FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We have detailed below some common questions which our team are often asked which you may find useful. DOWNLOAD FAQ PDF
WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT?
A dental implant is a small titanium screw that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. Dental implants can be placed in either the upper or lower jaws. Due to the biocompatible properties of titanium, the individual dental implants fuse with your jaw-bone and become a solid anchor for your replacement tooth or dentures.
Dental implants can be used when replacing single teeth, multiple missing teeth, for edentulous patients (no teeth) or to stabilise dentures.
WHY CHOOSE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
People have missing teeth for various reasons including as a result of an accident, sports injury, gum disease, normal wear and tear or simply naturally missing.
As a result you should consider a dental implant because:
- Stability – The dental implant is stable, secure and comfortable. No adjustment is needed after placement.
- Confidence – You will not need to change your diet, fret about the tooth falling out or worry about speech being affected.
- Natural – Implants appear and feel like a natural tooth and no one should be able to know that you have an implant.
- Prevents shrinkage – Without the root structure of a natural tooth present, the jawbone can shrink. This situation is at its worst when you lose all of your natural teeth. This shrinkage will make your face look older and wearing dentures an uncomfortable and embarrassing task particularly in the lower jaw.
- Minimally invasive – Dental bridges require other healthy teeth to support them, which usually involves trimming away healthy tooth tissue so that they can be fitted with crowns. Dental implants not only avoid causing dental damage but they actually aid the health of the jaw and mouth, bolstering the strength of the jawbone and preventing bone degeneration.
WHY WOULD DENTURE WEARERS CHOOSE IMPLANTS?
- Peace of mind – one of the most common concerns is dentures coming loose, but patients with implant-retained dentures can rest assured this will not be a problem. The dentures will be held firmly in place.
- Improved function – the increased support also helps to improve the function of the dentures. Patients can eat what they want without fear of denture breakage and there is no adverse effect on speech.
- Aesthetics – implant-retained dentures are designed to look as lifelike as possible and modern designs look very similar to natural teeth.
- Simplicity – once the implants and dentures have been placed, treatment is relatively simple and there is no need for denture adhesive.
- Decreased bone loss – dental implants can help to reduce bone loss, which becomes increasingly likely as you get older.
DOES IMPLANT TREATMENT HURT?
Placing the implants means a small surgical operation. This can be done using local anaesthetics, but also sedation for nervous patients. You will not feel any pain during the procedure but may feel some discomfort for a few days after surgery. This is usually due to having stitches and the normal healing process. What most of our patients convey to us is that it is less painful than an extraction.
ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS SUCCESSFUL?
With more than four decades of clinical experience and millions of patients treated worldwide, the long-term studies observing dental implant solutions clearly confirm a high success rate of over 95% for individual dental implants. Just like natural teeth, dental implants also require regular check-ups and conscientious oral hygiene.
The quality of your home care and willingness to present for regular hygiene and maintenance review will affect how long your implants last. However appropriate care, together with good treatment planning and correct insertion of the dental implant, is one of the most important requirements for long-term success.
HOW MUCH DO DENTAL IMPLANTS AND IMPLANT RETAINED DENTURES COST?
The fee for dental implants depends on several factors. The costs consist of:
- The number of dental implants to be inserted.
- The type of restoration/dentures placed on the dental implants.
- Building up of the bone (only needed in special cases).
A written treatment plan and estimate will be provided after a thorough diagnostic examination.
You might be pleasantly surprised to find out how affordable this treatment is at Cranmore, and we offer a range of payment options including finance.
WHAT RISKS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Patients who have medical or other conditions that may interfere with the healing process of either their bones or soft tissues (e.g. connective tissue disorders, steroid therapy, bone infections, cigarette smoking) must carefully evaluate, the potential risks and benefits of using dental implants.
IS MY AGE A PROBLEM?
Occasionally, older patients express concern that their age may prevent them from enjoying the benefits of dental implants. However, your health is more of a determining factor than your age. Certain diseases and health issues may contraindicate dental implant treatment.