Dental Implant Treatment Options Dental Implants in Borough Green, Sevenoaks
There are many treatment options available with dental implants depending on the individual needs of the patient, Here at Fourways dental surgery we are proud to be able to offer all of these options to our patients which are all available in house by our very own Implant experts.
What Dental Implant treatments are available?
For people who have no remaining teeth, the options are:
Implant retained dentures
These are normally placed on 2 or 4 dental implants depending on which arch is needed, they have a clip mechanism attached to the implants which the denture clips into, this then secures the denture in place.
This method will improve function if you are finding it hard to tolerate mobile existing dentures. This option is not fixed so even though mobility will be improved it is still a removable denture. Maintenance with this option is straightforward; dentures can still be easily removed and cleaned.
What are the stages of Implant Retained dentures?
Initial consultation
At this appointment all your treatment options will be discussed and you will be given your treatment plan and costs. If any teeth need to be removed or preparatory/ planning work required this will be done next.
Implant Placement
At this appointment the implants are placed and the gum sealed over to
allow the implant to integrate with bone (at this stage you will not be able to see the implant above gum level)
Review
2 weeks later to check on the healing of the implant and remove any stitches.
Second stage
3-6 months later at this appointment the implant is exposed and a small metal insert (not like a full tooth) is placed onto the implant, you will now be able to see your implant above gum level. If you have a temporary solution to replace the missing teeth you can still wear this after this stage.
Impressions for definitive denture
2-4 weeks later impressions are taken in stock trays to get initial moulds of the gums and implants
Second impressions and bite registration
2 weeks later impressions are taken using a customised lab made tray that fits correctly around the gums and implants, this allows a more exact mould and recordings to be completed. We also choose a shade for the teeth at this stage. These are sent back to the lab for a temporary denture in wax to be made.
Try in
2 weeks later, The definitive denture is back in a wax cast up so that they can be tried in and seen by the patient. Once confirmation of fit and appearance is achieved they are authorised for completion.
Fit of Implant retained denture
2 weeks later the denture is ready to be fitted.
Full arch teeth in a day ( All on 4 )
All on 4 or teeth now is a revolutionary technique whereby a whole arch of missing or failing teeth can be replaced in a single visit. This option is a custom made fixed bridge held in by 4-6 dental implants all placed in one visit without having to leave the clinic.
This treatment option is available to patients who currently wear dentures or people who have mobile or failing teeth
What are the stages for an “All-on-4” or “Same day teeth” treatment?
Stage One: Records of your mouth
We take some dental impressions and photos of how your mouth is currently and plan the case. We want to outline with you where you want the teeth to be and how you want them to look at the end of treatment. We may also need you to have a CT scan at this stage to get a pre-treatment record of how much bone you have available to place the implants.
Stage Two - Implant placement stage
If you have remaining teeth in the same arch – these may be removed at this stage. Dental implants are placed, and the in house laboratory will make your new high quality temporary bridge to be fitted the “Same-day” We allow this to heal for at least 3 months
Stage Three: Permanent bridge made
We allow all your gums and bone to heal fully and some shrinkage will occur and then we take the final impression for the definitive long term fixed implant bridge- At this stage the new teeth can be tried in and patients individual requirements finalised.
This technique allows us to minimise disruption in our patients daily lives and ensure that you never go without teeth.
Do you need full dental implant treatment in Borough Green? Contact us today.
For people who have some of their own teeth, the options are:
Single tooth dental implant
Crowns and bridges supported by Dental Implants, these can replace single missing/failing teeth or several teeth from the same or separate areas.
What are the stages of a single tooth dental implant?
Initial consultation
At this appointment all your treatment options will be discussed and you will be given your treatment plan and costs. If any teeth need to be removed or preparatory/ planning work required this will be done next.
Implant Placement
At this appointment the implant is placed and the gum sealed over to allow the implant to integrate with bone (at this stage you will not be able to see the implant above gum level)
Review
2 weeks later to check on the healing of the implant and remove any stitches.
Second stage
3-6 months later at this appointment the implant is exposed and a small metal insert (not like a full tooth) is placed onto the implant, you will now be able to see your implant above gum level. If you have a temporary solution to replace the missing teeth you can still wear this after this stage.
Impressions for implant retained crown
4 weeks later we take impressions of the exact position of the implant and these are sent to a lab for the crown to be made
Fit of Implant retained crown
2 weeks later the crown is ready to be fitted.
How long will the treatment take to complete?
After the Dental Implants are placed they are left to settle in place for three to six months.
The final fitting of crowns or bridges or the attaching of dentures to the dental implants takes two or three appointments. The time depends on your individual situation and treatment. We can sometimes place dental implants the same day teeth are removed and we can also sometimes place the crown (tooth) onto the implant the very same day. This is not always the case however and it is important that neither the patient nor the dental implant provider attempt to rush the treatment or try to advance the various stages faster than the time required for complete healing and maturation of bone and soft-tissues. Even treatment that is well planned and executed can fail as a result of moving too quickly from stage to stage.
What if I currently wear dentures?
Denture wearers may require their dentures to be modified to prevent them resting on newly placed dental implants. During settling-in stages, metal framework dentures may need to be replaced with a plastic set as they are more easily adjustable. The fitting surface can then be altered when the dental implants are placed.
Will I be left with a gap whilst the Implants are healing?
Don’t worry, we will never let you leave the surgery with front teeth missing. Even after the Implants are placed and are healing, you will always have a denture or temporary bridges in place to cover up the gaps.
What causes Dental Implants to fail?
Infection in the site due to poor oral hygiene and cleaning of the area.
Excessive pressure on the healing implants. Heavy chewing on the area or dentures rubbing against the region.
Putting too much pressure on the implants too soon.
Smoking can increase the risk of infection in the area and also cause more rapid bone loss around a healed implant.
Uncontrolled Diabetes has also been shown to increase the rate of bone loss around implants, causing them to fail quicker.
Very few implants fail due to none of the reasons above and just due to rejection from the body.
Do you need partial dental implant treatment in Borough Green? Contact us today.
What is the aftercare like for Dental Implants?
Unlike teeth, dental implants cannot get tooth decay. However, like teeth, they can suffer from gum problems. Teeth with untreated gum problems can become loose and be lost. This is also true of dental implants. To ensure that any problems are detected early, regular maintenance check-ups are advisable. Problems are more easily treated if detected early.
Check–ups may be recommended three to six monthly or yearly. In most cases review appointments will be more frequent during the first year that the dental implants are in function.
Tooth cleaning has the primary objective by preventing bacteria from plaque growing down into the crevice between the gum and the dental implant post. This area must be physically cleaned at least twice a day around every dental implant.
In some cases the porcelain crown attached to dental implants may break as they can when attached to natural teeth. However, removal of crowns from Dental Implants for repair is usually easier than from natural teeth. Dental implant crowns or bridges that become loose should be re-tightened immediately to reduce the likelihood of further unnecessary damage.
Should you notice any areas of mobility, soreness, discharge or pain on chewing near any dental implant or tooth you must immediately report this to the dentist responsible for your maintenance.
