If you are in your 40s, this can be a time when some of your teeth can start to fail. It may just be one or two, perhaps because you grind them at night and they are crumbling away. Whatever the reason, you are now at a crossroads and must decide how to replace those teeth.

At Bromley Dental Practice, we are great believers in finding the best method for each person’s circumstances, and that includes their budget. People tend to think of dental implants in Bromley as being the expensive option for tooth replacement, but if you are in your 40s, they could work out to be the best value.

Fully functional restorations

Firstly, let’s be clear – in terms of giving you restorations that mimic your natural teeth as closely as possible, dental implants do this far better than dentures or fixed bridges can. This is because only dental implants replace the root of the tooth. Dentures rely on adherence to the gums for their stability, and bridges are fixed to neighbouring teeth. What this means is that dental implants, which actually integrate with the jawbone, give you back 100% of your chewing power. You can eat what you like. Nothing is off limits.

A long-term solution

The other great thing about dental implants is how long they last. It is also important that your dentist uses a world-leading brand of implants. At Bromley Dental Practice, we use Straumann implants, which have an excellent record and high success rate.

You also need to take good care of your implants, and then you can expect them to last for 15 years, and maybe even for the rest of your life.

Compare that to the lifetime of dentures and bridges, both of which have to be replaced every 7-10 years. If you are in your 40s, you could be looking at having to replace them four or five times. Couple the costs with the pluses of what you can eat, and it’s easy to see why more and more people are choosing dental implants in Bromley.

Drop into the surgery today and find out more about this stable and durable method of tooth restoration.

Are you considering dental implants in Bromley? If so then you probably have loads of questions you’d like to ask about treatment. Even though dental implants are a great way to replace teeth lost to disease or trauma, treatment can take several months or more to complete; it is not a quick fix. However properly maintained dental implants can be completely problem-free for many years or possibly for life.

They are still regarded as being the best and most reliable way to replace lost teeth, largely due to the way the implant replicates a natural tooth root. It not only anchors the replacement tooth firmly in position, but also manages to halt bone loss in the jaw. This is hugely important as bone loss can affect the stability of your remaining teeth, and the overall dimensions of your face. If you lose bone then you will lose some of the vertical height, creating the effect that the face is beginning to collapse inwards.

So can anyone have dental implants? Although the majority of people will be able to have this treatment, there are some who would be better off considering other options. This might be the case if you are a heavy smoker or drinker, as both of these habits make it much harder for the body to heal, increasing the risk of implant failure. You also need to be in reasonable dental health as any active gum disease must be treated before you can go ahead with surgery.

If you have any conditions that affect your immune system, or are receiving radiotherapy then dental implants in Bromley may not be the most sensible way forward. Lots of people grind or clench their teeth, but if this applies to you then it’s best to get this problem sorted out before you have dental implants. Dr Zaki Bashir can easily diagnose this issue for you, and treatment might be as simple as wearing a night guard.

The next step is to see how much bone you have available to hold the dental implants in position. Each dental implant needs to be surrounded by several millimetres of strong and healthy bone, and the way we determine this is to carry out various diagnostic tests. Dental x-rays and a CT scan will show us exactly what is going on in your jaw bone, and this information enables dentist in Bromley to precisely pinpoint the best location for your dental implants.

If you don’t have enough bone then it isn’t the end of the world, as it is possible to graft more bone onto your jawbone to ensure it has sufficient height and width to support the implants. Sometimes this is done as a separate procedure, and you will need to wait a few months for the bone to integrate with your existing bone, but if only a small amount is require then it might be possible to place the bone graft and the dental implant at the same time.

Deciding to have dental implants can be quite a big decision and we want you to feel as fully informed as possible. We always encourage our patients to ask all the questions they’d like.

Dentures are an affordable, fast but less than perfect way to replace missing teeth. Some people will find them easy and comfortable to wear, but quite a few will struggle, and this can get worse after having them for several years. So what is the solution? In fact you have a couple of choices, as you could enquire about having new dentures made at Bromley Dental Practice, or even having your old ones relined if they are still in reasonable condition. Alternatively you might want to find out about having dental implants in Bromley.

Replacing or Relining Old Dentures

Dentures tend to last between three and six years before they need replacing. During this time the ridge that used to support your teeth will gradually change shape. It will become flatter and less able to offer any retention to your denture. At the same time your denture might begin to show signs of wear and tear, as they can become broken or cracked, and denture teeth may look worn. One way to extend the life of your denture is to have it relined, a process that renews the fitting surface of the denture (the surface nearest your gums) so it is less likely to move around and should feel more comfortable. However this does not address the real problem which is the flatter bony ridge that will continue to be reabsorbed by the body, gradually offering less and less retention.

Dental Implants: A More Permanent Solution for Loose Dentures

Quite a few people still assume dental implants are an expensive option for securing dentures, but this isn’t really the case. An entire arch can usually be secured with just a few well-placed dental implants, and the results can significantly enhance quality of life. You’ll have two different options when using dental implants to get rid of an ill-fitting conventional denture. You can choose to have an implant retained denture which can be taken out for daily cleaning, or if you prefer you can opt for a fixed bridge which will be permanently cemented or screwed in position and which can only be removed by Dr Zaki Bashir. While some people will prefer to have a removable appliance, others might find the idea of a fixed bridge more appealing. These are things you will have to discuss with your dentist in Bromley, as they will be able to explain the pros and cons of each treatment.

So where do you start when trying to decide on a new denture or dental implants? Your best bet is to make an appointment for a consultation with your dentist in Bromley. They can take you through each option, step-by-step. If you decide to go for dental implants, you will need a more thorough consultation to assess your dental health and your general health. Dental implants do require quite a bit of planning, and although it’s true the whole process will take longer to complete than a conventional denture, the results will be well worth it. Imagine having teeth that stay in position as firmly as natural teeth, and being able to enjoy all those foods you currently have to avoid. The solution could be just a phone call away, so why not find out more today?

Most people will want to have the nicest smile they can, but not everyone wants to spend a lot of money achieving this. Although some people might need more extensive treatments such as dental implants in Bromley, others may only require minor modifications to their smile, and this is often quite easy and affordable to do. For example, Dr Zaki Bashir may be able to recommend treatments that only take a couple of visits to complete, and which won’t cost a fortune. The results can often be pretty amazing, and will do a lot to give your smile a quick and easy boost. These treatments can include renewing old fillings or using dental bonding and recontouring to slightly change the shape of your teeth and of course teeth whitening is always popular.

A Quick Consultation Can Tell You More

Your first step should be to book a consultation with Dr Bashir for his professional opinion. A quick check-up will determine if you need any fillings renewed, and will make sure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for teeth whitening. Your Bromley dentist can provide you with a treatment plan, showing recommended procedures plus the costs.

Spreading the Costs of Treatment

Treatments offered at the Bromley Dental Practice are all very reasonably priced, and we do offer patients interest free financing for work costing more than £350. It is entirely down to you as to how much or how little you decide to have done. It might be that you just need to have your teeth professionally cleaned. This procedure thoroughly cleans all the old tartar from your teeth, a substance that can look slightly yellow, before the teeth are polished to give them a bit of a sparkle. It is amazing what a difference this can make, as some surface stains will be removed, and it is great for keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

If you decide to opt for renewing old fillings, then this can usually be completed in one visit. The process uses composite resin that comes in many different shades so your filling can be closely matched to your natural teeth. This is perfect for renewing old white fillings that have become stained, or for replacing older style silver amalgam fillings. The same composite resin is used to bond teeth, a procedure that can repair any small chips or cracks, or which can build up the overall shape of a tooth that is too small or irregularly shaped. This is often combined with enamel recontouring, where a very small amount of tooth enamel is removed to recontour the tooth. This technique can sometimes be used to correct teeth that are very slightly overlapping or which are slightly out of line.

Bromley Dental Practice uses the Zoom whitening system, as it is one of the most effective and extensively tested systems on the market. You can comfortably whiten your teeth in just an hour, or alternatively use our custom made whitening trays to bleach your teeth at home. Some people will use both treatments to get the brightest and best results possible.

Lots of people have lost all their teeth in either the upper or lower jaw, or both jaws. As a result dentures are still a popular and affordable way of replacing all the teeth in the mouth, but they are not without problems. One particular issue about tooth loss is the way the bone in the jaw gradually reabsorbs. This occurs as the bone no longer receives any sort of stimulation from the natural tooth roots, and as a result the ridge that used to support your teeth will gradually become flatter.

Bone loss can be a particular problem for denture wearers, as it reduces the amount of retention available. Normally lower dentures rely on the bony ridge to hold them in place and for retention, and as this gradually flattens the denture is more likely to move around which can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. It’s not such an issue for upper denture wearers as the denture is made to cover up the roof of the mouth, giving it reasonable retention. In spite of this it’s still not an ideal solution, especially as an upper denture can feel quite large and bulky and it covers up all the taste buds in the roof of the mouth which makes eating less enjoyable. This is where using dental implants in Bromley can really help.

Using Dental Implants to Support a Lower Denture
Dr Zaki Bashir can place a few dental implants towards the front of mouth to support an entire lower denture. It can take just 2 to 4 dental implants to support the denture, bringing the cost of treatment well within the reach of most people. The denture clicks on to the dental implants so it’s firmly held in position but can still be removed for cleaning.

If you currently struggle with a loose denture then this can make a considerable improvement to your quality of life, and you’ll also find it a lot easier to eat properly. A good diet is essential for good health, so an implant supported denture could help improve your general health. There’ll be no need to use denture adhesives to hold your denture in place, and you’ll no longer need to worry that it will move or shift about. It should also be a lot more comfortable to wear, as loose dentures can rub on the gum tissues, creating sore spots.

What about Using Dental Implants for an Upper Denture?
This is certainly possible although you will need more dental implants to hold the denture in position. An upper denture that is retained with dental implants can be constructed in a horseshoe shaped design by your dentist in Bromley, so it will uncover all those taste buds in the roof of your mouth, and you should find eating a much more pleasurable experience.

Using dental implants to support dentures is a great way to stabilise them while not costing a fortune. This technique has already helped many people regain their confidence and self-esteem while wearing dentures. If you are interested in it’s well worth contacting Bromley Dental Practice to find out more.