Dental Implants

Implants are the modern way to replace missing teeth. The implant, which is made of titanium, is fitted in the bone where the tooth’s root would normally be. When the implant is fully integrated to the bone, a post is attached to it. A crown can be placed over the post to replace the missing tooth.

Dental Implants offer several major advantages to patients after tooth loss.
The ability to recover the natural appearance of teeth is one of the greatest advantages.

If you are considering a dental implant but would like more information about the process and the cost of treatment, please contact us on 087 142 8600.

A dental implant is a metal fixture (usually a screw) that is placed into the jaw bone. It acts as a support for a false tooth or a set of false teeth. The fixture fuses with the jaw bone (osseointegration). Implants are made of commercially and medically pure Titanium. This is the same metal that has been successfully used in hip replacements for many years. It is inert and is not known to cause any type of rejection phenomenon. Dental implants provide a number of benefits for people seeking alternatives and solutions to the problems created by tooth loss.

These benefits include:

  • - Renewed ability to chew and speak properly.
  • - Restoration of facial aesthetics.
  • - Preservation of remaining jaw bone structure.
  • - Reduction of possible gum problems and infections.
  • - Increased confidence and self-esteem as a result of all of the above.

Process

Implants are generally done in 2 Phases:

Phase 1 - Surgical

This is when the implant is placed. 
The initial implant placement will take around 45 minutes – 3 hours depending on how many implants you require, and are usually done under local anaesthetic, but conscious sedation is also offered if you wish. 
It takes about five to six months for the implant to fully integrate with the bone of your jaw.  (A temporary denture may need to be worn during this phase).

Phase 2 - Restoration

This is where the permanent crown (tooth) is placed on the implant(s) after the implant has mended to the bone.
You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants – from a single tooth to a complete set.

Single Implant: from: € 1,750
Multiple Implants: from: € 1,700

To see if you are eligible for implants, simply request a Consultation with our Oral Surgeon who will devise a suitable treatment plan and provide you with a list of your options.

An ideal candidate is anyone with missing tooth or teeth, those having trouble eating, talking or speaking due to loss of teeth. This could change your way of life!

Immediate Load Dental Implants

Immediate Load Dental Implants

For over 20 years, dental implants have been a source of light for many who have suffered lost or bad teeth.  Traditional dental implants involve placing the implants and providing the tooth restorations after 3 to 6 months.  This is because the gums and bones must heal for that period of time before permanent false teeth can be attached.

However, this leaves the patients with no teeth or temporary crowns which are not only uncomfortable but also make the patient lose some of their beauty. Many patients find this tedious and intimidating and many patients decide to forego the idea of dental implants and cope with the hassles of bad teeth.

Immediate load dental implants bring a ray of hope to these patients. This procedure, which is gaining in popularity as much as dental implants, involves placing implants in patients and performing tooth restorations either on the same day or within a day or two. This way, the treatment is accelerated and the patient does not have to sport a goofy look without some of the teeth.

Same Day Load Dental Implants - Procedure

Same Day Load Dental Implants - Procedure

Same day implants (also known as Immediate Load Dental Implants) are not complex procedures but they do involve fulfilling certain criteria. 
There is a minimum amount of bone that is required and the placed implant has to be in a position to resist a minimum of 40 ncm of force. The dentist has to adjust the temporary crown in a manner to avoid any kinds of forces on it during function. Fulfilling these criteria helps the bone to develop around the implant.

A crucial success factor in immediate load implants is removing the tooth effectively but without removing any bone in the process. A thin instrument called a periotome, is employed to separate the root from the bone. The socket for the implants will be prepared with sequentially sized bone drills designed for perfect placement of the implant. The implant is placed and tested for fragility by applying suitable force with the help of a torque wrench.

This is followed by an immediate abutment and temporary crown. This process is called Osseo Integration. In the previous stage, the dentists make sure that the implant size and the bone surrounding the area provide enough anchorage for these items. An X-ray is usually taken to confirm the successful implant.

The entire process takes about 15 to 20 minutes (for 1 tooth) and in 30 days patients can have their permanent crown fixed.

Immediate Load Implants v Delayed Dental Implants

Immediate loading implants are being increasingly considered to be a better option than delayed implants. 
For instance, the tissues and gums surrounding the tooth can shrink in delayed placement. This is a complication as too much shrinking can cause the gums to recede to such an extent that it creates an unnatural looking gum line when the dentist tries to place a tooth. 
Same day dental implants do not possess these kinds of complications for the patient and are becoming more popular. It should also be noted that although dental implants present much better results than dental bridges, they may not suit everyone. Patients with periodontal disease, bone loss in the site of implant and compromised immune system: such as HIV, diabetics, and lupus cannot be candidates of immediate loading dental implants.

Immediate Load Dental Implants Costs

The costs for this procedure can alter depending on the number of implants required by the patient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are implants safe? How long will they last?

Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. 90 per cent of modern implants last for at least 15 years.

I have some of my own teeth. Can I still have implants?

Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants – from one single tooth to a complete set.

Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth?

It depends on the state of the bone in your jaw. 
Your dentist will arrange for a number of special tests to assess the amount of bone still there. If there is not enough, or if it isn’t healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting bone into the area first.

Do implants hurt?

Placing the implants requires a small operation. This can be carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation or with a general anaesthetic.
You will not feel any pain at the time, but you may feel some discomfort during the week following the surgery. This is usually due to having stitches in place, and the normal healing process.

How long does treatment take?

Your dentist will be able to give you a provisional timetable before the treatment begins. 
Usually the permanent teeth are fitted 7 – 9 months after the implants are put in.

How soon can I have the new teeth?

The implants need to bond (integrate) with the bone after they have been put in. This takes at least 5 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper jaw. Sometimes the implants may be stable enough when they are fitted for the artificial teeth to be attached much sooner than this. 
If you are having one, two or three teeth replaced, you will have a temporary restoration in the meantime. If you have complete dentures, then these can be worn throughout the healing period once they have been modified after the surgery.

Are the teeth difficult to clean?

Cleaning around the teeth attached to the implants is no more difficult than cleaning natural teeth. However, there may be areas that give you problems and you’ll be shown methods to help.

If I had gum disease when I had my own teeth, will I get it with the teeth attached to the implants?

Yes, if you don’t care for them well enough. If you keep them clean, and don’t smoke, then you should not have any problems.

Can I take the teeth out if they are fixed to implants?

Most artificial teeth attached to implants can only be placed and removed by the dentist. However, if you have complete dentures fixed to the implants by bars, then you’ll be able to take them out for cleaning.

Do the implants show?

Your dentist will make sure that the implants won’t show during all normal movements of the mouth and lips. You will need to be able to see them, so that you can clean them properly.

Do I have an implant for each missing tooth?

No, unless you’re only having a single tooth replaced. Normally, five or six implants are used to replace all the teeth in one jaw, as each implant can usually support two teeth. For a few missing teeth, two or three implants may be used.

What if I get hit in the face?

Implants and the teeth they support can be damaged by an accident in the same way that natural teeth can. However, if the false teeth are damaged then the remnants are left in the bone and they may be 
more difficult to remove than natural teeth would be. After healing, new false teeth can then be placed alongside the fragments.

What happens if the implant does not bond (integrate) with the bone?

This happens very rarely. 
If the implant becomes loose during the healing period or just after, then it is easily removed and healing takes place in the normal way. Once the jaw has healed, another implant can be placed there. Or, the dentist can make a bridge, using the implanted false teeth that have ‘taken’.

Is the treatment expensive?

Unfortunately, yes. 
However, in many situations, the cost of the treatment is only a little more than the cost of more conventional treatment with crowns and bridges. Moreover, we can offer a very competitive price due to our relationship with the implant manufacturer, as we did a lot of research for them.
There are advantages to it, too. 
An implant to replace a single tooth avoids the need to cut down the teeth either side for crowns to support a bridge. Normal dentures often mean you can’t eat or speak well, due to the dentures moving about.  But teeth attached to an implant don’t cause this problem.

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