Dental Implants in Finchley

Patients with gappy or crooked teeth are ideal candidates for dental implants as one of the most common and popular treatments for replacing missing teeth.

When you visit us for your initial consultation, we will first examine the structure of your mouth and bone dentistry to decide whether or not bone augmentation treatment will be necessary before going ahead with dental implants

Implants are one way of replacing missing teeth.  A dental implant is used to support one or more false teeth.  It is a titanium screw that can replace the root of a tooth when it fails, and just like a tooth root, it is placed into the jawbone.  Implants can also be used to support fixed bridges or dentures.  Dental implants serve as long-term solutions for replacing missing teeth, if properly maintained and look after using our recommended daily oral habits and hygiene practices such as brushing teeth and flossing twice a day.

Furthermore, dental implants are also ideal for supporting crowns and dentures in a similar way that the root supports natural teeth.  Implant treatment normally has two stages.  First, the implant is placed in the jaw.  Then, when the jaw has healed, replacement teeth are attached to the implant.

It can take a number of appointments to complete a dental implant, sometimes over a course of between three to nine months. It is very individual, and your dentist will devise the best schedule to give your implants the best success of being secure and lasting for as long as possible. The implant itself can be fitted under local anaesthesia, which can take about 30 minutes for a single implant, longer for multiple ones. Once the implant is fitted, the surrounding bone will gradually build up around the implant and secure it, which can take between 6 weeks and 6 months. Whilst treatment time can seem lengthy, the investment is well worth it: once an implant is in place, the structure looks and behaves like a normal tooth, with nobody able to tell the difference between the real and artificial teeth

Most patients will be suitable for dental implants but this will largely depend on the quality of your jaw bone.  Your dentist will carefully investigate and plan your case and if there is insufficient bone, they will graft bone to the site.  Having missing teeth does not automatically qualify someone to have dental implants and good general and oral health is needed.

The vast majority of our patients who choose to have dental implants with Nether Street Dental Practice are healthy adults with fully developed and stagnant gums.  Dental implants are not suitable for younger children as underlying bones are still growing at this stage.

Very rare side effects can include infection, nerve damage or sinus problems, but correct preparation and after-care significantly reduces the likelihood of this.

The implant itself should last a lifetime, and the crown can last 10 – 15 years with normal wear, even longer with excellent hygiene and care.

Placement is usually carried out under local anaesthesia.  During the surgery, the local anaesthesia eliminates all discomfort.  After the surgery, there will be some discomfort, swelling and bruising which is normally controlled with over the counter medication.  It’s highly liked that we will need you to visit our practice two times to complete full treatment’ the first being to fit the implant and then a follow-up appointment to fit the new tooth into the implant.  Here at Westbury Dental Care, we are very flexible with our appointments and always try our best to cater to your busy schedule and requirements.

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth and restore your smile back to its best.  In the implant itself, there will not be any feeling of such but you may sense tingling in the gum areas where the dental implant has been placed.  Dental implants are designed to be implanted like normal teeth but it may take between 1-2 weeks after the treatment before this is the case.

As with any invasive dental surgery, patients may experience swelling and bruising in the gums and face for up to 48 hours. There may be minor bleeding in the day following insertion of the implant, and some pain and discomfort for up to two weeks. This can be treated with over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. Immediately after the surgery, it may take a couple of hours for feeling to return to the mouth after a local anaesthetic and care should be taken not to bite the tongue or cheek, and to avoid hot food and drinks.