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What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a titanium substitute to replace the root portion of a tooth. Titanium implants are placed into the bone & the latest cosmetic porcelain crowns are then fixed onto these new roots.

Dental implants can provide you with the ability to chew an unrestricted diet as you will  have a permanent fixed replacement tooth or teeth, an additional benefit of dental implants is that they slow down the rate of shrinkage of our jaw bone which occurs as a result of tooth loss. The natural bone & tissues integrate around the titanium implant.

Dental implants allow people to smile, speak and chew comfortably and with confidence. The team at W7 have been practicing dental implant surgery since 2000 and have  placed & restored well in excess of 750 implants.

I have some of my own teeth. Can I still have implants?
Yes, it is possible to replace as few as one individual tooth, or as many as a complete set of teeth. At W7 we will discuss the various options available to you to restore your dental health & also enhance your smile.

How successful are dental implants?
Present day implants based on scientific evidence have shown a success rate of more than 94% in the lower jaw over a 15-year period. Making Dental implants one of the most successful dental treatments carried out in modern day dentistry.

Do I have one implant for each missing tooth?
No, Unless a single tooth is being replaced. it is usual for five or six implants to be used in the lower jaw to support 10-12 teeth. Where a few teeth are missing, two or three implants are sufficient

What does the actual procedure entail?

• Stage 1.
  Extensive Assessment
  Blurb Still required
  
  
• Stage 2
  The dental team places a metal titanium root into your jaw. While the root bonds to your bone, you are able to wear either temporary crowns, bridges or dentures.
  
  Should a tooth require extraction prior to implant placement, it is often possible to extract the tooth and place the implant directly into the extraction socket at the same appointment.
  
  The healing process normally takes between 3 and 6 months, but a temporary crown or bridge can be placed immediately onto the implant if required.
  During this healing phase, the bone grows onto and fuses with the titanium.
  
  
• Stage 3.
  The dental team attaches an extension onto the metal root to bring it through the gum. With Straumann implant systems, the metal titanium root and the extension come as one piece thus enabling us to combine stages 1 and 2 and allowing the immediate placement of a temporary crown or bridge.
  
  
• Stage 4.
  The W7 team or your own dentist, together with a dental technician then creates the final restoration. Together we will then explain the cleaning & maintenance programme which is not at all difficult and will be demonstrated to you.
  
  On-going care will be similar to any patient with natural teeth and you simply need to maintain regular check-up appointments with your usual dentist

How long will implants last ?
Once treatment is completed, a routine of careful dental hygiene and regular dental check-ups should ensure implants last probably for the whole of your lifetime.
However, just as you would expect conventional crowns, bridges and fillings to need occasional repairs or replacements during their lifetime, the crowns and bridges placed on your implants may also have similar maintenance requirements over their lifespan

Are Dental Implants for Me ?
Many people wonder if dental implants are a solution to their dental problems. The following questions will help you to decide;

• Am I missing at least one tooth?
• Do I find the resultant appearance socially inhibiting?
• Do I feel I have a problem eating and chewing my food properly?
• Am I conscious of my appearance?
• Psychologically, do I dislike wearing dentures?
• Do my dentures move and feel uncomfortable?
• Can I say that I am unable to taste my food properly due to the dentures?
• Can I say that I am conscious of my speech due to my dentures or missing teeth?
• Can I say that I feel uncomfortable and lacking in confidence due to my dentures or missing teeth?
• Am I concerned about filing down my own natural teeth to have a bridge placed.
• Am I concerned about my crowns and/or bridges which continuously fall off.
• I believe my general lifestyle could be improved by improving my teeth.

If you can answer yes to any of the above, then you may be a candidate for dental implants. If you are considering dental implants, you may wish to call us & discuss things or alternative book an appointment with your dentist who can refer you to our care at your request for an implant assessment.