Dental Implants:
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Your Questions Answered
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What are Dental Implants? Threaded cylinders made of pure Titanium. They can best be thought of as ‘False Roots’.
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What are they for? If you are missing one or more teeth, new crowns or bridges can be supported on implants when conventional bridges are not possible or inadvisable and dentures cannot be worn or do not appeal.
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How do they work? In the right conditions bone grows into intimate contact with pure Titanium and becomes firmly bonded to it, a process called ‘Osseointegration’
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What is involved? The implants can be placed painlessly under a local anaesthetic. The procedure usually takes between twenty and forty minutes. If you are anxious, sedation is available. Once the implants are placed, they can sometimes be restored with a crown immediately, often, however, they are allowed to heal undisturbed buried under the gum, usually for three to six months. You can wear a denture during this wait. Once ‘Osseointegration’ has occurred, the tops of the implants are exposed, a very quick and easy procedure. Impressions are taken at a further appointment and the crowns are made. These are generally indistinguishable from your original natural teeth.
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How much do they cost? Individual implants including the ‘false tooth’ or crown cost from £1950.00. Where a number of teeth are missing, however, more than one tooth can be supported per implant. Payments can be made in instalments.
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What is the success rate? Virtually nothing in dentistry has a 100% success rate. Implant treatment does however compare very favourably with some usual aspects of dentistry. Typical success rates, depending on the position in the mouth, is 93-97% success. Implants are routinely still in function after 20 years. In the unlikely event that the implant does not osseointegrate or ‘take’ first time, we will replace it free of charge.
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Who carries out the work? Richard Simons, specialist in surgical dentistry, who has been involved with implant treatment for over a decade, and trained under Professor Johns and Professor Branemark himself, the discoverer of Osseointegration.
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How do I find out more? Make an appointment for a free consultation, and we will be happy to provide more information, indicate which treatment options are possible, and provide a full written quotation.
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