Dental implants are a bit of a mystery for many people. This relatively recent technology is starting to become better known in recent years, but many people are still in the dark when it comes to the details.

At Bromley Dental Practice, our team of highly trained dentists and staff is well experienced in fitting dental implants in Bromley, and will answer any questions you may have.

Does it hurt?

One of the most-asked questions when it comes to dental implants in Bromley is how much pain is involved. The very act of drilling into the jawbone and fixing a piece of metal into it seems like it should be very painful. However, this is not the case. There are actually fewer nerves in the jawbone then there are in a tooth, so the surgery can hurt less than getting a regular filling. Of course, anaesthetic is always used, and many patients state that they felt no pain at all. Dental drilling techniques have advanced a lot, meaning that they are now minimally invasive and use special planning technology to determine the angle and depth required.

Is it worth the cost?

Dental implants in Bromley can involve a not inconsiderate outlay. However, it is worth considering that they last for at least 15 years, often decades, and can have positive effects on the health and look of the mouth and jaw. If a single tooth is missing, leaving a gap may seem feasible, especially if it is at the back. But that gap can have an adverse effect on the teeth around it. Teeth stay strong by supporting each other – if there is a missing tooth, the neighbouring teeth can start to tilt or twist over time.

Where several teeth are missing, a denture or bridge offer reasonable replacements, but over the years the jawbone will start to recede without the support of the roots of the missing teeth. This can lead to a somewhat sunken look to the face.

There are also the considerations of comfort and confidence. Dental implants in Bromley can make eating considerably easier, and do wonders for your self-confidence. Visit us for a consultation if you are considering implants and have more questions.

Dental implants in Bromley are one of the biggest advances in dental technology in recent times, but how recent are they? If you are thinking of investing in dental implants in Bromley, you may be interested in the history of this technology.

Dental implants in ancient history

It may surprise you to know that dental implants date back to around 2000BC – in ancient China missing teeth appear to have been replaced with carved bamboo pegs. There is also evidence of the ancient Egyptians using their own version of dental implants.

Archaeological evidence from around 600AD has been found indicating that the Mayan civilisation in Central America used a crude version of dental implants. Skulls have been found that have teeth made from materials including jade and shell. Though they may be crude, they must have been successful in their own way, as the implants appeared to have fused with the jawbone in the same way a modern implant would. There must have been a great deal of pain involved for the patient though, as there were no anaesthetics or fine tools for drilling around at that time. Don’t worry, if you are thinking of having dental implants in Bromley, you won’t be subjected to any ancient practices.

Historically, missing teeth were often replaced with teeth from either another human, or an animal. While this probably seemed like the height of technology at the time, we now know that there is a higher risk of infection and implant failure with natural tooth implants.

The advent of modern dental implants

The most amazing thing about dental implants in Bromley is the way the titanium screw actually fuses with the jawbone, encouraging bone growth and forming a very stable support. This property of titanium was discovered by accident in the 1950s.

The first human dental implant, as we know them in modern times, was performed in 1965. It lasted 40 years, until the patient died.

Modern technology wins

While these historic versions of implants are very interesting, they are best left in the past. At Bromley Dental Practice, we pride ourselves on using the latest technology and methods when it comes to dental implants in Bromley.

In these times of austerity and uncertainty of what Brexit will deliver, we are all having to tighten our belts and think very carefully when it comes to having to spend extra. Maybe not buy that extra pair of shoes even though they are bang on trend and extra comfy. Maybe settle for a partial denture even though what you really want is dental implants in Bromley.

Want versus need

Hang on though, here we have a clear case of want versus need. It’s for sure you need to replace that lost tooth. It got knocked out when you were exercising, and you’ve ordered a mouth guard for the next time you go mountain biking, but in the meantime, you need to get that gap filled. Partial dentures are cheaper, but do you really want decades of a plate that clicks in your mouth when you want it to be silent, that lifts up when you want it to lie still?

Disappearing bone and gum

Do you really want the bone and gums where your tooth used to be to start melting away, almost before your eyes each time you look in the mirror? Yes, that really does happen. Without a tooth root in it, your jawbone thinks it’s no longer in use in that area and the bone starts to dissolve itself. Leave it a while and you will be able to feel with your tongue that an arch is developing between your teeth and that the jawbone is thinner from front to back too.

The only way to stop this depressing development is to have dental implants in Bromley fitted, and we will happily do that for you here at Bromley Dental Practice.

Roots and all

Dental implants in Bromley are the only method of tooth restoration that replaces the root of lost teeth. Having implants means you maintain your bone structure and you also get your full chewing power back, which means you can continue to eat whatever you like.

Also, dental implants in Bromley can last for decades and decades if you look after them well, so in the long run, they could work out the same price or even cheaper than the alternatives.

People just love to tell each other terrible gory stories of their operations, and people love to listen. But it is always good to take such stories with a pinch of salt and not let them put you off if you need something done. There are some great war stories of dental implant fittings, but are they really true? At Bromley Dental Practice, we like to think not. Here’s what to expect when you come for dental implants in Bromley with us.

Consultation

Our implant surgeon will have a good chat with you and take a good look at your dental and medical history. You can expect to have your jawbone very carefully checked, with x-rays and maybe CT scans, to see if it is strong and dense enough for the dental implants to be able to sustain the powerful forces created by chewing.

If you get the go-ahead, then we will book you in for surgery.

Scared? We wouldn’t be surprised, especially if you’ve heard stories of terrible pain endured. But, they are probably not true. There just aren’t enough nerve endings in the jawbone to send massive pain signals to the brain, and anyway, you will be very well numbed with a local anaesthetic.

Still scared? Don’t worry, we can help you deeply relax with either oral or intravenous sedation.

The surgery

So, all numbed up and floating on a cloud of sedatives, you lie back in the chair while we cut through your gum and create carefully planned channels in your jawbone to take the implants. Once they are in place, we put your gum back and cap the implants off with a temporary cover.

The waiting game

Over the next 2-6 months, new bone tissue grows all over the implants to hold them securely in place.

The final bit

Then you come back to us and we put on your handcrafted porcelain crowns.

Aftercare

Now all you need to do is maintain a careful brushing and flossing routine, plus regular hygienists’ visits, and your dental implants in Bromley will last for at for at least 15 years, probably decades.

You have probably met people who have told you how they were turned down for dental implants. It used to happen quite a lot, but these days, with advances in implant research, dentistry has found ways around a lot of the problems associated with dental implants. In Bromley, at Bromley Dental Practice, we love telling people that they can have dental implants fitted.

Healing and your jaw

The big issue with dental implants is that they have to be able to integrate with your jawbone if they are going to withstand the powerful forces created by chewing. The jawbone starts to deteriorate as soon as there are no tooth roots in it to send vibrations down from impacting on other teeth. The vibrations tell the jawbone it is still in use and when they stop, the jawbone interprets this as meaning there’s no chewing going on. It starts to dissolve itself around that area, it gets smaller and less dense. Putting a dental implant into a resorbed jawbone would be like trying to hang a heavy picture on a screw in a thin plasterboard wall. It won’t last long.

Ways to rebuild your jawbone

These days, we can give you a bone graft by adding in bone tissue taken from elsewhere in your body, or from another source. We put this into your jawbone before implant surgery, and give it a good few weeks to bed down. Then we can add in your implants. Another way to do this is to put bone material into the enlarged sinus cavity of your upper jaw.

All this adds time to your implant treatment, but it will be worth it in the end.

Implants in your cheekbones

We can circumvent bone grafting in the upper jaw by using extra-long implants that go through your jawbone and anchor into your cheekbone.

Make it easy on yourself

If you want dental implants in Bromley, the best thing to do is to get on the case as soon as you have lost or know you are going to lose your teeth. If you are a smoker, stop smoking. If you have diabetes, get it under control.

Although having to get teeth replaced is not as common as it used to be, there are still plenty of us in the UK who will need to find out about replacement teeth at some point in our lives. It could happen early on for you, especially if you are keen on sports and don’t wear a mouth guard. Or you could come off your bike on the way to work. Or maybe, some of your teeth are just giving up after many long years of faithful chewing and biting service. Whatever the cause of the tooth loss and however old you are, it pays to look into replacing them with dental implants in Bromley.

At Bromley Dental Practice, we are always delighted when our patients choose to replace lost teeth with dental implants in Bromley. We know that by doing so, they are opting for the most effective way of replacing lost teeth.

Implants and cost

Some people may be put off by the cost of dental implants, but if you are going to have dental implants for a long time, they can even work out as the same price or even cheaper than the alternatives, which have to be replaced every few years. If you’ve got say, 30 years before you are likely to pass on, then you could be looking at having to replace dentures or bridges up to 6 times in that period. And with dentures, you may even have to have them relined every year as your gums and jawbone shrink away underneath them.

Dental implants in Bromley, on the other hand, can last for at least 15 years. If you take good care of them, which is easy to do, then you can expect the posts to last for decades. There are early implant users who have now had them for more than 50 years. You may well have to replace the porcelain crown, as these do wear out.

Implants and care

Brush and floss carefully twice a day, and visit the hygienist regularly for deep cleans. That’s all you have to do to maintain your dental implants.

Come and find out more.

If you have just lost some teeth, whether you are young and it was in an accident or you are older and their loss was more expected, then you are now faced with having to decide which way to replace them. Perhaps you have a choice between all 3 options: dentures, a fixed bridge or dental implants in Bromley. They differ wildly in cost. Dentures and bridges will set you back a few hundred pounds, dental implants cost a couple of thousand each. It’s a massive difference. Is it worth the outlay?

At Bromley Dental Practice, we think it is, and we’d like to tell you why:

Stability

The big difference between dental implants in Bromley and the other 2 methods of restoration is they way they get their stability. Dental implants are fixed into the jaw like natural teeth. This means that, once they have integrated with the jawbone, dental implants can chew anything that natural teeth can tackle. Get dentures instead and your food choices are severely limited as you will only have about 25% of your natural chewing power.

Bridges are more stable, but they get that by piggybacking on existing teeth, which have to be drastically reduced in size to be converted into buttresses for the bridge, effectively making them unusable as natural teeth ever again. Bit of a waste, we think.

More stability also means no embarrassing moments of wobbliness in your mouth, so you can relax and be spontaneous without ever having to worry that your false teeth will let you down.

Longevity

Dental implants last a long, long time. At least 15 years, but usually decades. This means that over time, the initial outlay for dental implants in Bromley can equalise with the repeated outlay for replacing worn-out dentures and bridges, which tends to happen every 5-10 years. It must be said that crowns on dental implants in Bromley may need replacing, but if you look after the implants really well, making sure to do everything, such as brushing, flossing and hygienist sessions, to avoid getting gum disease, then they can last for the rest of your life.

Getting dental implants in Bromley with us at Bromley Dental Practice means you will be getting replacement teeth that are the best dentistry has to offer in terms of restorations.

What you want if you need to get one, a few or all of your teeth replaced is new teeth that behave as well as the ones you have just lost. You also want as little hassle as possible when it comes to looking after them, and the knowledge that you, and only you, will know that these are not your original teeth.

Be in safe hands

When you come to us for dental implants in Bromley, you are in very safe hands indeed. Our visiting implant surgeon, Michel Heidweiller, has been a dentist for more than 30 years, working with dental implants for the last 25 years and has placed way more than 3,000 implants. Choose Bromley Dental Practice for dental implants in Bromley and you are choosing a top-drawer experience.

What about pain?

It is a myth that dental implant surgery is painful to go through. Firstly, the implants go into the jawbone, where there are very few nerves with which to transmit pain signals. We also make sure that the whole area is completely numb with a local anaesthetic before we start work on you. We appreciate that it’s not just pain that makes getting dental implants a challenge if you are a nervous patient. That’s why we can also offer you sedation, which acts to deeply relax you, along with being numb.

When you leave, we send you off with painkillers and suggest that you also take anti-inflammatories, so the few days after implant surgery are easy to get through.

What about maintenance?

Taking care of your dental implants could not be easier. You just need to treat them as you would your own precious natural teeth. Dental implants need to be brushed and flossed twice a day to remove plaque. Regular visits to the hygienist for a deep clean are also vital. If you do all that, you can expect your implants to last a very long time.

If you have one or multiple gaps in the teeth, surely the idea of smiling with a mouthful of teeth again fills you with excitement? However, if you are considering dental implants in Bromley, the prospect can be as daunting as it is exciting. The idea of someone poking around your mouth with tools is enough to make anyone feel a bit on edge, so it’s no wonder if the prospect of having dental implants fitted is a bit scary.

Here at Bromley Dental Practice, we are here to make your whole experience of going for dental implants in Bromley as efficient and comfortable as possible. That begins with giving you the information you need so you know what dental implants are all about.

The first stage

The first stage of going for dental implants is coming for a check-up with us here at Bromley Dental Practice, to ensure that you are suitable for treatment. If you are in good general health, the chances are you will be. However, we need to take x-rays of your mouth to check that there is enough bone in the jaw to support the new implant.

The treatment

The implant itself is a small titanium screw that is drilled into the jawbone. This is left to heal, allowing the bone and blood vessels to mesh with the implant so it becomes part of the jaw and provides a long-term replicant of the root of the tooth. Crowns, bridges and dentures can then be fixed onto them.

During treatment, you will be given a local anaesthetic to help numb the pain. Any pain after treatment can usually be calmed with over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol.

Looking after your new teeth

It is a good idea to avoid hot food immediately after the surgery, as it may take a while for the local anaesthetic to wear off. It might be a good idea to stick to liquid foods for roughly a week after treatment, as the implant is still fresh and needs to heal properly. Most people stick to soft foods while the implant is integrating over the next few weeks.

Everyone who has ever lost their teeth has a big fear about their replacements. That fear is that it will be obvious that they are not their real teeth. Ideally, it should never cross anyone’s mind that your replacement teeth are not real, and the best way to make sure of that is to get dental implants in Bromley.

The big giveaway with false teeth, especially with dentures, is that they wobble around in your mouth when you speak or laugh, and they aren’t strong enough to let you bite into and chew quite a few different foods, so you end up on a soft food diet.

In Bromley, dental implants are not going to wobble or slide around in your mouth because they are fixed into your jawbone on tapered posts or screws. This is the big secret: dental implants replace the whole tooth, not just the crown but the root as well. Having a root is what makes our teeth stable.

The other thing that can be a giveaway is the crowns. They need to look like real teeth. The crowns on dental implants in Bromley are made by highly-skilled technicians. They use dental porcelain, which has the same light-reflecting qualities as natural teeth. The porcelain is coloured to blend in with the rest of your teeth and the technicians shape it so that your new teeth blend in with the rest of your teeth. If you have lost all your teeth, a good technician, like the ones we use, can recreate them from old photos, or from impressions if you have one.

Dental implants: the process

We insert dental implants under local anaesthetic. We put in the posts first and then leave them for several weeks until they have integrated with the jawbone. Then we put the crowns on. One dental implant can hold up to 3 crowns on a bridge and we have techniques to replace an entire arch of teeth on just 4 implants. Once in place, all you need to do is brush and floss carefully twice a day and have regular hygienist visits to keep gum disease at bay.