Implants can be used to retain dentures which will stop your dentures from moving. This can be incredibly useful if your dentist has been unable to make a set of dentures which does not move. Implants can also be used to do away with dentures all together and return you to fixed teeth again. So if you are fed up with your dentures and have to always watch what you can eat, avoiding tough food, then denture free implants can be a great solution. Just imagine being able to bite into a crisp apple or eat a raw carrot! Many dentures have unsightly clips on existing teeth which can now be eliminated with dental implants.

This lady came to The Dental Implant Clinic with a very loose upper denture. Four implants were used to fix her denture so firmly that she can now bite an apple, and to restore her smile. Any denture, big or small, can now be replaced with dental implants. This will allow you to chew all of your favourite foods with no food escaping under the denture.

Implants are so strong that they can be used to permanently replace your bridge, as shown in this picture:

Implants do not pull on the surrounding teeth, nor do they cause the premature aging effect of a bridge as they preserve gum and bone.

If an existing crowned tooth is becoming a liability and your dentist is unable to reliably fix the problem, many patients are now choosing to have the problem tooth carefully removed and replaced with a much more reliable and stronger dental implant. An example of this problem and its solution is given in the patient story of Robert Bates, who had a front crown that kept coming out. Click here to read about his successful treatment at The Dental Implant Clinic.

This patient had four decayed and abcessed front teeth which needed to be extracted. This is the finished result after her teeth were replaced with dental implants.

Don’t worry! Missing second teeth is quite a common occurrence. Indeed six percent of children have some second teeth that do not ever develop. It is best to seek professional help as soon as missing teeth have been identified. You will need to see an orthodontist and an implantologist so that a plan can be put forward that will minimize the impact of the missing teeth. If a back tooth that is missing then this is less of a problem; often the baby tooth can be left in situ for many years to come. It may well last until around age forty! It is very common for upper lateral incisors (second from the front) to never develop.

The management of these missing teeth requires careful planning with an orthodontic/implant team approach. At The Dental Implant Clinic, Dr. Tony Ireland, a Consultant Orthodontist, works closely with Dr. Jonathan Schofield to manage the treatment of many young people with missing second teeth. These before and after photographs of a young girl with missing upper lateral incisors illustrate why dental implants are such a great solution for missing second teeth:

This girl did not develop her upper lateral incisors, as discussed above. She chose to have her missing teeth replaced with dental implants, because they are strong and long-lasting. She was aware that any other option would not have been as durable, nor as natural looking.

Although modern Implantology began in Sweden in the late 60’s, popularity really grew throughout the UK in the 1980’s. The team at The Dental Implant Clinic has been placing dental implants since 1993.

No. Any person at any age can have dental implants as long as there is enough bone available in which to place the dental implants. If there is not enough bone, extra bone can often be grafted.

• Your new dental implant will look and feel like natural teeth.
• With dental implants you will have more confidence to smile and even be able to bite an apple!
• Dental implants can replace a removable denture with fixed teeth.
• Dental implants stop your gums and bone from shrinking which reduces the aging effect caused by losing teeth.

We understand it can be embarrassing for patients to be without their teeth. During the treatment we will ensure that you will always smile confidently and that nobody will know you have a gap.

We work closely with our patients to ensure that they feel no discomfort during the placement of the dental implant. This is through using an effective local anaesthetic. Post-operatively we supply painkillers to ensure that our patients remain comfortable. We also offer Sedation if you want to know nothing about your treatment.

For routine cases treatment time is usually ten weeks. More complex cases can take longer. For instance, when there is sufficient bone, treatment time is shortened and when there is insufficient bone, treatment time can be increased. Your specific treatment schedule will be explained to you during your consultation.

Yes, they can, and once dental implants have been placed the bone can even become stronger.

Yes. As part of our consultation we will screen your gums and bone for any infections. Prior to implant placement your remaining teeth and gums need to be healthy.

Some of our patients prefer to have the dental implants placed under sedation. A sedative can be carefully administered to relax you during the treatment, and ensure that you remember nothing about it afterwards.

It is essential that you continue to see your own dentist and your hygienist for regular check-ups. Clinical studies have shown that a yearly review with your implantologist is best for the longevity of your implants.