This patient had wobbly front teeth, gaps further into the mouth and was unhappy with the appearance of her smile. Treatment required the extraction of three front teeth, a bone graft, and the placement of four implants followed by an implant retained bridge. The result dramatically improved both aesthetics and function of the patient’s teeth.
This patient had a tooth extraction and wanted to fill the space. The treatment consisted of a dental implant and crown to fill the space, restoring both function and appearance.
To replace a missing tooth the dental implant is placed under the gum in the space where your tooth used to be. The implant is a small screw-like fixture and its role is to act as a man-made tooth root. This then allows a new artificial tooth, called an implant retained crown, to be fitted into the implant. Implant retained crowns achieve a natural looking finish as they are made individually to match your own teeth.
Dental implants can be utilised to replace a single tooth, or multiple teeth, and the end result is a healthy smile and improved bite, with functioning teeth that look and feel natural. Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment, and with correct care over 95% of modern implants have a lifespan lasting many years. *
If you’re missing teeth but traditional implants aren’t an option, mini dental implants may be the solution.
Traditional implants are fantastic replacement teeth options because they most closely mimic natural teeth, but not everyone has strong enough bone in their jaw to get traditional implants and that’s where mini dental implants come in. Mini dental implants are much smaller than traditional implants and simpler in design, consisting of a post with a ball at one end and a rubber O-ring that secures the crown or dentures.
A single mini dental implant can be used to replace a single tooth. They are most suitable for the front teeth or premolars, but one of the most common uses for mini implants is securing a denture in place.
People who wear dentures often have trouble with them slipping out of place, so implants can make wearing dentures much less inconvenient. If you already wear dentures, you may be able to have your existing set adapted to be secured by mini implants.
To fit mini implants we take a panoramic x-ray to make sure your mouth is suitable for a mini implant. The procedure is a minimally invasive surgery, and typically takes about 1-hour to place 4-6 implants. We normally attach a temporary crown or denture and after a healing process you will return for an appointment to fit the permanent prosthesis.
For a day or two after your implant placement you should eat soft foods and take care to keep the implant site clean, we will provide information about this during your appointment.
Dental implants and mini dental implants are alternative, permanent solutions for replacing missing teeth. Additionally mini dental implants may be placed in conjunction with dentures to form a hybrid teeth replacement option by fixing the denture securely in place. This eliminates one of the big concerns many people have about conventional full dentures – that they will slip out of place, particularly on the lower jaw where there is not much for them to hold onto.
An implant supported denture is far cheaper than having 8 to 10 dental implants fitted in each of the lower and upper arches. Thus, in an implant-supported denture between 4 and 6 implants are used per arch, making them a more affordable alternative to traditional implants.
Please see our fees page for pricing information on dental implants and dentures or contact us to book a free consultation.
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