Dental Implants

These are some of the benefits of dental implants:

• Each implant resembles a natural tooth in appearance, feel, and functionality.
• Dental implants are extremely strong, sturdy, and long-lasting.
• They require little maintenance.
• Since a dental implant is a permanent tooth replacement, it eliminates the mobility and discomfort associated with a removable artificial replacement tooth.
• They ensure that adjacent teeth don’t shift, preventing alignment problems.
• They keep the bones healthy and stimulate bone regeneration.

Our teeth are designed to function and work together. Missing one or more teeth can affect speaking and eating and may cause other issues over time. Having difficulty chewing your food may cause you to eat on one side of your mouth or eat much more slowly. This may affect your jaw muscles and facial muscles.

Your mouth can shift when you lack teeth, which may cause changes to your facial features. The extra space may also cause the remaining teeth to shift and compensate for the lost teeth. This can lead to other problems, such as tooth sensitivity, difficulty chewing, and tooth grinding.

Oral habits, such as smoking and tooth grinding, and existing chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, must be taken into account for best results. It would be best if you also committed to maintaining proper oral hygiene and visiting your dentist on a regular basis. Smiles in Currambine must assess each patient on an individual basis, so if you’re considering dental implants, give us a call.

Generally, ideal candidates for dental implants are patients who:

1. are in good enough oral health for extraction or dental surgery,
2. have no major health issues,
3. have a sound jawbone and healthy gums, and
4. do not have gum disease.

• Patients who are getting implants to replace missing teeth are common candidates for bone grafts. Bone grafting is often required to provide a strong enough foundation for an implant.
• The procedure of bone grafting may be necessary even if you aren’t getting an implant, if you have suffered tooth loss or gum disease that has led to the loss of bone. The gums and surrounding teeth can deteriorate as a result of bone loss. Using a bone graft to stabilise the jaw can prevent further loss of bone and the long-term dental health problems associated with it.
• An injured jaw or an infection caused by poor dental hygiene may also require a bone graft.

An initial consultation appointment with our dentists will include a detailed explanation of dental implants. Our dentists will also examine your teeth, gums, and jawbone. They may recommend taking clinical photographs, radiographs, 3D scans, and impressions in order to determine your suitability for dental implants and whether you have adequate bone structure to support the actual implant.

Dental implants are typically safe and have a very high success rate. There may be some risks associated with them, but they are rare and treatable. Among them are:

• Implant sites can become infected during or after the dental procedure. You may be more susceptible to infection if you smoke, have an autoimmune disease, or have poor oral hygiene.
• Implants can fail if there is no adequate bone structure to support them, yet the surgical procedure was completed. Without sufficient bone, implants can not fuse with the jaw.
• Due to insufficient stability, it is possible for a dental implant to move after an immediate tooth replacement.
• In rare cases, the human body may reject the implant. The symptoms of rejection include pain in the implant area, swelling, fever, and chills.
• A dental implant may come loose as a result of an injury in the surrounding area.
• A reaction to the titanium alloy in dental implants can occur if you are allergic to it. Allergic symptoms include swelling, tingling, and loss of taste.
• An implant placed in the upper jaw may protrude into the sinus cavity when it is placed between the jaw and the sinus cavity.
• A dental surgeon may damage a nerve or adjacent tissue if they place an implant too close to a nerve. Nerve damage can cause tingling or numbness in the gums, tongue, lips, or face.

The procedure for dental implants is done in phases over the course of several months, usually 3-6 months. Typically, an implant treatment consists of four to five procedures, each lasting about an hour or two, over the course of several months to give the human body time to adjust.

The price of dental implants may vary depending on the type and difficulty of the case. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Smiles in Currambine for a free consultation (*terms and conditions apply). As our dentists assess your individual needs, they will work with our dental treatment coordinator to offer you the most affordable solution. We provide flexible payment plans, and your health fund provider may cover some of the treatment costs.

Dental implant procedures are carried out by dentists who are trained and experienced in performing them safely and without increased risk. Dental implant procedures can also be performed by oral surgeons and periodontists. Periodontists concentrate on the supporting structures of the teeth and have more specialised training in dental implant placement. Oral surgeons specialise in oral surgery and may be required if bone grafting treatment is required before a dental implant procedure. As a result, they may be required to assist a dentist during the placement of a dental implant.

Most dental implant procedures use titanium alloys. Since titanium is a biocompatible material, these implants are considered safe. The body is able to accept and work with titanium implants. Unlike other metals, titanium is long-lasting, does not irritate your jaw or gums, and is absorbed by your bones as if it were a natural element of your body. There is no extra care required for titanium implants. Maintaining good oral hygiene will make your dental implants durable and dependable for many years to come.

A titanium dental implant is not recommended if you are allergic or sensitive to metals. Nickel, iron, lead, zinc, and copper, among other metals, are used to make titanium implants. There is an alternative treatment modality. Zirconia implants, for example, are biocompatible and almost metal-free.