Dental implants are the best-known treatment to replace single or multiple missing teeth because they feel and behave just like natural teeth. After a while you won’t be able to tell the difference – even forgetting that they are there.
The procedure to place implants and replace a missing tooth or multiple teeth is straightforward as there is little need to treat surrounding teeth. Once a crown is placed over the implant it will appear indistinguishable from the natural teeth.
Dental Implant treatment usually involves a number of stages beginning with an initial planning phase where an assessment is undertaken by our dentists . This is followed by a preparation phase where a small titanium screw (an abutment) is placed into the jawbone.
The titanium abutment fuses with the jawbone to form a strong ‘root’ for the new tooth. Next, a post is added to extend the root. During the final phase a crown is attached to the post to fully restore the appearance and function of the missing tooth.
When one or two teeth are missing, a single implant is used per tooth, however if we are replacing a row of maybe three or more teeth, it is often possible to reduce the number of implants by attaching ‘bridges’ to connect the replacement teeth.
Once in place the implant and crown will perfectly match the appearance of the surrounding natural teeth and it’s unlikely anyone will be able to tell the difference. In most cases, there is no reason why the implant can’t last a lifetime if it is looked after properly.
They are simply the closest thing to a natural tooth.
We recommend implants for patients who wish to replace any missing tooth with an alternative that looks, feels and functions in much the same way as their remaining healthy teeth.