Single Dental Implants

A single dental implant is the most sophisticated solution for replacing a missing tooth.

Implants are small titanium posts which function as replacement tooth roots. Once your implant surgery has been carried out, we can design and place a bespoke crown to go over the top.

When is a single dental implant recommended?

• We recommend implant-based treatments to patients who are looking for a long-term solution to replacing a missing tooth.
• Non-smokers or smokers who are looking to quit make the best candidates for implants. Tobacco products inhibit the implant healing period and can cause implant failure within just a few years of implant placement.

How we can help

Step 1) Consultation

A thorough consultation is necessary before going ahead with dental implant treatment. This is:

• To discuss your options.
• To answer your questions.
• To take you through the steps involved.
• To take a CBCT scan of your jaw to check there is enough healthy bone for an implant to be placed.

Step 2) Surgery day

A professional implant surgeon will place your implant under local anaesthetic, after which a period of healing commences. After the implant has successfully integrated within your jaw, we can start the process of designing your bespoke crown.

Step 3) Your crown

Your crown is made by taking impressions of the teeth on either side of the gap in your smile and by examining the shape and shade of the existing teeth in your mouth. Once your crown is placed over the top of your implant and secured in position with a screw called an abutment, you and those around you will not be able to distinguish between your new tooth and your natural teeth.

FAQs

How are implants different to other tooth replacement treatments?

An implant is made of titanium and is the only restoration that can answer to a lost tooth. Unlike dentures, implants are non-removable and robust. The crown that we affix over the top of your implant will be firmly in place and able to break down even the toughest of foods with ease.

The process by which an implant heals within the jawbone is central to why it is considered the best way to replace a missing tooth. During the 3 – 6 month healing period, the implant will grow around the jawbone, as if it were an organic tooth root. This incredible phenomenon means your jawbone will not waste away, which would otherwise occur in cases where a patient has had a non-implant-based treatment where the jawbone is unsupported.

How do implants change the way my smile looks?

The crown we create to go over your implant is made from materials that capture the unique glossy finish of real tooth enamel. Your tooth will look completely authentic and complete your smile.

The supporting structures in your whole face will also benefit from the placement of an implant. With the risk of jawbone loss having been addressed, the lower part of your face will not be at risk of problems like hollow cheeks, lines and wrinkles around the mouth area, and a protruding chin.

These are all problems that can arise when jawbone density is compromised.

What happens if I don’t have enough jawbone for an implant?

If you have been living with a gap in your teeth for several years, you will likely have lost some jawbone density at the site where the gap is present. In such a case, we can refer you for a surgery called a bone graft which will generate the amount of bone needed for the placement of the implant.

I’m anxious about having treatment – can you help?

We offer sedation to help nervous patients relax during their implant surgery. Sedation induces feelings of well-being and relaxation within a matter of seconds. Read more about sedation at Appoline here.