Dental Implants - Cosmetic Dentistry Sydney

Dental Implants can be an ideal cosmetic dentistry solution to replace one or more missing teeth. An implant is made of two major components - a titanium screw (the implant) and the final restoration (implant crown or implant supported bridge or implant supported denture). Most people who have dental implants placed in their mouths feel that they are identical to natural teeth in feel, appearance and function. A dental implant requires no help from one's existing teeth to function and enables patients to eat and speak efficiently as well as provide significant aesthetic benefits.

Many long term studies indicate that dental implant procedures are highly successful. However, each potential patient needs to be assessed carefully prior to undertaking the procedure. An assessment can include a full medical check, a 3-Dimensional CT scan of the jaw, and treatment of any existing disease processes among many other things. Age is generally not a restriction to implant procedures. However, people who smoke or are diabetic can have lower success rates associated with these types of cosmetic dentistry procedures.

A Dental Implant procedure, after initial assessment, is generally broken up into two phases – a surgical phase and a final restorative phase.

The surgical phase involves the placement of the titanium screw within the jaw bone. This is done by making a small cut in the gums and using a series of drills prior to placing the implant. Stitches are usually placed after this. This procedure is generally done with the patient awake and numb. Patients are understandably often concerned with the pain associated at this stage. However, most people report very little to no pain during or after the procedure. The implant is then allowed to heal for a period of some 3-6 months depending on each individual situation. This process is called osseo-integration.

The final restorative phase involves taking an impression or mould of the osseo-integrated implant and fixing the final implant crown using a titanium or gold screw. This part of the cosmetic procedure does not require any form of anaesthetic in most cases.

Caring for dental implants is like caring for one’s own teeth. They require regular brushing and flossing and regular six-monthly checks by your dentist. Decay cannot affect implants but poor hygiene habits leading to gum disease can seriously destabilise the titanium screws.

No procedure can be 100% successful. However, complications associated with dental implants are minimal and are always discussed with patients at the initial assessment stage. These can be highly individualised and is done on a patient by patient, tooth by tooth basis. Dental implants have been in use for over thirty years and once osseo-integrated, can be expected to last for a very long time.

The range of problems that can be solved by using dental implants is ever increasing. These days, we can extract a broken tooth, place an implant and a temporary implant crown on the same day and expect it to work well.

If you have any missing teeth that you would like replaced or would just like more information regarding dental implants, please call our Chatswood office in the Sydney area and make an appointment.