Implants

What is a Dental Implant?

There are several options to replace missing teeth, including bridges and dentures. If you want a more permanent solution, a dental implant may be the best option to replace your missing teeth.

Dental implants are tiny titanium metal rods, which we gently place into your jawbone. This is a surgical procedure, and does take some time to heal entirely. Over a few months, your jawbone bonds with the dental implant, forming what is effectively a false tooth root.

As dental implants connect to the jawbone, they provide a stable base for either a single missing tooth, or an implant-supported bridge replacing a number of teeth. There is also the option for dental implants to also hold dentures firmly in place, making eating and speaking much easier.

Is Your Mouth Healthy Enough for Dental Implants?

If you are interested in dental implants, the first step is to book time with us, so we can determine if you are a suitable candidate for tooth implant treatment. We use this appointment to carry out an in-depth assessment of your mouth and the surrounding bone. 

To have dental implants fitted, you need to have enough bone to support the titanium post, and your gums need to be healthy to avoid risk of infection. In some cases, we will recommend periodontal care to improve the health of your gums before we proceed with dental implant treatment. For other patients, we may need to carry out a bone graft treatment to increase the amount of bone in the tooth implant area to ensure your implant attaches firmly to the jawbone.

This will all form part of an overall treatment, which will show you exactly what is needed from start to finish, together with the cost. We’ll carefully explain to you everything that is involved, how long it will take, what can be expected and give you plenty of opportunities to ask questions.

Have Your Tooth Implants Placed by Our In-House Experts

We like to prepare our patients with detailed information about their treatments at our practice before we start any procedure. On the day of your dental implant surgery, you should already feel confident in our expertise, and show up to your appointment knowing what to expect from surgery.

Your comfort is our top priority. By using a local anaesthetic to numb the treatment area, our team ensures you won’t feel discomfort when the dentist places the dental implant beneath the gum tissue. Once placed, the dentist closes the incision with stitches, and we wait for the tissue to heal. 

Once your mouth is entirely healed and the implant is firmly secured, we’ll bring you back for a second appointment to attach an abutment post to the dental implant. The abutment is the piece that connects the artificial tooth to the implant. We’ll also have dimensions of your mouth sent to the dental laboratory, so they can create a custom replacement tooth that fits your mouth and matches the colour of your natural teeth perfectly. 

Dental Implant Aftercare

As dental implant treatment is a type of surgery, you need to be careful about what you eat and drink and how you look after the implant area following the procedure. We will give you specific information about how to care for your dental implant when you attend your appointment.

Dental implants should last for many years, but you must care for them properly. As with your natural teeth, you should brush twice a day and clean around the sides and under the gumline — since your mouth will be tender, we will advise you on the best way to do this.

As always, it’s important to see the hygienist on a regular basis, as recommended by your dentist.

Dental Finance Options for Dental Implants

Dental implants and other treatments can be quite costly, and price should not be the reason you put off getting the care you need. At Southview Dental care, finance facilities are available. 

Through various finance options, we offer 0% interest-free and interest-bearing finance for treatments costing £350 or more. One of our financing plans can help spread out the cost of dental implants, making them more affordable for many of our patients. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about our finance plans for tooth implants.

Book Your Tooth Implant Consultation

The first step to getting dental implants is by making an appointment for a consultation with one of our dentists. For more information, and to find out if dental implants are right for you please get in touch.