Dental Implants in Kingston-Upon-Thames

Have you have lost a tooth of late and you’re looks with it? Then help is at hand in the form of a dental implant, as a dentist from Kingston-Upon-Thames explains. Vanity aside, it’s not always necessary to replace a missing tooth depending on where the tooth was and how it was lost. If the tooth was lost due to a trauma or injury, the teeth either side of the gap may start to move and loosen, leading to gum disease and infection. In this case, a dentist may well advise you to replace the missing tooth. One such method is a dental implant. Implants have come a long way over the last twenty years and procedures a lot more refined. In brief, a titanium screw is anchored into the bone structure to act as a root, to which the tooth, dental bridge or crown can be attached. If you are missing several teeth, then several implants may be required. Before implants can be fitted, a dentist will check your mouth for signs of gum disease which must be treated before the procedure can go ahead. Then after x-rays to check the bone structure (in some cases, bone grafts may be necessary), the dentist will cut a flap into the gum and drill into the bone, screw in the new ‘root’ and stitch the gum back. The fusing process can take up to 6 months and during this healing process, hygiene is of the utmost importance. (Heavy drinking and smoking can stop the gums from healing properly and teeth grinding can hinder fusing). When the gums have healed, they are lifted again and a temporary crown is attached for a further 4 weeks until the gums have matured and then the final restoration can be fitted to the implant. If this explanation hasn’t disturbed you, implants can be expensive- up to £2000 per tooth. But the benefits are rewarding and your looks will return!