At Hertford Dental Care, we can help you to achieve this by fitting dental implants Hertfordshire, the most permanent solution to missing teeth!
Here, we offer a brief guide to dental implants Hertfordshire.
What are oral implants?
Dental implants Hertfordshire 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.
How they are fitted
Before anything else, when you attend the consultation with our team, we will take an X-ray of your jaw to assess if you are suitable.
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.
Suitability
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.
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 in order to prevent debris build-up and infection, you will need to rinse the implant sites with saltwater. 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
With correct care, oral implants can last up to and over 15 years.
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.
Want to close a gap left by a missing tooth?
