Dental Implants in Devon

Missing Teeth » Dental Implants

What are Dental Implants?

Have you lost teeth, lost the confidence to smile, find your Dentures are not staying in place? Now so much can be done to repair broken, discoloured teeth and unsightly gaps, to give you back your quality of life and self-confidence.

When you lose a tooth or teeth, the jaw bone in which they were embedded gradually disappears because it is no longer required to support the teeth.

Dental Implants are a very successful long term solution for replacing any number of missing teeth and considered the closest replacement option to a natural tooth. An option that has been available for more than 40 years and in the last 20 years has developed to be recognised as a reliable, proven long term alternative to traditional methods of tooth replacement.

An Implant is a small titanium screw, which is placed into the jaw bone during a short operation, usually performed under local anaesthetic. Titanium in its purest form is used, as it is a well-tolerated metal that integrates readily with the surrounding bone, forming a secure base for final restoration of the tooth with a Crown, Bridge or Denture.

The Implant takes the place of the tooth root, acting as a foundation for the final restoration. Implants can replace one or more lost teeth or hold Dentures securely in the mouth.

The new tooth or teeth can look, feel and perform just like natural teeth. They should be barely distinguishable in appearance, from neighbouring teeth.

We use an Implant System which is scientifically supported by research and currently demonstrate success rates in excess of 96%. The Straumann Implant System allows flexibility to solve all your Implant needs. Straumann is at the forefront of innovation and their Implant System has proved its reliability over time.

Would Implants be right for me?

An Implant is the treatment of choice for natural appearance, reliability, stability and function.

But its success is dependent on you having:

• Good health.
• Healthy gums.
• A commitment to maintaining a good oral health regime.
• A commitment to regular visits with your dentist and hygienist.

The benefits of Implants:

• Providing a stable restoration of missing teeth whilst maintaining the stability of surrounding teeth and gums, preventing possible movement of the surrounding teeth and further tooth loss.
• Providing a permanent solution.
• Healthy teeth do not have to be cut down (as traditionally happens for the placement of a Bridge).
• Neighbouring teeth are preserved intact and therefore not at risk of damage from additional loading stress.
• Like natural tooth roots, Implants transmit chewing forces evenly to the jaw bone.
• Chewing stress maintains healthy bone, resulting in prevention of bone loss.
• Maintaining a healthy condition of the mouth and the natural shape of facial structures, supporting the lips and minimising wrinkles around the mouth.
• Vastly improved retention can be achieved for Dentures, requiring reduced or no palate, resulting in less interference with speech and taste, whilst preventing damage to remaining teeth from incorrect loading.
• Can eliminate the discomfort and lack of confidence of ill-fitting Dentures.
• Restoration of natural chewing ability and efficiency, assisting good digestion.
• Revitalising your smile.

Who are Dental Implants suitable for?

For nearly all age groups. Dental Implants can be used as soon as jaw growth is complete.

What is involved in the process of placing Implants?

The procedure is carried out over a number of stages, outlined here.

Assessment: the initial one or two consultations will involve a thorough, detailed assessment and examination, which will include consideration of your individual needs and expectations.

Comprehensive diagnostic investigations will assist the Dentist in determining the best treatment options for each individual case.

X–rays will help determine the amount of bone in the jaw and will assist in planning the ideal position of possible Implants.

Discussion of all the options available and time to answer all your questions will enable you to decide the best course of treatment to meet your personal needs. After which a treatment plan will be drawn up specifically for you, with an evaluation of all the proposed costs.

Prior to Implant placement, it is vital to ensure the remaining teeth and gums are clean and healthy. Our Hygienists will assist you with this if necessary.

The final decision regarding suitability and position can only be made at the time of surgery and is determined by the quality and quantity of the jaw bone and health of the surrounding tissues.

Implant placement: generally this involves a minor oral surgical procedure. In which a titanium screw is placed in the jaw bone. Occasionally this Implant will be covered by the gum.

In cases where teeth have been lost for some time, the jaw bone may have shrunk back, in this case, bone grafting may be necessary. Usually this can be done at the time of the Implant placement.

The healing period: To provide a stable base for the new teeth in the long term, the Implant must knit firmly with the surrounding bone. The healing period lasts 6-8 weeks on average, depending on bone quality and your general health.

Temporary teeth may be provided if necessary, until healing is complete and the final restoration is performed..

Fitting the replacement teeth: the restoration of the mouth, proceeds in a similar way to routine Crown, Bridge or Denture work, except the Implants retain the restorations rather than teeth.

Reviews: you will need to attend for follow up appointments after approximately six months, a year and two years to monitor the implant, its integration in your mouth as well as your overall oral health. Throughout the whole process there will be a maintenance programme to follow, to ensure good oral hygiene continues, this is essential to the longevity of your Implant. You will also still need to attend for routine check-ups with your usual Dentist, to review all other areas of your mouth.

The long term success is dependent on a conscientious oral hygiene routine, a good general state of health, adequate quality and volume of bone in the jaw and the experience and correct treatment planning of your Dentist.

Audit: clinical audit is the systematic and critical analysis of the quality of clinical care. Its purpose is to improve the quality of care provided.

At St. Paul's Dental Practice we record all relevant information regarding Implants placed here. Analysis of this information and outcome measuring assists the setting of quality standards, enabling us to compare current practice with the standards. This allows procedure development, to improve techniques and implement changes where necessary. As with all patient details held at the practice, this information is treated with the utmost confidentiality.

Costs: the cost of Implant placement and restoration is dependent on the complexity of each individual case, but would involve consideration of:

• The Dentist's time involvement.
• The number of Implants.
• The type of restoration, subsequent to Implant placement.
• The surgery costs – such as staff assisting, materials and equipment.
• Additional techniques involved such as Bone Grafting.
• Laboratory fees.

The cost estimate will have been outlined at the consultation phase. There are no hidden costs and the planning consultations, diagnostic procedures and hygiene support are all included.

Flexible payment options can be arranged.

A fee guide covering all private treatment options is available on request.

Why choose St Paul's Dental Practice for all your Implant needs?

Nick Tomes, our Principal Dentist, has been placing and restoring Implants for more than 10 years, drawing on experience from more than 25 years in dentistry. Nick has extensive knowledge and experience in this field, he is committed to keeping abreast of developments in Implantology, through continual professional development, regular attendance at professionally accredited courses and membership of the Association of Dental Implantologists and the International Team for Implantology.

Nick has experience of many different Implant Systems, enabling him to provide assistance or follow up to anyone with existing implants, regardless of where the initial surgery was performed.

He takes great pride and satisfaction in the results that can be achieved.

Our complimentary Treatment Co-ordinator service supports Nick by providing essential time to discuss your individual dental needs and is a familiar point of contact to guide you through the treatment process.

We offer:

• An excellent success rate.
• Specially trained and experienced staff.
• Exceptionally high standards throughout all surgical procedures.
• Support from a caring team.
• Your individual Treatment Co-ordinator.
• Direct access to Nick for questions you may have.
• On-going aftercare to ensure long term satisfaction.
• Guaranteed dental work.
• Payment plans.
• Discounts for multiple Implants.
• Implant placement under sedation if required.

We can fulfil all your Implant needs from enquiry to completed restoration and can make complex treatment a simple procedure.

The results we achieve and your satisfaction are of utmost importance to us therefore we place a high value on the time spent in the planning, delivery and follow-up.

But don't take our word for it, visit our testimonials page and photo gallery. For more information, arrange a no obligation appointment with one of our Treatment Co-ordinators, who will be happy to advise you on all treatments available and your suitability for Implants.