Millions of adults in the UK suffer from missing teeth and the negative effect this can have on your smile and subsequently your self-confidence. Missing teeth can affect:

• Your ability to eat the food you enjoy
• Chewing, placing extra strain on neighbouring teeth
• Damage to neighbouring teeth, if missing teeth are replaced with bridges
• Cause pain and embarrassment, if your teeth are replaced with a denture that moves when you eat or speak
• Cause bone loss in your jawbone, affecting the stability of neighbouring teeth

The traditional solutions to missing teeth were bridges, partial or full dentures, but each of these treatment options can bring its own associated problems.

Implants are fixed in place and do not slip or move. They look, feel and function exactly like natural teeth, are cleaned with a toothbrush and toothpaste and are undetectable to friends or colleagues.

Implants support neighbouring teeth and prevent bone loss, and with correct care and good hygiene your implant could last a lifetime.

A dental implant is a titanium insert, which replaces the root portion of your missing tooth. Implants are a well-established treatment option and we have been placing them at our clinic for more than 22 years.

Implants can be used to replace any number of teeth, from a single missing tooth, up to an entire set. At your implant consultation appointment you will meet your implant dentist and together discuss the outcomes you wish to achieve, this will be the basis for your individual treatment plan.

Once the implant is placed the jaw bone starts to fuse with the surface of the titanium insert, this process is called osseointegration, and is the reason why implants are so secure and offer a long-term, low maintenance solution to missing teeth.

The dental implant which replaces a single missing tooth is made up of three separate parts: the titanium insert, which replaces the root; the abutment, which projects above the gum line and connects the titanium insert to the final element; the crown. Each porcelain crown is individually handmade to accurately match your neighbouring teeth and look and feel as natural as possible in your mouth.

For patients with a number of adjacent missing teeth we can design solutions which minimise surgery, by selecting the best possible position for the titanium insert and replacing the single crown with a multi-tooth crown. Implants can also be used to stabilise partial or full denture sets.

Can anyone have dental implants?
Dental implants are the best solution to missing teeth for most people, but there are some medical conditions and medicines, such as biophosphonates, which will mean you cannot have implants. Some patients require bone or sinus grafts prior to implant, but we can provide this necessary preparatory treatment at our clinic too.

Do dental implants hurt?
During surgery you will be given a local anaesthetic and offered sedation, which will leave you drowsy and comfortable. You will leave our clinic with pain killers, but most patients report feeling minimal pain or discomfort as they heal.

Are implants safe? How long will they last?
Dental implants are a tried and tested treatment. We have more than 22 years experience of placing implants at our clinic and we have seen that with good oral hygiene your dental implants could last a lifetime.

Are the implanted teeth difficult to clean?
Cleaning around the crowns attached to the dental implants is no more difficult than cleaning natural teeth. You need to care for implanted teeth as you would for natural teeth, so we recommend regular dental check-ups and hygiene appointments to support your home care regime.

Can I take the teeth out if they are fixed to dental implants?
Artificial teeth attached to implants can only be placed and removed by a dentist. However, over-dentures fixed on dental implants are designed to be removed for daily cleaning.

How long does the treatment take to complete?
Dental Implant treatment usually requires 6-12 visits to our clinic and should not take more than eight months. Whilst your implant treatment is taking place we will adjust and re-fit any false teeth or dentures, to ensure that your missing teeth cannot be seen.

I’ve heard about ‘all-on-four’ and ‘smile-in-a-day’ do you offer something similar?
If you really don’t want to wear a temporary denture whilst your implants are healing please ask us to check whether you’re suitable to have your implants and provisional crowns and bridges fitted in a single appointment. If you are, you will leave our clinic with a new smile, but you will need to come back for checks, to ensure that correct healing is taking place and for your final crowns and bridges to be made and fitted.

Can I have a tooth extracted and have a dental implant placed at the same time?
Yes, if the bone depth and density is sufficient an implant can be placed immediately following an extraction, but you would not normally have a crown fitted until bone integration has taken place.

Will I need an implant for each missing tooth?
No, unless you’re only having a single tooth replaced. Normally, four, six or eight implants are used to replace all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw.

After your initial implant consultation you will be sent a full personal treatment plan, which explains all of the options, stages of treatment and costs involved. The following information provides a guide to our treatment options and implant fees.

Implant Advantage Consultation: our unique consultation, with your implant dentist, to discuss your desired outcome and help you understand all of the treatment options available to restore confidence in your smile. This one-hour appointment includes any necessary x-rays and colour photographs and costs £150.

Fixed implant: replacing a single tooth costs from £3,250.

Fixed implant and bone regeneration: replacing a single tooth, with additional treatment to regenerate missing bone, costs from £4,250.

Full upper or lower jaw reconstruction: replacing 12 teeth in your upper or lower jaw, using four-six implants to hold cosmetic, non-removable bridgework, costs from £15,000.

Stabilised full upper or lower jaw denture: using two-four implants to stabilise a removable denture in either the upper or lower jaw costs from £7,500.