How painful is the procedure?
The actual procedure itself is not painful as there will be full local anaesthetic. After the procedure, you will be advised to take over-the-counter pain relief. Most people report mild discomfort but if you follow post-surgery care, don’t smoke and stick to soft foods, the recovery should be quick.
How long does the Implant procedure take?
The entire process, from start to finish, can take as little as a few months.
The initial consultation will be with your dentist, who will examine your teeth and run through the process with you. This is a quick visit.
The next visit is the implant insertion, which takes up to two hours. The mouth is anaesthetised, and some of the gum area is removed so the surgeon can access the jawbone. A hole is drilled in the jawbone. The implant is inserted, a healing cap placed over the top, and the gum stitched to encourage quick healing.
The bone then fuses with the titanium post. This takes several months, and you’ll be fitted with a temporary restoration, so you won’t be missing any teeth in the interim.
The third visit is when the healing cap is removed, and an abutment is installed. The tooth is then attached to the abutment and the process is complete. This visit will take one to two hours.
How long do dental implants last?
In general, dental implants have a success rate of 98%. Once installed and healed, you need to ensure you continue basic oral care and then they can last up to 25 years. But this is influenced by how well you look after them. Flossing and brushing daily, having regular dentist visits, and avoiding biting on pens or using your teeth as an opening device will all help to increase their life span.
Will the teeth look stuck together?
No! Special care is always taken to ensure that the teeth do not appear to be joined.
How will I clean the bridge?
Although conventional flossing is impossible, it is still very important to clean between bridged teeth. A number of methods are available and can be tailored to each client’s individual needs.
How long do bridges last?
With good home care and regular dental visits the lifespan of a porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal bridge is usually at least 15 years. Bridges are stain resistant and do not discolour at all.
How many dental visits are required for bridges?
A bridge can normally be completed in 2 or 3 dental visits. During the first visit the teeth are prepared and a temporary bridge is placed. The temporary bridge is made to the patient’s specifications and acts to cover the prepared teeth whilst the permanent bridge is made. The patient therefore leaves their first appointment with their missing teeth replaced.
How soon after my tooth is extracted can a bridge be placed?
It is possible to extract a tooth and replace it with a temporary bridge at the same appointment, therefore avoiding the embarrassment of having an unattractive ‘gap’.
The temporary bridge is left in position for approximately 3 months to allow healing of the extraction site before the permanent bridge is placed.
