Dental implants serve as a replacement of missing teeth, just like how dentures and bridges do. Our patients usually seek dental implants if they want a permanent, more comfortable and more convenient fixture than dentures. The implant replaces the entire natural tooth, down to its roots. The implant is surgically implanted into the jawbone, which holds and integrates seamlessly and sturdily with the titanium in the implants so that they won’t slip, produce noise or cause potential bone damage like bridges or dentures. Because titanium is such a hardy material, implants also do not deteriorate over time.

During consultation, our dentists will evaluate your suitability for a dental implant. The dentist will determine if you have enough bone to hold the implants in place or a bone transplant may be required. Strong oral tissues are also a must, and you should also not have any health issues that could affect the bone healing. Teenagers are not generally not suitable to receive a dental implant, as the jawbone must have grown to its full potential for a dental implant to be successful.

Do expect to make several visits to the dentist as getting a dental implant usually involves 5 steps over several months.

• Removal of a damaged tooth
• Jawbone preparation, if necessary
• Bone grafting is required if your jawbone isn’t thick enough or is too soft to support the pressure of chewing and biting. A bone graft will strengthen the implant’s foundation. A variety of bone transplant materials can be used for this process, such as a natural bone transplant from another part of your body, or a synthetic bone graft such as a bone-substitute material that can offer support structures for new bone growth.
• Placement of dental implants
• The dentist will create an incision in your gum to insert the dental implant metal post bored into the bone. This metal post will serve as the tooth root. There will still be a gap where your tooth is missing. The dentist may install a partial or temporary denture might be used to improve look.
• Bone development and repair
• The jawbone integrates with the surface of the dental implant and grows into it. This process, which can take several months, provides a strong foundation for your new artificial tooth.
• Placement of the abutment
• The abutment holds the tooth to the metal post in your gums. A minor surgery may be required depending on the degree of protrusion of the post above your gum line.
• Placement of a dental implant
• This is the final and best part – the installation of your new artificial tooth. An impression of your teeth would have been done prior to this step to create the most natural-looking tooth to be made. You can opt for a permanent or temporarily attached tooth to be mounted onto the abutment each time.

There may be several processes before you finally have a dental implant, but the end result is definitely rewarding. Drop by for a consultation today to explore your options on replacing a missing tooth.

A dental implant serves as the tooth root of your new tooth. It is only a few millimetres long and carefully engineered, so your dentist can firmly anchor it in your jaw bone like your natural tooth and keep the replacement tooth stable. On top of the implant a crown or bridge will be used as the visible part of your new tooth. It is made of strong material (like e.g. ceramics) and individually designed by a dental laboratory to make it look and feel like your natural tooth.

Dental implants are widely considered to be the most successful method of tooth replacement used today, because they give a number of benefits to patients.

There are many advantages to dental implants, including:-

• Healthy Natural Looking Smile
• Prevents Bone Loss
• Matches Your Natural Teeth
• Restores Force Bite
• Prevents Changes in the Shape of Your Face
• Enables Natural Speech
• Won’t Get Cavities
• Cost Effective
• Easy to Care For
• Long Lasting
• Stable & Comfortable Fit
• Highly Successful

The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.

If you are considering implants, you must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. If your bone is too thin or soft and unable to support an implant, you may require a bone graft. Or if there is not enough bone height in the upper jaw or the sinuses are too close to the jaw, you may require a sinus lift. Dental implants are suitable for most adults with good general health. They can only be used once the jawbone has stopped growing and so generally are not used with younger patients.

Step 1: Diagnosis by Doctor
After gathering information via your oral X-rays and CBCT, we will assess the treatment options best suited to your situation and history so you are well-informed before making a decision.

Step 2: Implant Placement
The implant will be surgically inserted into your jaw using local anaesthetic. Depending on the individual case, a temporary restoration may be placed on the implant during the healing stage, while the bone around the implant grows.

Step 3: Healing
The bone around the implant grows and integrates with the implant surface, which takes between four weeks and a few months. After approximately one week, your stitches will be removed.

Step 4: Your New Teeth are Created
As your implant bonds itself to the bone during the healing phase, your dentist and laboratory partners will to create your personalized artificial tooth crown. This will be placed once the healing phase is complete.

Step 5: Restoration Placement
Your final restoration is connected to the implant, leaving you free to smile, bite, and chew like before.

1. You may feel numb from the anaesthetic please don’t bite your lip or touch implant wound with your finger.
2. Please bite on the sterile white gauze for half hour till bleeding stops.
3. Kindly take cold drinks and ice cream for first day and no hot coffee, tea or soup. Can take at room temperature. Take soft foods first as tolerated.
4. Gargle with mouth wash or salt water after meals.
5. Brush with soft tooth brush on other teeth.
6. Take the medication as prescribed.

• Patients will need to maintain good oral hygiene after treatment and equal care of dental implants is required as the natural teeth.
• The bone, after placing the abutment can take nearly 6 months to grow and the different stages of healing after the dental implant can take between 3-9 months.
• The abutment placed in your gums by your doctor will be visible until the last step of placing the artificial teeth is complete.
• There exists a minor risk and complications in the procedure like swelling, bleeding and infection.
• The procedure is not appropriate for all patients with missing teeth and only your doctor can determine whether you need, dental implants, bridges or dentures.
• While more than 98.6% patients get a successful result, in some cases, the bone may fail to fuse with the metal implant. In such a case, you will need to undergo the procedure again.