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A lot of people have to live with the long-term issue of missing teeth, with solutions like partial dentures or space retainers offering only limited satisfactory results. When crowning or other restorative measures are not available for badly damaged teeth what else can be done?

My use of dental implants Cambridge can return the function and aesthetics of a tooth long lost. Giving you back your confidence, resolving issues with pronunciation or eating and without the maintenance or inconvenience of removable false teeth.

Dental restoratives

The first thought many patients have about replacement teeth is to have dentures or partial bridges. They are affordable and well established in many clinics. But their discomfort is well known and the wide range of anti-rubbing products is often and rightly seen as a bad sign. The normal forces and stresses that teeth are under are transmitted through the roots into the jawbone. When teeth are lost and replaced by a denture those forces are spread out over the gum’s surface and, with a well fitting denture, this can be easily tolerated. Unfortunately due to the lack of forces being transmitted into the jawbone, placing it under extreme load, it begins to recede. Its calcium content is recycled and it diminishes. This shrinks the jawbone and the gum above it. Previously well fitting dentures become loose and as they become loose they rub during eating and talking. The sensitive thin skin of the gum soon becomes sore and can become a chronic source of ulcers as displayed by some of the patients at my practice.

Implants compared to dentures

Unlike other oral prosthetics like dentures and removable bridges, the dental implants Cambridge I provide are designed to be permanently in place in your jaw. They also attempt to replicate the entire tooth, not just the crown, but also the root. The lower half of the implant below the gum line is a titanium peg; this artificial root extends into the jawbone itself and forms a very close association with living bone in a process known as osseointegration, which is usually seen in surgical pins. Giving oral implants the structure and capacity to replace teeth that have been long ago lost, unlike crowns or onlays which are built up on damaged teeth.

What’s it like getting dental implants?

Assuming you pass all of my pre-screening for dental implants Cambridge the procedure usually occurs over two sessions at my practice. In the first, the implant is placed into the jawbone and the gum is closed over the top. After this, it is normal to experience sensitivity and a bruised sensation, eating should be restricted to soft foods and as far as possible away from the site. After the first month, your mouth should feel back to normal. The implant is still being integrated into the jawbone; this can take anywhere between 6 to 12 months and is confirmed by me with an X-ray.

Once integration has been confirmed, the implant can be loaded. This involves the reopening of the gum and the crown portion of the implant added to the root section and locked in place by a device known as the connector. This will keep the implant together during everyday use, but allows the crown section to be detached by me, as your dentist, in the event that it becomes damaged or requires replacement in the future. Dental implants really can change your mouth functioning for the better, making normal activities such as eating and speaking far more comfortable. I am happy to explain this procedure to any patient, as their oral health is my priority.