Elmsleigh Hub

Dental implants have come a long way since the pioneering work of the Swedish Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark in the late 1950s; data and research from his work have led to a whole new branch of dentistry that has helped transform the lives of millions of people over the past 50 years.

Dental implants can replace one, some, or all your natural teeth, no matter why you have lost them. However, you may need initial preparatory work before your implant can be placed.

One of the greatest obstacles to successful implant treatment is insufficient bone, which is usually due to bone loss from infection or resorption (bone being ‘re-absorbed’ back into the body). Resorption can occur when teeth have been missing for more than a few months. Our experienced dentists can use a range of bone-grafting techniques, appropriate to your needs, to build up bone in areas where it is lacking.

To remain healthy, implants need to be surrounded by healthy gums. If bone resorption or infections have occurred in the past, the gum can be lost or be very thin. Gum-grafting techniques can be used to increase your gum volume, ensuring that the site of your implant is completely healthy before the implants are placed.

Our team are leading experts in dental implant placement, using systems that are recognised for their quality, and techniques that ensure they will last. Our team accepts referrals from other dentists, who send their patients to Elmsleigh House for dental implants and other complex treatment. Our dental implant team also runs training courses to share their knowledge with other dentists.  

Why replace missing teeth?

To preserve your long-term health, and to maintain your ability to chew and enjoy your food, speak clearly, smile and socialise, it is important to replace missing teeth. These problems can impact on your confidence, self-esteem and relationships, which in turn can affect your life.

There is another important reason for replacing missing teeth, which most people do not realise. A missing tooth removes the essential stimulus your jaw bone requires to remain a healthy, vital structure. Without a tooth, your body will often resorb the bone and gum in the area where it has been lost. When bone resorption occurs, your jaw bone gradually shrinks away. The amount and rate of bone, and consequent bone loss, varies among individuals, but the process typically starts immediately after a tooth is lost and continues gradually for the rest of a person’s life.

Without teeth and a healthy jaw bone, the face loses support, wrinkles become exaggerated and the jaw line is affected as loose skin sags. The entire shape of the face can change. The loss of lip support and thinning of the jaw bone causes the nose and chin to come closer together – effects that are associated with extreme ageing.

Many traditional treatments for missing teeth, such as bridges or partial dentures, do not fully address the issue of continuing bone loss and gum shrinkage, which over time can affect both the fit and function of a denture or bridge.

The good news is that high-quality dental implants:

• act like natural teeth

• stimulate the jaw bone sufficiently to prevent it resorbing

• help to preserve the gum and bone

• enable you to have secure, natural-looking and long- lasting replacement teeth

If you are about to lose one or more teeth or have lost teeth in the past and want a better solution than you have now, book a dental implant consultation at Elmsleigh House to find out the best solution for you. Call 01252 713797 or request a callback online.