What does it mean to have dental implants?
At Warrendale we are helping more and more patients with missing teeth to regain their confidence and freedom by replacing removable dentures with dental implants. Ross-on-Wye patients benefit from our experience in fitting high quality orthodontics with skill and care. So what is actually involved?
At our practice in Ross-on-Wye, dental implants being placed can be broken own into three phases. The exact nature of each phase will vary from case to case but the whole treatment usually takes between five and eight months. Surprisingly the process can be much faster for patients requiring a full set of implants compared to a patient with just a few missing teeth.
Phase one is the preparation phase. Patients may need to have a tooth or several teeth extracted. Weak or severely damaged gums that cannot support the implants can be strengthened with bone grafts. It is crucial to ensure a firm base for the implant. CT scans are also carried out so the dentist can check the bone structure. For patients who require bone grafting this phase can take three to six months. If not they can advance straight to phase two.
Phase two is when the first part of the implants is fitted. Often referred to as the artificial root, this takes the form of a small, titanium screw that is inserted into the jaw in the position of the missing tooth. The procedure itself takes 1-2 hours.Once all the necessary artificial roots are in place the bone must be allowed to heal which can take three to six months.The healing allows the implant to combine with the surrounding bone.
In phase three the crown or artificial tooth is fixed onto the artificial root inserted in phase two. This is achieved by first creating an impression of the patient’s mouth. The new teeth are created to ensure they are the perfect colour, shape and size. This phase usually takes two weeks and requires two visits.
For patients in Ross-on-Wye, dental implants are just a phone call away. The Warrendale clinic has been fitting dental implants in patients for over ten years. As long as patients stick to an effective and consistent oral hygiene routine their implants will last for many decades.