A dental implant is a strong replacement for a tooth root.
Implants are often used to replace missing teeth, gaps, and poorly fitting dentures.
The bone grows and bonds to the implant, making the implant very strong and long lasting.
A customised, natural looking crown can then be constructed and attached to the implant to replace the missing tooth making it look, feel and chew just like a real tooth.
Implants are proving to be a very effective way of replacing teeth as they are free standing and do not require other teeth to support them, which is the case in dental bridges.
Replacing a missing tooth is very important in order to maintain the structure of your jaw, as adjacent teeth can shift into the space unless an implant is placed.
When implants were originally invented, four to six months of healing was required for the implant to fuse to bone, before a porcelain and metal crown could be attached to it. With today’s newest technologies, some situations can have a crown placed immediately.
Our dentists at our dental implants clinic will work with your specific situation and provide options and education in order to help you make the right choice.
Nobel BioCare Implants
We only use the highest quality implant systems and materials. Dr Fern White has found Nobel Biocare to offer a wide range of options and the latest advancements in implant technology.
Nobel Biocare has a forty-year history of success stories using dental implants and dental crowns, and leads the dental implant market.
Video of a Basic Implant Procedure
Common Questions and Answers
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium screw that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. Dental implants can be placed in either the upper or lower jaws. Due to the biocompatible properties of titanium, a dental implant fuses with the bone and becomes a good anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used in solutions for replacing single or multiple missing teeth.
Why dental implants?
There are a number of reasons why you should consider a dental implant:
- Without the root structure of a natural tooth present, the jawbone can shrink. This shrinkage will make your face look older than it is.
- There are no loose parts to worry about losing. The dental implant is stable and comfortable. No adjustment is needed after placement. Normally, it will serve its owner for life.
Will dental implants work for me?
Anyone who is missing one or more teeth due to injury, disease or tooth decay may be a candidate for dental implants. The determining factor is the amount of available bone. Your dentist is the best person to evaluate whether dental implants are a viable solution for you.
What are the advantages of dental implants over dentures or a dental bridge?
- Improved appearance: When you lose the entire tooth – crown and root – shrinkage of the jawbone may cause your face to look older. Dental implants can stop this process. A traditional denture or dental bridge doesn’t.
- Preserve natural teeth: With traditional dental bridges, teeth adjacent to missing teeth are normally ground down to be used as anchors for a dental bridge. Dental implants often eliminate the need to modify healthy teeth.
- Permanent solution: There are no loose parts to worry about losing. The dental implant is stable and comfortable. No adjustment is need after placement. Normally, it will serve its owner for life.
Will my new teeth look natural?
When dental implants are used in combination with modern restorative dentistry, their appearance, comfort and function are very likely to exceed your expectations. Often they are hard to tell apart from your natural teeth.
Will I be able to chew with the same force and pressure I use with my natural teeth?
Yes. Following a brief adaptation period, chewing capacity is comparable to that of natural teeth.
