Treatment Spotlight: Dental Implants
Treatment Spotlight: Dental Implants
If you’ve lost a tooth or multiple teeth, dental implants could be the ideal solution for you. Dental implants have the appearance of natural teeth and also provide the same functionality - allowing you to eat, talk and smile with confidence.
Read on to discover more about dental implants - and contact your local National Dental Care Group practice to take the first step towards your dental implant treatment.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a device made of strong titanium that acts as an artificial tooth root. The implant is inserted into your jawbone in order to replace a missing tooth and remains in place at all times.
As dental implants are designed to look and function just like your natural teeth, they are a great option for restoring both your smile and normal mouth function if you’re missing a tooth or teeth.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants are a popular choice for people who are self-conscious about their missing teeth or want to restore the function of their mouth.
Here are some of the benefits of choosing dental implants to replace a missing tooth:
- Dental implants are a natural-looking solution that are carefully manufactured to imitate the appearance and function of your real teeth.
- Dental implants are more secure than traditional removable dentures.
- Implants don’t rely on the surrounding teeth for support. This means that if you encounter problems with a neighbouring tooth, there is less chance of it causing issues with your implant.
- Unlike dental bridges, implant surgery doesn’t require any modifications to the surrounding teeth.
- As dental implants affix to the bone, they are more comfortable than dentures.
What’s involved in dental implant surgery?
To determine the optimal position of your implant, the procedure begins with implant planning using advanced 3D imaging technology to virtually place your implants into the correct position.
Next, digital modelling is used to virtually reconstruct the missing tooth, before confirming the ideal implant placement with special computer guides.
Before your implant can be inserted, you may require a bone grafting procedure to prepare your jawbone for the implant. Bone grafting is performed under local anaesthetic and involves fusing substitute bone (from your own body or an artificial bone) with existing bone to generate new bone growth.
Once the jawbone has healed, your implant will be inserted into the gum line and the surgeon will attach the artificial tooth.
How long does dental implant treatment take?
The amount of time your dental implant treatment will take depends on where in your mouth the implant is being inserted, as well as whether you need to undergo bone grafting beforehand. With the surgery itself, implanting the artificial tooth root only takes around 1-2 hours.
Including healing time, the entire procedure for dental implants generally takes around four months for implants placed in the front lower jaw, around nine months for the back upper jaw, and around six months for elsewhere in the mouth. If bone needs to be grown or grafted, the treatment will take longer.
How much do dental implants cost?
The cost of dental implants depends on a number of different factors. Your National Dental Care Group practitioner can advise you on the cost of your dental implants and what the process will involve.
You may also be eligible for SmileFund - our interest-free payment plan for treatments up to $20,000. Click here to learn more about SmileFund.
If you’re ready to transform your smile with dental implants, contact your local National Dental Care Group practice - you can book an appointment online today.