Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots which are made from titanium and positioned in the jaw by means of a minor oral surgical procedure. The titanium implant is left to bond with the bone in a process known as osseointegration, forming an extremely solid foundation to support a dental crown.

Implants may be placed individually or in multiples depending on the number of missing teeth. An entire jaw can be restored, sometimes with only 4 implants. This is known as the All-on-4 Technique.

When the implant has integrated securely, usually after a period of around three or four months, a very high precision support collar called an abutment is attached, followed by a dental crown. This leaves the patient with a natural looking and extremely strong replacement tooth.

This will depend on any prior work that may need to be done before the dental implant is placed. Some patients who have significant bone loss in the area where the implant is required may need a bone graft prior to the implant procedure. Your dentist will speak to you about what to expect from your surgery.

The fusing period (osseointegration) usually takes around four to six months for upper jaw implants and between three and four months for lower jaw implants. In addition to this, impressions or scans are needed in order to design and manufacture the crowns to attach to the implant. This manufacturing process typically takes around two weeks.

Dental implants have an extremely high success rate, but in the few cases where they do fail, this is primarily because of poor oral care on the part of the patient. We will advise you on how to keep the area clean and generally look after your new implant once it has been placed, so you are more likely to enjoy long-lasting results from your investment.

It’s important to remember that these first few months are critical for the long term health of your dental implants. We offer aftercare options to prolong the life of your implants and will always be available to discuss any concerns you may have post-surgery.

Placing a dental implant is generally a minor surgical procedure. It’s performed using a powerful local anaesthetic, so any pain will be minimised.

Patients often remark how surprised they were at the small amount of discomfort involved, with many saying it was no more uncomfortable than other dental procedures. So, it’s certainly not something you need to fear!

Naturally, you should expect some soreness and possibly some localised swelling and bruising for a short period following the procedure. Any discomfort should be manageable with regular painkillers.

Because of the costly materials involved plus the additional years of training needed to perform implant placement, it would be untrue to describe this as a cheap procedure. However, at Y Bont Faen, we have a range of payment plans available to help you spread the cost. As a dental implant can potentially last for twenty years or even more, it works out to be relatively inexpensive over time.

Dental implants are the only permanent solution of their kind. Dentures and dental bridges are other options with shorter lifespans. Neither of these solutions remains fixed in the mouth in the same way as implants, and bridges in particular can damage the surrounding teeth, as they are reliant on them for support and security.