Dental Implants Liverpool

What are dental implants?

These can be thought of as Titanium screws that are placed in the jawbone. The titanium screw replaces the root of the tooth.

Are implants safe?

Implants have a long history in dentistry in which time they have proven to be very safe. If implants are done correctly and by an experienced clinician they can last decades if you care for them and go for regular maintenance visits.

If you do not look after your implants they can develop problems such as Perimplantitis which can lead to the implant failing. Signs of Perimplantitis include bad taste,bleedin,g soreness and general discomfort around the implant site.

Can everyone have Implants?

Implants are dependent on the condition of the gums and bone in your jaw. It is therefore important to carry out special investigations to determine the amount of bone and whether implants can be placed in the identified space. If the dentist find there is not enough bone the bone grafting maybe necessary in order to place an implant.

Does the procedure hurt?

In many cases dental implants are less painful than having a tooth extracted. Like many other dental procedures we use local anaesthetic to numb the area and place a small hole called Osteotomy ready for the insertion of the dental implant.

How long will the treatment take?

We will discuss the timetable for your treatment before anything is started. We rarely leave patients with unsightly gaps during the integration stage. Sometimes implants can be loaded immediately filling the gap straightaway. However sometimes the implant is left for 3 to 6 months to integrate into the jawbone. This would then be loaded after the healing stage of 3 to 6 months. This would be discussed before any treatment is carried out.

After-care for dental implants

One of the team will run through the post operative instructions after your treatment. This normally involves rinsing your mouth with warm salty water and taking adequate pain relief and medications that your dentist will advise on.

Are dental implants easy to clean?

After-care is important if you want your implants to last as long as possible. Just like flossing the rest of your teeth we will instruct you on devices like interdental brushes to aid your cleaning routine. Although it may be slightly more difficult to clean around a dental implant as opposed to your natural teeth it will become routine. We would advise more regular dental hygiene appointment than you would previously having.

Can gum disease affect dental implants?

If you clean your mouth and implants properly and go for regular hygiene appointments you should not have any problems. However if you continue not to take care of your mouth then the implants will fail just as your natural teeth did. Smoking is contraindicated with dental implants and can affect the long-term success. We would advise you to try and cut down and eventually stop smoking to help the longevity of the dental implants.

What happens if the implant does not fix in?

This is rare but if the implant becomes loose during the healing period then it probably hasn't integrated. We would probably remove the implant and look for another site where the implant could be placed or place a graft in the area. After the graft has integrated a second procedure may be carried out left to integrate.

Dental implant costs?

Although the cost of dental implants may be higher than conventional bridges, over the long term implant usually work out to be more cost-effective and biologically friendly as other teeth are not cut down.