Dental Implants
frequently asked questions.
|
| Q |
What
are dental implants? |
|
| A |
A dental implant is a titanium metal rod which
is placed into the jawbone. It is used to support one or more false teeth.
In practice, both the false teeth and their supporting rod are known as ‘implants’.
|
|
| Q |
Are implants safe? How long
will they last? |
|
| A |
Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested
treatment. 90 per cent of modern implants last for at least 15 years.
|
|
| Q |
I have some of my own teeth.
Can I still have implants? |
|
| A |
Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced
with implants – from one single tooth to a complete set.
|
|
| Q |
Can implants always be used
to replace missing teeth? |
|
| A |
It depends on the state of the
bone in your jaw. Your dentist will arrange for a number of special tests
to assess 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.
|
|
| Q |
Do implants
hurt? |
|
| A |
Placing the implants requires
a small operation. This can be carried out under local anaesthetic with
sedation or with a general anaesthetic. You will not feel any pain at the
time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week following the surgery.
This is usually due to having stitches in place, and the normal healing
process.
|
|
| Q |
Can I have the new teeth straight
away? |
|
| A |
No. The implants need to bond
(integrate) with the bone after they have been placed. This takes at least
3 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper jaw.
If you are having
one, two or three teeth replaced, you will have a temporary restoration
in the meantime. If you have complete dentures, then you can wear them
throughout the healing period once they have been adjusted after the surgery.
|
|
| Q |
How long does treatment take? |
|
| A |
It takes about 12 months from
the initial assessment to the time when the artificial teeth or dentures
are finally attached to the implants. However, if only the lower jaw is
involved then it may only take around 5 months.
A lot depends on how complicated your treatment is. Your dentist will be
able to give you a timetable once the surgery has been done.
|
|
| Q |
Are the teeth difficult
to clean? |
|
| A |
Cleaning around the teeth attached
to the implants is no more difficult than cleaning natural teeth. However,
there may be areas that give you problems and you’ll be shown methods
to help.
|
|
| Q |
If I had gum disease when
I had my own teeth, will I get it with the teeth attached to the implants?
|
|
| A |
Yes, if you don’t care for them well
enough. If you keep them clean, and don’t smoke, then you should
not have any problems.
|
|
| Q |
Can I take the teeth out if
they are fixed to implants? |
|
| A |
Most artificial teeth attached to implants
can only be placed and removed by the dentist. However, if you have complete
dentures fixed to the implants by bars, then you’ll be able to take
them out for cleaning.
|
|
| Q |
Do the implants show? |
|
| A |
Your dentist will make sure that the implants
won’t show during all normal movements of the mouth and lips. You
will need to be able to see them, so that you can clean them properly.
|
|
| Q |
Do I have an implant for each
missing tooth? |
|
| A |
No, unless you’re only having a single
tooth replaced. Normally, five or six implants are used to replace all
the teeth in one jaw, as each implant can usually support two teeth. For
a few missing teeth, two or three implants may be used.
|
|
| Q |
What if I get hit in the face? |
|
| A |
Implants and the teeth they support can be
damaged by an accident in the same way that natural teeth can. However,
if the false teeth are damaged and the remnants are left in the bone then
they may be more difficult to remove than natural teeth would be. After
healing, new false teeth can then be placed alongside the fragments.
|
|
| Q |
What happens if the implant
does not bond (integrate) with the bone? |
|
| A |
This happens very rarely. If the implant becomes
loose during the healing period or just after, then it is easily removed
and healing takes place in the normal way. Once the jaw has healed, another
implant can be placed there. Or, the dentist can make a bridge, using the
implanted false teeth that have ‘taken’.
|
|
| Q |
Is the treatment expensive? |
|
| A |
Unfortunately, yes. However, in many situations,
the cost of the treatment is only a little more than the cost of more conventional
treatment with crowns and bridges.
There are advantages to it, too. An implant to replace a single tooth
avoids the need to cut down the teeth either side for crowns to support
a bridge. Normal dentures often mean you can’t eat or speak well,
due to the dentures moving about. But teeth attached to an implant don’t
cause this problem.
|
|
| Q |
Where do I get this treatment? |
|
| A |
Talk to your dentist, so you can be referred
to a specialist for assessment and treatment. Your dentist may already
carry out some or all of this type of treatment and will give you the advice
you need. |
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