195 Ware Road, Hertford. SG13 7EQ

VISIT OUR PRACTICE

195 Ware Road,
Hertford. SG13 7EQ

PLEASE CALL US

01992 509669

Dental implantsMissing teeth can make approaching social situations difficult. People with missing teeth may not only be subjected to cosmetic implications but are also at a far greater risk of developing dental and general health problems. 

People often take their teeth for granted and don’t necessarily appreciate the strength, support, and structure they provide until it is lost.

Here, we offer a guide to dental implants. Discussing how they can benefit not only the aesthetic of your smile but also the benefits to your oral health. 

Preventing the need for dental implants

Tooth loss in adulthood is a distressing, uncomfortable and often embarrassing situation to find yourself in and is usually caused by poor oral hygiene, which has resulted in issues such as gum disease and tooth decay which weaken the teeth so that they eventually fall out. By making sure you have an effective oral hygiene routine at home which you maintain every day, you can help prevent tooth loss and other complications later on in life.

Unfortunately, sometimes despite good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist on a regular basis you may experience tooth loss as a result of an accident or injury which results in trauma to your mouth. Whichever situation you may find yourself in, we at Hertford Dental Care are always here to help. Even if you have not visited your dentist in a long time then do not let this hinder you, your oral health is our main priority and we will work with you to find out what the best treatment options are to help you deal with the loss of your tooth or teeth.

 

What are Dental implants?

Dental implants are made from titanium and, physically, they resemble very small screws.

They are fitted to the jaw and act as a substitute for the root of a prosthetic tooth, bridge or denture which is placed after the implant has fused.

Why consider dental implants?

If someone loses a tooth, we always recommend that they choose dental implants to replace them. This is because it is a permanent solution that will protect all of the patient’s remaining teeth and restore the functionality and strength they have lost. Dental implants will usually treat excessive dental cavities, broken teeth, excessively worn down teeth or missing teeth from any cause.

Many people often choose treatments such as dentures or bridges when they lose a tooth. While these treatments may be cheaper than dental implants, they often lead to problems as time goes on. Some of these include:

  • Pain caused by rubbing or fiction.
  • Their remaining teeth shifting out of place.
  • Embarrassment due to having to remove their dentures.
  • Difficulty eating.

Although it may be tempting to choose a cheaper alternative treatment for lost teeth such as dentures or bridges, by investing in dental implants from us here at Hertford Dental Care, you are investing in a future which holds none of the above!

How do Implants work?

The process of dental implants is unlike almost any other form of treatment for missing teeth.

Rather than merely solving the problem of missing teeth on a cosmetic level, implants address the issue structurally.

This is achieved by surgically embedding a titanium-alloy false tooth-root directly into the jawbone of a patient. Doing this means that the hole is filled with a tooth which not only looks identical to a natural one but can be used with the same vigour and intensity as a natural tooth would be!

How dental implants are fitted

Before anything else, when you attend the consultation with our team, we will take an examination of your oral health and take an X-ray of your jaw to assess if you are suitable.

Where dental implants are suitable, we can replace one tooth or four in a row using a single implant. Where full sets of teeth require replacing, we can do this on just four implants. We also discuss with you your anaesthesia options if you decide to select an anaesthetic or sedation then we will recommend that you take a taxi home or have a friend or relative drive you home. 

Then, if all is good, we will call you back into our surgery to fit the implants. Depending on whether the implant is replacing a tooth that was lost years ago, or one that has more recently gone missing, we may be able to use a vacant socket. Alternatively, we may have to drill one.

But before this, we will numb the site around where the implant is going to be fitted, make some incisions into the gum and peel it back, exposing the bone. 

Once the implant is fitted, we sew the gum up around it and then we begin waiting for it to fuse.

Why should I choose dental implants?

There are many reasons to choose dental implants. Firstly, nobody else will realise that you don’t have a full set of healthy, natural teeth. Your replacement teeth will be manufactured for you, so they will be able to complement any remaining natural teeth that you have, and they will also complement each other.

Another benefit of dental implants is the fact that you won’t need to alter your diet in any way. No matter what you choose to eat or drink (we’d choose the ribeye steak!), you won’t need to worry about your teeth loosening. What’s more, if you love to chat with your friends and family, then chat away! Your teeth shouldn’t loosen like Granny’s used to do. With a natural-looking and functioning smile, you should feel confident and proud to show off your grin.

Having dental implants fitted can be done under local anaesthetic. This means that if you have difficulties with general anaesthetic like nausea, you won’t need to contend with that. If you are a nervous patient, we are also highly experienced in helping you through this. We can offer you extra sedation should you require this as well.

When it comes to looking after your dental implants, you can do this easily by simply brushing, flossing and popping in to see us for your routine checkups. It’s easy, and if you adhere to this, your implants could last you a lifetime – that’s got to be a bonus for making sure you brush right to the back…Right?!

Unfortunately unlike partial dentures and bridges dental implants are unavailable on the NHS however with a 98% success rate and the number of benefits they provide, we think they’re worth the additional investment. 

Can anyone get dental implants?

To be suitable for oral implants, you need to have thick, healthy jawbones. To ascertain your suitability, our team will take a set of X-rays of your jaw. We will also inquire into your lifestyle and health, as there are some conditions that can make you unsuited for oral implants, such as osteoporosis.

Sometimes, patients don’t have enough bone density in their jawbones because this may have depleted due to the missing teeth. Don’t worry though! We may then be able to offer a bone graft before you have your implants.

Additionally, people who have gum disease, are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatment, or have diabetes or other such conditions may need to have them controlled or the treatments finished before we can move on with restoring your smile.

At Hertford Dental Care, we will give you personalised treatment and ensure that we answer all of the questions you have about the treatment options so that you can make an informed decision about the way forward. If dental implants are suitable for you, we can’t wait to make your smile beautiful and functional too.

If you suffer from an autoimmune condition and are taking immunosuppressant medication, this can slow down the recovery time and the fusing time of oral implants, which is on average 3 to 6 months.

Aftercare

Immediately after they are fitted, your oral implants will need to be left alone so that the gums can settle. 

This means that to prevent debris build-up and infection, you will need to rinse the implant sites with saltwater. We also provide an antibacterial solution which should be used for a couple of weeks. During this settling period, you should avoid using a toothbrush to clean around the site as this can aggravate the gums and lead to infection. To manage the discomfort that can accompany having oral implants, you should take over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol. Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin, as this can lead to thinning blood which may worsen bruising.

If you notice that you are not feeling well since having your implants fitted, have unusual swelling around the implant site, have a fever, or are feeling/being sick, please call us immediately as these are common signs of infection.

Longevity

Dental implants carry a higher price tag than other types of missing teeth replacement devices, but this investment repays itself in the numerous benefits the treatment affords patients.  With correct care, oral implants can last up to and over 15 years. There are very few complications associated with oral implants, far less than natural teeth. They can be lost due to trauma or extreme gum disease, but otherwise, they are very robust. The upper section of the implant can be replaced and usually has to be every 15 years due to the normal wear and tear. This is a relatively minor procedure, especially compared to replacing crowns or other similar permanently-fixed prosthetics.

This means that you will need to brush the prosthetic teeth as you would brush your natural teeth; twice a day, alongside flossing or using interdental toothbrushes and using mouthwash to help prevent gum disease from developing.

And, of course, you will need to see our team twice a year to have your teeth looked at; this will allow us to check for signs of gum disease and to ensure that they are not being rejected by your body.  

By filling the gaps in your smile, you are also protecting any remaining natural teeth you have from exposure to bacteria. 

About our practice, Hertford Dental Care

Based in Hertfordshire, our practice Hertford Dental Care was established over 75 years ago. Led by our principal dentists Dr Gordon Black and Dr Ishita Black; our team of experienced dental professionals work together to provide high-quality dental treatments within different areas of dentistry, such as cosmetic dentistry, general dentistry, and orthodontics. Facial aesthetics treatments are also available with us.

For those whose main concern is to replace a tooth that has either been damaged due to an accident or lost altogether, at the practice we also offer our patients treatments within restorative dentistry.

Restorative dentistry at our practice

At our dental surgery, we understand how important it is to have good oral health. When you have a damaged tooth, this can affect your overall health and can cause dental issues such as infections. This is why we offer restorative dental treatments which can repair and restore your teeth. The sooner you can seek treatment the better, as neglecting a damaged or broken tooth can impact your oral health. Contact us on 01992 509669 to further discuss your treatment options.