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Implants

Replace missing teeth with artificial implants.

Fill Any Gap

When you are missing one or more natural teeth, the gap created can be a cause of discomfort and distress. Use a single implant or multiple to make your smile full again, and give yourself more confidence and comfort.

What are dental implants?

Implants are titanium, screw-like structures inserted into the jaw bone where you are missing a natural tooth root. When disease or injury causes you to lose teeth, implants can add an artificial tooth in that gap. Titanium dental implants are surgically placed in the gumline, and are typically used with crowns or dental bridges. Together, they create a replacement that looks and functions like a natural tooth.

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How do dental implants work?

Dentists place implants into the jawbone where a natural tooth root is missing or severely decayed. The best dental implant materials are titanium and zirconia, making them incredibly stable, supportive and not susceptible to decay. Implants have two parts: the screw-like body and the abutment extending through the gums to support the artificial tooth.

Do I need treatment?

After a consultation, your dentist may recommend getting one or multiple implants to help your teeth and fill any gaps. The dental implant procedure is often completed in stages across multiple appointments. 

 

  • Preparation. Your dentist will conduct a thorough check up of your oral health, including a dental x-ray to check if there are underlying problems. Where necessary, you may have a decayed tooth extracted to create room for the implant. If your jaw is not strong enough to support an implant, you may need a bone graft to strengthen it.
  • Placement. When your mouth is prepared, we open the gums to expose the bone and create a hole for the implant. The body screws in, a healing cap attaches over the fixture and we suture the gum to cover it, allowing it to become attached to the bone over four to six months.
  • Installation. Once the implant has integrated with the bone, we reopen the gum tissue and remove the healing cap. Next, we take  a specialised mould or scan of your implant and the teeth around it in order to make your abutment and permanent crown. This procedure typically does not require local anaesthetic and is very quick. The healing cap is then replaced.  
  • Fitting. After a couple of weeks the abutment/crown attaches to the implant body by  an internal screw or cement and your artificial tooth is ready to use! 

Dental implants aftercare

After the procedure, it is important to take care of the wound that still exists in your gum line. Avoid brushing the area for at least a few days, depending on how well your recovery is progressing. To keep it clean, make use of a warm saltwater mouthwash by mixing a few teaspoons of salt in a cup of warm water, and allowing it to sit in your mouth — avoid swilling it aggressively.

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Are dental implants painful?

After your fixture attaches, it is common to experience discomfort and some minor pain while your mouth recovers. Common symptoms include gum swelling, tenderness, bleeding, bruising and jaw pain. You can use over-the-counter pain medications and ice packs to reduce swelling. Pain should not last longer than a few days — if it lasts longer than ten days, please contact your dentist as soon as possible.

Complete Your Smile

Dental implants can help you feel more confident in your smile, completing your full set of teeth with a functional and durable replacement. At Oakleigh Dental, we know how important teeth are, and love helping people find solutions to any oral health issues they have. Considering implants? Get in touch with us today to check if they’re right for you.

FAQs

The main benefits of dental implants are their longevity. When looked after correctly, dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth. If there is insufficient bone to anchor the implant in your jaw, it may fail. This is why an x-ray and examination of your jaw is so important prior to receiving an implant, and why you may need a bone graft.

 

The crown or bridge attached may need to be replaced due to wear and tear, but this should only be required every 15 or so years at minimum.

The surgical part of a single dental implant will be around $2500-$4000 depending on the density or depth of your bone, and the need for bone grafting or other surgery. The artificial tooth on the top or the abutment crown is approximately $3000. The time frame to complete the process will be around 3-4 months and can be longer if healing is compromised. 

Taking care of dental implants is similar to regular oral care. The benefit of having a dental implant is that, once it has fused with your bone and settled in your mouth, it functions effectively as a natural tooth. To take care of it, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush at least twice per day. Depending on the type of attachment you get, you may need to use crown and bridge floss to specifically clean around the implant surface. 

Implants are a fantastic treatment but unfortunately not appropriate for everyone. For patients over the age of 60, or those with significantly eroded gums, implants may not be suitable as they will lack the required bone density to support a replacement tooth. Dentures are the most common alternative to dental implants in these cases, and people may also be able to get a dental bridge that is not fixed by an implant.

Bone grafting for dental implants is not always necessary prior to an implant body being placed, but will be required in cases where a patient has extensive tooth and bone decay or has experienced trauma to the jaw. For the implant to remain in place, there must be enough surrounding bone tissue for it to fuse with over time. 

Dental implants can not be placed in children as the process requires mature jaw bones. Typically, we do not place implants in patients under the age of 18. Prior to placing implant fixtures, x rays and CT scans will be taken to ensure patients have stopped growing.