you have a number of teeth missing, and these are next to each other, you could still have one implant for each tooth. Or you may find that, if you have two or more implants, they may be able to support more than one tooth each. Your dentist will talk to you about the best option for you.
Can I get the treatment on the NHS?
Implants are not normally available on the NHS. Implants are available privately. However, in many situations, the cost of the treatment is only a little more than the cost of more conventional private dental treatment with crowns and bridges. Over the longer term, implants are usually a more cost-effective and satisfactory option.
There are other advantages to implants, too. If you have an implant to replace a single tooth, there is no need to cut down the teeth either side of it. If you had a bridge, your dentist would need to do this and fit crowns to these teeth to support the bridge.
Normal dentures often mean that your eating and drinking are affected because the dentures may move about. But teeth attached to an implant don't cause this problem, because they are anchored to the bone more firmly than natural teeth.
We understand each person’s circumstances are unique. We offer free consultation to discuss dental implants based on your specific requirements.
After this consultation you will be clear on:
- Exactly what treatment is proposed.
- The total cost of the treatment.
- What the alternatives are.
We respect that you will be spending time, effort and money, so you must be sure that you know what you are getting at the end of the treatment.
We will do our best to discuss all aspect of your treatments with you.
What to do next?
You can register with us here.
We will contact you within a day to arrange your free consultation.
Looking forward to seeing you!