DENTAL IMPLANTS: THE PERFECT WAY TO REPLACE MISSING TEETH
Dental implants are bionic tooth roots that can be used to replace one, some, or even all your natural teeth. At the The Bristol Dental Practice , a dental practice in Bristol, our implant surgery is carried out by Dr Jonathan Cochrane. Dr Jonathan Cochrane is a highly-skilled implant surgeon who can treat even the most complex cases where bone density is lacking and a bone graft and/or sinus lift is required.
The benefits of dental implants
The benefits of using dental implants to replace missing teeth are manifold. Not least, of course, is the fact that the implants and the false teeth attached to them (be they dentures, a bridge, or crowns) look highly realistic, giving you a smile you will want to show off. However, there are also additional health benefits associated with dental implants, including:
- The ability to eat whatever you like, without having to worry about loose dentures causing problems
- No danger of your teeth falling out and causing embarrassment or distress
- Implants help to prevent bone loss, because they are made from titanium, which is osteoconductive
- With regular visits to the dentist and hygienist, and good home care, dental implants are designed to last for life.
Implant placement in Bristol
If you are interested in replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, we invite you to join Dr Jonathan Cochrane at our Bristol dental practice for an implant consultation. He will conduct a careful clinical examination, including scans and x-rays as necessary, to establish whether you have adequate bone density to support implants, or whether you require a bone graft or sinus lift to rebuild your jaw bone first.
Implant surgery is carried out under either local anaesthetic or sedation here at our Bristol practice. Sometimes, permanent new teeth can be fitted on the same day, while in other cases it is best to leave your implants to heal for a few months.
THINK DENTAL IMPLANTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE OF BONE LOSS? THINK AGAIN
Has your dentist told you that you’re unsuitable for dental implants because you’re lacking bone density in your jaw? Don’t panic; instead, get in touch with the The Bristol Dental Practice in Bristol. Our skilled implant surgeon, Dr Jonathan Cochrane, has helped many patients in a similar predicament to restore their smile using implants. You may just require an additional procedure to bulk up your jaw bone first.
Dental Implants
Dental implants help to prevent bone loss because the titanium they are made from is osteoconductive – meaning it is supportive of bone growth. They are placed in direct contact with your jaw bone and form a strong base on to which your dentist then attached either dentures, a bridge, or crowns.
Many people who have been wearing traditional dentures for several years have already experienced bone loss. When the tooth roots are missing, the bone starts to resorb or shrink back. This is one of the main reasons that many denture-wearers find their once well-fitting new teeth become loose and uncomfortable over time.
When you come to our Bristol practice for an implant consultation, your dentist will assess the current level of bone density in your jaw using scans and x-rays as necessary. If you are currently lacking adequate bone density to support dental implants, you may require either a bone graft or a sinus lift.
Bone grafts
Carried out at our Bristol dental practice, a bone graft uses a calcium-based synthetic material to rebuild your jaw bone prior to placing dental implants. This material meshes with the existing bone over a period of months to create a very strong base for your implants.
Sinus lifts
A sinus lift is used for the upper jaw. The sinus membrane is gently lifted and synthetic bone graft material is placed underneath. This enables bone to grow in the area.
DENTAL IMPLANTS: WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
A dentist can use dental implants to replace one, several, or even all your natural teeth. Dr Jonathan Cochrane at the The Bristol Dental Practice in Bristol is a leading implantologist, and can help even those who need complex implant treatment – such as patients who are lacking in bone density.
Dental implants are used to replace the root portion of one or more missing teeth. Patients come to our Bristol practice having lost teeth for a variety of reasons – tooth decay or gum disease, accident or injury, or even as part of the natural ageing process. Whatever reason you have for losing your teeth, and however many teeth you have lost, implants are often the best replacement.
When multiple teeth are lost, the jaw bone and surrounding tissues start to shrink back or resorb without the tooth roots in place. Because they replace the roots, and because they are made of titanium – which is supportive of bone growth – dental implants help to prevent this from happening. Not only does this mean that your new teeth will stay firmly in position always, but also you are less likely to experience premature sagging of the facial skin.
Treatment options
When you come into our Bristol practice for an implant consultation, dentist Dr Jonathan Cochrane will carefully examine your mouth. Your treatment route will depend on several factors, including how many teeth need to be replaced, and your oral health.
For some people who have lost most or all their natural teeth, or whose remaining teeth are failing, it is possible to place dental implants and permanent new teeth in one day. For others, a healing period of a couple of months is required, during which temporary teeth may be fitted.
Your dentist may use crowns, bridges, or dentures to restore your smile, depending on your needs.
DENTAL IMPLANTS FOR NERVOUS PATIENTS
Dental implants are an excellent way to replace lost teeth, but what if your fear of the dentist is the reason you have lost teeth in the first place? At the The Bristol Dental Practice in Bristol, we understand and empathise with nervous and phobic patients. However, we also think that everybody deserves a healthy, happy smile, which is why we offer treatment under sedation for those people who are afraid of the dentist.
Causes of dental phobia
Fear and phobia of the dentist is a very common problem, which has several causes. It could be a bad experience during childhood, fear of certain triggers such as the sound of the drill, or anxiety about being judged because you haven’t had treatment in many years.
At the The Bristol Dental Practice we will never judge you; we understand fear of the dentist and want to work with you to get you back to dental health. If your fear has caused you to lose some of your teeth, or your teeth are too badly damaged to be restored, dental implants are often the perfect solution.
How dental implants work
Your dentist places your dental implants in your jaw bone in a minor operation here at our Bristol clinic. Once in position, the small titanium implants integrate with your bone, acting as replacements for tooth roots. After a healing period, permanent new teeth are then attached on top. Depending on your requirements, these may be a bridge, crowns, or dentures.
Treatment under sedation
At our Bristol clinic, we have an in-house sedationist, Dr Jonathan Cochrane, who will deliver intravenous sedation in a safe and controlled manner. You will be conscious during treatment, so able to cooperate with instructions, but will remember little to nothing afterwards, waking up with your dental implants in place.
DENTAL IMPLANTS AFTERCARE
You’ve had your dental implants placed. You’ve got your replacement teeth, be they crowns, dentures or bridges, and a smile you want to show off to everyone. The last thing you want to do is risk losing them again. Read on to discover how to look after your dental implants…
We are delighted that our dental implants have a huge success rate – in fact, so confident are we in the materials and techniques that we use that we guarantee our implant work for life, so long as you attend regular aftercare appointments and follow our home care instructions. That way, your new teeth can last you a lifetime!
Dental implants and their associated restorations look and act just like natural teeth, and just like natural teeth they need a strong oral hygiene regime to keep them in top condition. For most patients, we recommend that you attend regular check-ups here at the practice, as frequently as your dentist suggests, to ensure your implants are healing and working properly for you.
Poor dental hygiene and habits such as smoking can cause problems with dental implants, so we recommend our hygienist and smoking cessation services to patients. Very occasionally implants can be affected by bone-loss from the jaw, a side-effect of gum disease. Just like with your natural teeth, the sooner any problem is spotted, the easier it is to fix.
You should come back to see us six months after your implant treatment has finished, so that we can make sure the implant and its attachments are in good condition, and can carry out any cleaning work needed. We may also take x-rays and photographs to make sure the implant is bonding with the bone properly.
Obviously, should you experience any problems or anything unusual before that six-month period is up, please do come back to see us. With the correct aftercare, your implants should last for life.
HOW DENTAL IMPLANTS CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR THE BETTER
If you are missing one or more teeth, dental implants could be the perfect way to replace them. At the The Bristol Dental Practice our implant dentist Dr Jonathan Cochrane can treat even the most complex of cases, where bone loss has occurred, giving you back not just a beautiful smile but also full functionality, and the ability to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
How dental implants work
Dental implants replace the root of one or more teeth. The roots beneath the gum line are just as important to good oral health as the crowns we can see. Implants are currently the only way to replace tooth roots.
Your implants will be placed in a minor operation here in the comfort of our modern Bristol dental clinic. Most people require only a local anaesthetic to have implants placed, although we do offer treatment under sedation if you are nervous or phobic about visiting the dentist. While you will still be awake and able to cooperate with instructions, you will be largely unaware of treatment, will feel no pain, and will remember little to nothing about the procedure afterwards.
After a couple of months, during which time healing takes place and the implants mesh with the jaw bone, your dentist will call you back to our Bristol practice to have your permanent new teeth fitted. For one missing tooth, it is usual to place one implant and one crown, whilst for several or all missing teeth one or more implants and a bridge or denture will be used.
The biggest benefit of dental implants to replace missing teeth is that they are permanent. With proper care, they will last you many years – in many cases a lifetime. You will be able to eat whatever you like and to smile with confidence once more.