Can anyone have a Dental Implant? A south east London dentist answers the question
09 / 09 / 2010
Dental Implants are a complex way of getting new teeth, albeit they are false teeth. Unlike dentures which sit on a plate and are removable, the dental implant is a permanent fixture says a South East London dentist. They were fitted successfully to a patient in a Swedish University where the technique was developed over a 10 year period. It starts off with a series of digital pictures taken by the dentist; these are used to custom make the false teeth that will be eventually be fitted permanently to the jaw bone. An incision is made under local anaesthetic and a Titanium plate is slid under the gum, this is then screwed down and the incision is stitched up. This is left for 3-6 months so the bone can grow over the plate; this stops the mouth rejecting it and makes the plate part of the jaw. The gum is cut again to expose the surface of the plate which has a hole or holes already drilled and screwed in it. The dentist will now fit abutments which are titanium poles; these are screwed in and glued. The incision is stitched back up and allowed to heal. Once the stitches have dissolves the patient is ready to receive the false teeth at last, these are slid on the abutments and cemented in place. They can be used immediately and very soon the patient will forget they even have them in. They need no special care either, you just clean your teeth as normal.
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