Dental Implants

Dental implants are the most advanced solution to single, multiple and total tooth loss available to date

Mimicking the performance of the missing tooth root better than any other restorative treatment to date, dental implants form a solid foundation for a prosthetic tooth replacements such as crowns, bridges or dentures.

Surgical placement of dental implants

Our highly experienced team generally performs dental implant placement under local anaesthesia or other forms of sedation to ensure patient comfort throughout the procedure. At Norwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery our team will then precisely place the implant into the jawbone at the site of tooth loss. This surgery generally takes around half an hour for a single implant.

What can be expected after dental implant placement?

Most patients experience minimal discomfort after surgical placement and regular painkillers are recommended to minimise any feelings of discomfort. We recommend patients take the whole day off work, and if they have undertaken intravenous sedation or general anaesthetic they must not drive or operate machinery for 24 hours and 48 hours after surgery respectively.

What is a sinus lift?

Sometimes, if a tooth is not replaced for a long period of time, the bone under the site of the missing tooth will shrink. As dental implants are inserted into the bone of the jaw, if there is not sufficient bone, a sinus lift may be required. This process involves adding more material to the jaw so that an implant is possible. You can find out more about it here.

What is bone grafting?

Bone grafting is the process used when bone material needs to be collected to add to the jaw bone. This can be taken from inside your mouth, bovine bone material or even your hip. Find more information about bone grafting here.

What post-operative care should be taken?

It is highly important to keep the surgical site as clean as possible for the first few weeks after the placement of implants. It is recommended that patients keep the area free from debris by utilising mouthwash or warm salt water.

Advantages of dental implants

If you have experienced tooth loss, then you should consider getting dental implants. Dental implants have a number of benefits, such as:

• Natural looking appearance
• Improvement to your speech
• Easier to chew and eat
• Durability
• Long-term fixture (unlike the hassle of removable dentures, implants are fixed.)

Taking care of dental implants

You should take care of a dental implant like you would any other tooth. Practice proper oral hygiene with twice daily brushing, flossing and following a diet that is minimal in sugary foods and drink. This will keep your dental implant healthy and functioning for many years to come. Some implants have even been known to last a lifetime.