Tooth implant
Restore appearance and functionality at the same time
What are the health consequences of missing teeth?
As well as helping you to speak, teeth play a crucial role in the mechanical processing of foods. When you’re using your jaws to chew, strong forces are being exerted – your set of teeth evenly distributes these forces, which avoids distortion of your jaw bones and teeth.
Having even one tooth missing disturbs this delicate balance. The neighbouring teeth begin to ‘fill the gap’, and behind them, like domino blocks, they move further, leading to curvature and further reduction of the efficiency of the oral cavity. The tooth above or below the cavity loses support and becomes susceptible to damage or falling out.
For these reasons, any missing teeth must be addressed as soon as possible. The method that best replicates the tooth’s natural function of the tooth is the tooth implant, or dental implant.
What are tooth implants?
A tooth implant consists of three parts. These are:
Screw (implant)
Made of titanium, which has the ability to integrate with bone tissue. It is placed in the former root of the lost tooth. The implant performs a very similar function - it fixes the crown stably and prevents the inserted tooth from moving. Thanks to this, people using implants can return to the comfort of everyday life - the implant is as strong as a natural tooth, and should help you feel back to normal.
Connector
The connector is screwed to the implant, and acts as something the crown can be fixed upon. By using the connecting element, the crown can be replaced without having to remove the implant from the jaw bone.
Crown
The crown replicates the visible part of the tooth, and is attached to the connector. A well-made crown is hardly different at all from a natural tooth. Porcelain crowns are particularly recommended due to their long-term durability and ease on the patient’s body.
What to expect during a dental implant procedure
The dental implant procedure is performed in several stages.
First, your dentist will drill a hole in the jaw bone and place the titanium screw in it. Although this admittedly does not sound appealing, there’s nothing to fear – the procedure is actually simpler and faster than removing a wisdom tooth. It takes place under anaesthesia, and sometimes with narcotic pain medication, so there’s no need to put the procedure off due to pain concerns.
The screw fixing is preceded by a diagnosis. On the basis of the pantomographic picture, the specialist determines whether the screw will fit into the bone, and whether there is a place for the crown in the jaw. This is a necessary stage because sometimes the jaw bone can disappear alongside tooth loss.
The next step is unveiling the implant and fixing the healing screw. It prepares neighbouring tissues for crown placement and also speeds up their regeneration. It should be worn for about 14 days. After this stage, it is time to complete the restoration and fix the crown.
The crown is prepared by dental technicians based on impressions taken from the patient. Together with the dentist, the patient can pick the colour of their crown. When the restoration is ready, an ‘abutment’ is fastened on the implant, and an artificial tooth fixed to it.
How much do dental implants cost?
Implant prices vary depending on the materials used. Contact us to learn more.
| Implant MIS | £1600.00 |
| Crown on implant | £1600.00 |
This solution is not cheap, but no alternative provides the same levels of comfort, hygiene and durability. What’s more – if this is left over time, the defective jaw will cause more and more problems, and of greater severity, meaning that your eventual treatment will end up costing considerably more.
