FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
A dental implant mimics a tooth root and is surgically placed into the jaw bone to secure an artificial tooth in place and to stimulate the jaw bone and keep it healthy. A dental implant consists of 3 components: the titanium implant post, the abutment which connects the false tooth to the implant post, and the dental crown or artificial tooth.
While it can be tempting to ignore a missing tooth especially if it is at the back of the mouth and out of sight, tooth loss can trigger a host of other dental problems that can potentially lead to further tooth loss and more costly dental treatment.
While it can be tempting to ignore a missing tooth especially if it is at the back of the mouth and out of sight, tooth loss can trigger a host of other dental problems that can potentially lead to further tooth loss and more costly dental treatment.
The longevity of dental implants depends to some extent on the experience of the dentist or dental implant surgeon, the location in the mouth, and how well a patient cares for their implants. Here at Bow Lane Dental, we have a specialist dental implant team dedicated to achieving the best possible results for our patients.
Like natural teeth, implants rely on bone to support them so it’s vital that they are placed into dense, healthy bone to stand the best chance of success. Patients with thin bone may have to undergo a bone graft before commencing dental implant treatment.
Maintaining good oral health is also critical since poor oral hygiene is the number one reason for implant failure. Not only is it vital to follow the post-operative instructions provided by our implant dentists but also to regularly visit our dental clinic in central London to monitor your progress and ensure things are going to plan. With good care, dental implants can be expected to last for a couple of decades and may even last your lifetime although the dental crowns are likely to need replacing around the 10 year mark.
Dental implants feel and function just like natural teeth because they are rooted deeply into the jawbone. There is no need to remove them at night to relax your gums or use adhesives to keep them in place. Furthermore, dental implants restore practically all of a natural tooth’s bite force which means patients can munch and crunch on healthy fruit and vegetables with ease and enjoy all of their favourite foods again.
Dental implants from our London dental clinic look so natural that it’s hard to spot the difference and, even better, they’re cared for in the same way as real teeth with brushing twice a day and flossing once a day. It’s important to attend regular dentist/hygiene check-ups to ensure the area around your dental implant is kept scrupulously clean.
In a word, no. Your mouth will be numbed with a local anaesthetic to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible during the procedure and dental sedation can also be provided to help you relax. Because implants are planned for several weeks before the day of surgery, chair-time is greatly reduced and straightforward single implants should only take around 20 to 30 minutes to place.
Once the effects of the anaesthetic wear off, however, patients may experience some discomfort and even mild swelling or bruising. We recommend patients rest after their surgery and refrain from any physical exertion which could cause the implant site to bleed or swell. They will also need to switch to a soft diet for a few days while the implant site starts to heal. Any pain can usually be relieved with over the counter painkillers but your dentist will provide relevant direction on these. Even when you’re feeling back to normal, it’s important to finish any course of antibiotics that our dentist may have prescribed to keep infection at bay.
Some people are put off getting implants because of the initial cost of dental implants in London which they perceive to be high. What has to be borne in mind, however, is that implants have the potential to last for twenty years or longer and do not need replacing like other options such as bridges and dentures. In addition, patients don’t have to factor in extra costs like cleaning solutions and fixatives. In other words dental implants are an effective and affordable long term investment in your smile and we may also be able to offer you 0% interest plans to help make them more affordable.