When a tooth is lost early it is a bit of a blow to us and can leave us feeling down in the mouth, says a South east London dentist. We want to fill the gap left as soon as possible and almost every time we will be offered dentures, the problem is that not many people get along with dentures and they look at alternative methods of a false tooth. A popular method is a Dental Implant which was devised through extensive research in the 1950s; an implant is a false tooth that sits permanently in position anchored to the jaw bone just like a real tooth. A plate is inserted under the gum and screwed down to the jaw bone; the Titanium plate then becomes part of the jaw as the bone fuses with it over a period of a few months. The plate is pre-drilled with holes that are a screw has been cut into, and after the plate fuses the gum incision is reopened and stems of Titanium are then screwed into the holes. When the incision has healed the dentist will call the patient back and place the false Porcelain teeth onto the stems to complete the procedure. The patient now has a new tooth in the gap that needs no special care, unlike a denture that needs fixing and sterilising every day. It is a long procedure, but it is a one off and a `forget about it` one too. Once in the patient soon forgets they even have one.

Dental Implants aren`t that complicated, although they do take a good few months to have them fitted as the process involves a lot of work and waiting. A South east London dentist says that many people who cannot get on with dentures, find that the time and investment in dental Implants is well worth it in the end though. They were developed in the 1950s in British and Swedish universities, but it wasn’t until the early 60s that the first successful operation was carried out in Sweden. It involves inserting a Titanium plate under the gums and then screwing it down to the jaw bone. That part is usually done under a local anaesthetic; it is the next part that takes the time. The idea behind Dental Implants is that the new tooth, albeit a porcelain one, integrates with the bone of the jaw and the whole thing becomes part of the jaw. What happens is that the body produces new bone that covers the plate over a period of 3-6 months. Once that is done, posts are screwed into pre drilled holes in the plate, and then the new tooth is slide over the post to complete the procedure. What the patient ends up with is a new tooth that won`t become infected inside; will be hard wearing and a permanent part of the mouth. You can use it like a normal tooth and you care for it in the same way as your natural teeth. 6 monthly check ups will keep tartar away and if the tooth gets damaged it can be easily replaced in a few weeks.

Missing teeth can be a great source of embarrassment, especially when in a prominent position in the smile. They are very noticeable and can really knock a person’s self-confidence, even more so when the lost tooth has been the result of a sudden trauma or accident. But there are ways of replacing the teeth that are both very realistic and functional.

One of the most realistic ways to replace a lost tooth is a dental implant. This is the only kind of tooth replacement that restores the whole tooth from root to tip. Other dental prosthetics such as dental bridges and partial dentures only restores the tooth from the gum line and as a result are more prone to damage and are less sturdy. This can make it difficult to eat certain foods and can cause anxiety about breakages.

The implant itself is a smell titanium screw that is drilled directly into the jawbone. This sounds a lot more unpleasant than it actually is and the procedure is relatively painless. Once secured into the jaw, the implant is left for some weeks or months to fuse with the gum tissue and bone. When this is complete the dentist will then attach a post and ultimately an artificial crown which is usually made of porcelain. This closely resembles the colour and consistency of other teeth for a greater degree of realism.

Dental implants are a lot more solid because they are anchored to the jaw just like real teeth. Unlike other dental substitutes they can last a whole lifetime without needing to be replaced. South East London dentists can assess suitability for implants at your next appointment and also give some guide as to their cost. But whatever the price, it is surely worth it to restore the appearance of your smile.

A Mini Implant is just what it says on the tin confirms a dentist from SE1 in London. Implants in general help to keep the height of the jaw line, as when a tooth is removed the jaw line can and often starts to weaken and wear away. Unlike a general implant a Mini Implant is a lot less complicated to do, there is often no need to cut the gum and therefore stitches are not needed in most cases. The tooth can literally be screwed straight into the jaw bone, and incredibly it can be used with full effect almost straight away. The implants come in varying diameters and lengths from 1.8 to 2.9 mm, and in length from 10 to 18 mm. The length of the implant is generally determined by the softness or density of the bone that will hold it, the softer the bone the longer the implant needs to be. The main purpose of the Mini Implant is to preserve the density and height of the jaw line to make it easier to fit a full implant at a later stage. It is also used to help patients retain height and evenness of the jaw line for the wearing of false plate teeth, which in some cases makes them gag when first fitted. A general implant needs a period of about 3-6 months to adjust to the bone and become infused enough to be used with impunity, the Mini Implant is a whole different ball game in that because there is often no cutting, drilling or stitching the patient only generally need a small anaesthetic before the quick procedure. Once the numbness wears off the depth of the Mini Implant allows the implant or implants to be used straight away.

Dental implants are among the most successful treatments available in the field of dentistry. While no procedure is 100 per cent effective, the five-year success rate of the average dental implant is 95 per cent. This is just another reason why dental implants are considered the best option for replacing missing teeth.

Dental implants are the small cylindrical screws that are secured directly into the jawbone to support a tooth. Usually made form titanium because of its strength, implants are anchored into the jaw before being left to fuse with the bone and gum tissue in a process called osseointergration. Once full fusion has occurred, the implant can be used to secure a post and ultimately an artificial tooth. Because the implant replaces the whole tooth root, and not just the crown that is proud of the gum tissue it provides a much more realistic alternative than both dental bridges and partial dentures. Dental implants are almost as strong as real teeth meaning there are fewer limits to what the patient may eat or drink.

Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or even two or three adjacent teeth lost to decay or dental trauma. A series of five smaller implants are increasingly being used as a solid base to attach dentures. This alleviates anxiety for denture wearers and removes the need to use denture adhesive, which can be unpleasant.

Of all the restorative options available to London SE1 dentists, none has proved to be as consistently reliable and realistic as the dental implant. Patients with missing teeth keen to restore their smile should ask their dentist about their suitability for dental implants at their next appointment.