What
are implants?
Implants are one way of replacing missing teeth.
A post is planted in the jaw bone to support
a replacement tooth. This acts like the root
of a natural tooth. Implants can also be used
to support fixed bridges or dentures.
Implant treatment has two stages. First, the
implant is placed in the jaw. Then, when the
jaw has healed, replacement teeth are attached
to the implant.
What will my dentist
do?
First, you should decide whether implants could be right for you. Ask your dentist
about the stages of treatment, about who would be carrying out each stage and
the timetable for completing treatment.
If you decide
to go ahead, this is what will happen.
Implants
are put into holes in the jaw with a local
or general anaesthetic.
The implant is screwed
or pushed in and the gum is stitched so
that it heals over the implant
Under the
gum. the bone then grows round the implant
to hold it firm. This takes several months.
Implants usually have two
sections - the post in the jaw and an extension
that is added later when the post is secure.
Attaching the extension needs a small cut
in the gum above the implant. You might
have more than one implant. The replacement
teeth might be fixed permanently (like
a crown or bridge) or attached in a way
which lets you remove them for cleaning
(like a denture).
Sometimes, there will be
a gap below the tooth so that the implant
can be kept clean, but people won’t
see it
