REPLACING MISSING TEETH

Dental Implants

Dental implants act as your artificial tooth root to allow a steady foundation for a crown, bridge or denture. Materials for implants include titanium or ceramic. Each dental implant is composed of a fixture, an abutment (connector) and a prosthesis.

What is a Dental Implant?

Fixture

The implant fixture is shaped like a screw and is composed of either medical-grade titanium or ceramic. This is surgically placed into your jaw bone to replace the root of your natural teeth.

Abutment (Connector)

The implant abutment (connector) is a small nugget that attaches to the implant fixture. It helps to connect and support the implant prosthesis.

Prosthesis

And finally, the implant prosthesis forms the most superficial part of the implant that closely resembles the crown of your natural tooth. It can come in various forms such as a:

Crown (replaces a single tooth)
Bridge (replaces a few teeth)
Denture (replaces several teeth)

Benefits of Dental Implants

There are multiple benefits of having dental implants over other methods of replacing missing teeth, such as:

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Self-reliant

You don’t need to worry about compromising any of the remaining natural teeth in your mouth for support (unlike in a tooth-supported bridge or denture).

Permanently Fixed

Implant-supported crowns and bridges are permanently fixed into your jaws, so you do not need to deal with the hassle of removable dentures or bridges. In this way, they also feel like an actual tooth.

Prevents further bone loss

Prevents further bone loss and gum recession, by stimulating growth and development of the jawbone. Once the implant is placed, it functions like a natural tooth root, allowing the jawbone to grow well.

In this way, your facial structure is maintained, resulting in the maintenance of a youthful and vibrant facial appearance.

Do I Need Dental Implants?

You may need dental implants if:

You have any missing, failing, or unstable teeth;
You have missing teeth which affect your ability to chew;
You have missing teeth which affect your ability to pronounce words, and you hence have speech issues;
You are dissatisfied with your
smile, which in turn has a few psychosocial consequences, such as a lowered self-esteem, fear of social interaction, or reduced quality of life;
You have an uncomfortable, dysfunctional or destructive bite;
You are dissatisfied with your current dentures.

What Does the Procedure Involve?

Stage 1: Consultation

Detailed Exploration of Concerns

When you attend your dental implant consultation, our team of specialists at Nuffield Dental will discuss your concerns, considering your suitability of getting dental implants.

Full Dental Assessment

Your general health condition, as well as the condition of your teeth and gums, will be thoroughly assessed. This may include having to take some necessary X-rays or scans, in order to determine a suitable treatment option for you.

Individualised Treatment Planning

Our specialists will then thoroughly explain your condition, the available treatment options, the benefits and risks of each option, and their procedures. They will then tailor a treatment plan that is specific to you, addressing each concern.

Depending on your condition, our dentist will assist in your treatment planning.

After losing your tooth, your dental implant treatment may be done:

Immediately,
1-4 months (early), or
More than six months later (delayed)

Stage 3: Post-Operative Care

Your body requires a few days to accept the implant. After which, you will be needed to come down for a second appointment for the dentist to assess the healing process.

Stage 2: Dental Implant Procedure

Local Anaesthesia

Before your implant is placed, the relevant implant sites will be completely numbed with a local anaesthetic, so that you feel no pain during the whole procedure. You may expect to feel some slight pressure or vibration.

Depending on your concerns and agreed individualised treatment plan, you may be sedated prior to the surgery in addition to the local anaesthetic administered or given general anaesthesia.

Tooth Extraction & Implant Fixture Placement

If you want to have an immediate dental implant, the relevant tooth or teeth will have to be extracted first.

Your dentist will then place the implant fixture into your jaw bone.

Supplementary Procedures

You may require supplementary procedures to support and increase the success of your implant placement.

These can include gum or bone grafts, sinus lifts, or the creation of stents to guide your implant placement. Your dentist will thoroughly discuss these with you during the planning stage should any of these be needed.

Stage 4: Fusing Implant & Adding Prosthesis

Integration

An implant fixture typically takes 3 to 6 months to fuse and become a part of your jaw bone. During this time, a temporary prosthesis may or may not be provided, depending on your situation.

Final Prosthesis

Once the implant fixture integration is deemed successful, the final implant prosthesis (crown, bridge, or denture) will be constructed and fitted.

How Should You Maintain Your Dental Implant?

Implants have the best long-term success with patients who:

Consistently maintain excellent oral hygiene and dental care;
Regularly attend their dental check-ups;
Do not place excessive biting forces on the implant (extreme biting forces could result from tooth grinding habits, having a dysfunctional bite, etc.);
Do not smoke.

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Why Choose Nuffield Dental?

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. At Nuffield, we put you first. We believe in providing personalised service for each patient.

Nuffield Dental is a one-stop, multi-disciplinary dental care centre. Here at Nuffield Dental, we pride ourselves of our personalised oral care for each and every one of our patients. We need to make sure you get all the help you need to make your dental procedures more comfortable, accessible and seamless.

More about Implants

Our dentists have specialised in implant dentistry and oral surgery for more than 20 years. We have accredited dental specialists who are skilled in the area of dental implant surgery.

More about our Clinics