DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dental implants are used to replace a missing tooth or teeth. They are small metal screws that are placed into the jawbone to act like artificial tooth roots. Over time, they fuse to the jawbone and false, yet natural-looking tooth is fitted on top.
Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, full upper arch or lower arch.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Natural looking False teeth
Implants are covered with crowns (prostheses) that match the color, shape and size of the rest of your teeth, so they look and feel good.
Long lasting and Fixed
With proper care, implants can last more than 10 years. Because it is attached to the jawbone, there is no need to take it off to eat, sleep or fear of falling.
Prevent Bone loss
The roots of the teeth play an important role in stimulating the underlying jaw. Missing teeth leads to bone loss, which in turn leads to changes in the shape of your face (jawline) and makes you look older. Implants continue to stimulate the jaw and prevent further bone loss.
Enjoy your favourite foods
You may struggle to eat hard foods such as meats, apples etc due to missing teeth. Dental implants restore your normal bite and allow you to enjoy your favourite foods.
Keep adjacent teeth stable and untouched
Teeth adjacent to missing teeth move to fill gap and need to be prepared with alternative treatments such as bridges or dentures. Early dental implant placement to fill missing teeth will reduce risk of damage to adjacent teeth.
Stages of Dental Implant Procedure
Stage 1: Assessment & Treatment Planning
Your dentist will fully evaluate your mouth and discuss all of your treatment options with you.
Once you’ve decided what would be best for you, your dentist will create a personalised treatment plan, including an expected timescale for implant process and costs involved.
Stage 2: Implant Placement
Dental implants are usually placed under local anaesthesia and most patients tolerate this minor surgical procedure without the need for sedation.
Conscious sedation can be arranged at additonal cost for very anxious patients.
During the procedure, your dentist will place the implant into the bone.
Stage 3: Healing
The time needed for healing will vary from 6 weeks to 6 months depending on patient.
False tooth can be fitted at the time of implant placement itself or the gums and bone are left to heal for 6 weeks to 6 months before attaching false tooth.
In these cases, a temporary tooth may be provided, so you will not be left with a gap.
Our implant specialist will discuss these options at the time of treatment planning.
Stage 4: Restoration
This involves attaching the false tooth (or teeth) to the dental implant. The restoration will have usually been made by a dental technician, specifically for your mouth matching color, shape and size of the rest of your teeth.
Stage 5: Maintenance
It is important that the dental implant and surrounding gums are kept clean. You will be given oral hygiene instructions.
You will need regular dental checkups to ensure your dental implants are in good condition.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions
In some cases, the restoration (false tooth) can be fitted during the same appointment that the dental implant is placed. In other cases, time is needed for the mouth to heal before a restoration is fitted – this can be anything from two days to six months. Your dentist will let you know what you’ll require during the planning of your treatment.
Costs of dental implants vary depending on how complex the treatment is. Our Implant Specialist will provide a full breakdown of costs as part of the planning stage of treatment. Single tooth implants cost from £3000 onwards, while a full upper and lower arch would cost £15000.
We offer interest free finance for 24 months to spread the cost of your treatment over 12,18 or 24 months. If you need a longer term (36, 48 or 60 months), finance is available at 9.9% APR.
Dental implant treatment is a cutting-edge procedure. It requires further training and extensive skill by the dentist in order to place dental implants safely and effectively. Cost is also dependent of type and number of implant, brand of implant and need for additional procedures such as bone grafting. Some providers may offer a very competitive price, please check the type and brand of implant being offered as part of treatment qoute.
This procedure involves building up the bone for a dental implant to be placed. It may be required in patients who have very
thin or narrow jaw bones. Our Implant Specialist willbe able to provide more details of what the process will involve for you if required at the treatment planning stage.
Book your Free Consultation with our Implant Specialist
Dr Nyi Lay Maung BDS, MSc, MSc, PhD
Nyi began his career in his hometown, Yangon, Myanmar, after excelling in his BDS in 1994-95. His academic journey led him to earn a PhD in Preventive and Restorative Dentistry from the National University of Singapore and an MSc in Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry from the University of Manchester. In 2010, he delved into implant dentistry, undertaking various courses and ultimately achieving an MSc in Implant Dentistry from the University of Bristol in 2020.
Nyi practices General, Esthetic and implant dentistry. He served as a clinical teacher at King’s College, London, from 2012 to 2023 and has contributed significantly as an examiner for LDS RCS and ORE examinations (Overseas dentist registration exam) and mentoring newly registered dentists as a clinical supervisor.