The unfortunate reality of a missing or broken tooth could result in a loss of confidence and no small amount of personal embarrassment. Even a set of dentures for those of you who have tried to hide missing teeth may cause you some discomfort and insecurity when it comes to speaking or even eating in public. Getting dental implants in Bromley, here at the Bromley Dental Practice can bring back quality of life as well as your former confidence by getting implants that fit securely in your jawbone to support a convincing and secure set of crowns or bridges so that your life can go back to normal.

Where dental implants started

Implants today come from centuries worth of testing and learning, you can be confident that dentists have been improving this procedure well past what you may even know about your own family tree. Evidence of the ancient Chinese having used bamboo pegs to replace missing teeth has been discovered, as well as similar evidence from the ancient Egyptians. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that the procedure we use today was first invented and the research that has been done since has given us the immensely successful results published in many studies.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants in Bromley are small titanium posts or screws that are planted and embedded into your jawbone. Titanium is very tough and has a high tensile strength which makes it the preferred material for this procedure, it is also the only metal that isn’t rejected by the human body, in fact, bone loves to grow and fuse with it. The implants act like the root of a tooth to hold not only the tooth but the bone itself in place.

The procedure

We offer sedation for nervous patients, those of you who have anxieties about being at the dentist or having surgery can have it performed while sleeping. The surgery in question can take from 30 minutes for a single implant to 3-4 hours for multiple implants but wherever your needs may be, the surgery itself remains the same.

The dentist will numb the area that needs to be worked on even if you are sedated, our aim is  to not cause you pain but to improve your quality of life. Once the area is ready a small incision will be made in the gum in order to expose the bone, in some cases a tooth will first need to be removed. Once the dentist has made space for the implant with drills and other special tools, the titanium screw is then inserted and the area is stitched up. It will then be up to your body to heal, as the bone needs to grow around the implant, this can take 6-8 months to occur before permanent dentures, crowns, or bridges can be attached.

Will I ever have gaps?

Never. Immediately after surgery, you will be fitted with a set of temporary crowns or bridges, you will need to handle these with care over the course of the healing period and be mindful of the foods you eat but we will never leave you with embarrassing gaps when you get dental implants in Bromley.

Unfortunately, accidents happen; whether you fell down the stairs, got into an altercation or were involved in some other kind of mishap that resulted in a severe knock to the face, it has still caused a tooth to come loose and fall out. We at Bromley Dental Practice understand that this can be a very distressing situation for many people, but would like you to rest assured that with dental implants in Bromley, the solution to fixing the new gap in your smile is tried and tested and can make your smile look just like new again.

The danger of missing a tooth

Even just losing one tooth can create a host of problems in your mouth that you may be unaware of. If a front tooth gets knocked out the obvious main concern is that your smile is affected and you may lose a lot of confidence because of it, and if a back molar falls out, you may have issues with chewing; but what is more concerning than either of these things is the knock-on effect it will have on the other teeth. When space opens up between teeth it gives the other teeth an opportunity to move and shift and even to become infected.

What the root of a secure tooth does when it is anchored in the jaw is support the bone structure, if the root is pulled out, you will begin to lose bone mass in that area over time and it will become more difficult to get an implant to secure itself in place. The loss of bone mass will begin to change the shape of your face, making your cheeks appear sunken and aged, due to a loss of fullness, but all this can be avoided with dental implants in Bromley.

The single implant

For some people more than one tooth needs replacing, sometimes it’s a whole row, but in the case of an injury resulting in a single missing tooth, your surgery won’t take as long as a major smile replacement, and the healing time will be much quicker.

Once the dentist has made sure the area is clear of debris and is properly prepared for the implant, they will then place the titanium implant into the bone and sew the gum shut once more. Then a temporary tooth is attached to the area, so that you won’t need to worry about your aesthetics while you wait a few months for the bone to fuse with the implant.

At your final appointment, your dentist will check that the fusion process has worked correctly and if the implant is stable then a more permanent tooth is fixed to the abutment which is attached to the implant.

By restoring your mouth to its most natural state, you can boost your confidence with a winning smile that allows you to eat, talk and laugh as you normally used to prior to the accident, also there is no change in lifestyle with dental implants in Bromley. You can clean your teeth as usual, in fact, you may very probably forget that you even have an implant and prosthetic, due to how well they fit and function inside your mouth.

If you have one or several missing teeth then it is time to consider getting dental implants in Bromley. The longer you leave it the more likely the chances are of developing other dental issues that go beyond the aesthetic. We, at Bromley Dental Practice, have a list of options to suit your individual tooth replacement needs and will get you back to having the confident smile you deserve. However before going to your initial appointment we would like to answer as many questions as possible for you, to help put your mind at ease.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants in Bromley are titanium posts that are placed in the jawbone, which mimic the root of a natural tooth. They anchor a false tooth in the mouth with great long-lasting success in the majority of cases, supporting natural looking prostheses for many years.

Dental implants are an important option for replacing missing teeth, because they support the jaw structure, thus avoiding any changes in the facial shape or sunken looking jaws that will make you look older than you are. They are not just there to fill the gap in a smile, although they work seamlessly for that purpose, they are created for overall dental health and longevity helping you continue with life unimpeded. With these implants, you will be able to enjoy all the foods you desire and continue to take care of your oral health in the long run.

What do they feel like?

The surgery itself is performed under local anaesthetic ensuring that you go through the procedure with minimal to no discomfort, it is considered to be gentle, as no force is used as in the case with tooth removal surgery where some force is necessary. Once the implant is in place, the gum will be closed to allow the healing process to take place, and once the swelling goes down after a few days it will feel completely normal.

After surgery

It is normal to feel a little tender after the anaesthetic wears off, and for a few days it is advised that you chew away from the site of the new implant. In the case where a bridge is attached on the same day as the implant surgery, a diet of soft foods will be recommended for a short while. A course of antibiotics and mouthwash will be prescribed to ensure that infection does not occur and about two weeks after surgery you will visit your dentist again for a post-operative check-up, to see how well you are healing and to remove any stitches.

It will take a few months for your bone to fuse to the implant, but in that time a temporary tooth, crown, or bridge will be fixed into place, so that you may go about your life with confidence while you wait for your body to heal.

Consult your dentist about your options for dental implants in Bromley and the many benefits you will receive for taking care of your oral health in this way.

Throughout our lives, our teeth may undergo damage from accidents or things such as tooth decay which causes them to be severely damaged or perhaps even to become entirely missing. When an individual tooth does go missing, this is when Dental Implants in Bromley can help. Dental Implants in Bromley can replace missing or severely damaged teeth, and provide a new, prosthetic tooth that is made out of durable materials such as metal or porcelain to act as a substitute for an old tooth. However, it is also worth thinking about what happens when many or perhaps all of our teeth are broken down or lost. As it turns out, dental implants in Bromley can still be a helpful treatment for those of us who have lost all our teeth. More specifically, a dental implant treatment known as Implant Retained Dentures. This process combines dental implants with the use of dentures to give patients a new set of natural looking and feeling teeth. Today we’ll take a look at implant retained dentures and their treatment process, as well as what potential benefits getting this treatment can have.

If you do end up deciding that you would like to have implant retained dentures for yourself, then you may wish to consider coming to the Bromley Dental Practice for your treatment. Here at the Bromley Dental Practice, we have a team of skilled and caring staff who listen to you, who give you the time and consideration you need to ask questions needed to decide upon treatment. Our track record, particularly the many 5-star reviews we have received on google, further demonstrate our proud reputation for delivering high quality dental treatment in a way that puts you first.

What are Implant retained dentures?

Implant retained dentures are dentures that are held in the mouth through the use of dental implants. They are designed to look and feel just like regular teeth, and there are a number of both cosmetic and health reasons that getting this treatment can be advantageous. Cosmetically speaking, implant retained dentures can be used to give you a great looking new smile with a natural aesthetic, which many recipients of this treatment have found to give them a boost in self-confidence. In terms of health benefits, implant retained dentures are held firmly in place by dental implants, which allows you to chew and break down food effectively. They are also able to distribute the force exerted by chewing evenly across the jawbone which helps to make chewing easier and helps the jawbone to stay in place. Some people have also found that having implant retained dentures helps them to have a clearer pattern of speech.

Implant retained dentures treatment

The implant retained dentures treatment requires a flap of gum to be lifted so that a socket can be inserted into the jawbone. A dental implant can then be fixed to the socket, and this stage of the treatment is then repeated to allow multiple dental implants to be fixed into the mouth (most often this will be two in the lower jaw and four in the upper jaw). What comes next is a process known as osseointegration, where the mouth is given time to heal – usually around three months – to allow the dental implants to properly integrate with the jawbone. Once this integration is complete, the implant retained dentures can be fixed on top of the dental implants which is usually done using a screw.

Tooth loss is rarely something people want to go through. Whether you are 17 or 70, losing one tooth or multiple teeth can be depressing, causing many people to stop smiling as often as they used to.

With all the numerous health benefits associated with smiling, this can be very bad!

Of course, there are solutions to missing teeth; dentures are a mainstay in dentistry, along with fitted bridges. However, both dentures and bridges can move, even with the strongest dental adhesive, creating a less than desirable alternative to having a gap. Also, they often lack bite and can cause difficulties with eating harder foods. Not exactly a great solution!

Luckily, there is an answer. Unless you have been living on a desert island, it is likely that you have heard about oral implants. Fitted to your jaw, implants are a synthetic root for prosthetic teeth, meaning that when you bite into an apple, you won’t be worried about movement!

At Bromley Dental Practice, we are experts at fitting dental implants in Bromley and can help you regain the smile and bite strength that you deserve. We have fitted many patients with implants and have seen their confidence, oral health and well-being improve dramatically. What have you got to lose?

But why should you choose dental implants in Bromley?

Security

As already mentioned, dental implants in Bromley have the added advantage of being fitted in place.

Once your false tooth or teeth are attached, there will be no movement or rubbing against the gums. No movement means more security, allowing you to laugh, smile and eat without a care in the world!

Hygiene

Gaps in your teeth can act like magnets for plaque and bacteria.

If you have a large area of missing teeth, it is likely that you are not brushing that spot correctly, allowing decay-causing bacteria to accumulate. Implants will fill these gaps securely, and stop  plaque building up, leading to an overall healthier mouth! Perfect!

Improved speech

Having something loose in your mouth can cause havoc with your speech. In a similar fashion, gaps in your teeth allow your tongue to move in an unreserved way, creating an identical issue with speaking clearly.

Implants will prevent unwanted tongue movement and, with the additional security of implants, you won’t need to pull odd facial expressions to hold your dentures or bridges in place; what a relief!

Better health

Our teeth are essential for the biting, chewing and grinding of food; like a machine, if there is a cog or spring missing, the machine cannot function correctly.

It is the same for our teeth; if we have one or even a couple missing, we are unable to chew correctly, causing issues with digestion and absorption of nutrients. Having gap-free, secure teeth allows us to chew properly, creating both better digestion and overall health.

Confidence!

No pulling odd faces, no worries about movement or looseness; the main benefit of oral implants is confidence! What more could you want?