When you have a missing tooth, you may have looked into having it fixed or restored in some way.

Of course, the regular options involving fitted bridges or even dentures if you have multiple teeth missing can be appealing and may have been the first options that sprung to your mind.

However, fitted bridges can put additional pressure onto the teeth they are attached to and, as you may have heard, dentures can move and wiggle, causing sore spots and ulcers to form along your gums. Oh, dear!

Luckily, in the last 10 years, a new restorative procedure has arisen and now, you may want to consider oral implants as a restorative treatment.

Our team at Bromley Dental Practice has helped many patients to restore their smiles using dental implants in Bromley and now, we can help you too! Affixed to your jaw, these prosthetic teeth will not move, allowing you to bite into food with full strength and chew without concerns relating to movement. They also look just like your natural teeth too! What more could you want from a restorative procedure?

But you may have heard some myths about dental implants in Bromley and here, our team debunk the most common 5 that we hear. Enjoy!

Implants are for young people

If you are in good health and have a high level of oral hygiene, then there is no upper age limit on our dental implants in Bromley!

In fact, to have the regular endosteal variety fitted, you need to have a strong jaw and healthy gum tissue. If you have these and don’t have any degenerative bone disorders, then it’s highly likely that you will be suitable for implants.

Getting implants is uncomfortable

No, it isn’t.

Firstly, our team at Bromley Dental will ensure that the area around where the implant is to be fitted is numbed before beginning the process, so you won’t feel a thing.

Secondly, although we cannot specify on any individuals discomfort levels, we have been told that once the numbing agents have worn off, the sensation is similar to an extraction and as such, it should be controllable with over the counter pain relief.

The surgery is risky

As there is no general anaesthetic involved, the risks associated with this surgery are minimal.

You will be awake for the entire procedure and, of course, the environment it is performed in will be completely sterilized.

They will fall out

It is highly unlikely that your implants will fall out.

However, if after a few weeks post-fitting you notice a sensation of movement related to your implants, contact our team for an urgent assessment. Early intervention may make the difference between you keeping or losing an implant.

Implants are too expensive for general people to afford

At Bromley Dental, we know money doesn’t grow on trees.

And as such, we are able to offer suitable patients financing options, which can help break down the finished cost of any cosmetic procedure into affordable, monthly instalments.

For those of you with missing teeth, replacing them with one of the options available will be recommended to you by your dentist, in order to ensure that your emotional and physical health and wellbeing are supported.

It isn’t only your smile that benefits from a fully functional smile, but your general health too, as you are more inclined to eat better food and chew it for longer, so that you can properly digest food of good nutritional value to enhance your wellbeing.

There are advantages of all of the tooth replacement options available to you and your dentist is likely to recommend the best possible solution for you at any given time. For example, many people will discover that dental implants in Bromley will be the best option to replace one or some of their missing teeth, because of the long lasting and durable results that this treatment provides.

However, some individuals, who have health conditions such as gum disease, diabetes or bone conditions or who are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy may need to have such conditions under control, or wait until the effects of their treatment have gone from their body, before they can undergo the minor surgical procedure required for this treatment.

In these cases, a bridge or dentures are often suitable choices and, in addition, are more affordable options which can be a factor of consideration as well.

Why would an implant be preferable?

As previously mentioned, many dentists will recommend dental implants in Bromley first and foremost to their patients, because of the advantages this style of tooth replacement has over other choices.

This treatment will last several decades if successful and some 98% of implants are, in fact, positive experiences for patients. This means that both younger and older individuals at our surgery can get almost a lifetime of use out of the treatment without needing to reinvest, making it for some a more cost-effective option than other less durable options.

The material used in the implant is titanium, which bonds to bone over time, allowing it to be the durable and long-lasting solution that it is. In addition to this, because your dental implants in Bromley replace the tooth root rather than just the visible part of the tooth, you are able to avoid the natural degradation of your jawbone which occurs when you use other tooth replacement options or opt for none at all.

Unfortunately, when your jawbone is no longer stimulated by natural teeth or with an appropriate replacement, then it will naturally recede over time, causing premature ageing and the destabilisation of surrounding teeth.

Dentures and other tooth replacement options that sit on top of the gums cannot provide the right kind of stimulation to encourage cell growth in the jawbone and therefore the bone will degrade, dentures will begin to slip and slide around in the mouth and surrounding teeth will be compromised over time. Only with an implant are you able to enjoy a healthy and robust smile again after you have lost one or more of your natural teeth. So if you think this is a good treatment option for yourself, we would be happy to help you to a fully restored smile.

Dental implants are a popular option these days, but are they right for everyone? For anyone who is considering this treatment, there are a range of factors to consider. Here, we explore what implants actually are; address any concerns about discomfort; and discuss what our patients can expect when opting for dental implants here in our Bromley practice.

What are dental implants?

This is a treatment for the resolution of a missing tooth or teeth. They are primarily composed of a titanium screw that is used as a substitute for the root of the tooth. Titanium is used because it is biocompatible, meaning that the body readily accepts this material. The metal becomes part of the patient’s surrounding healthy tissue over time; allowing the implant to function as naturally as possible.

Implants are often chosen as a good alternative to dentures, and can be the best option for patients who are looking for a long-term and durable solution to a missing tooth or teeth.

Does it hurt to get the procedure done?

Here at Bromley Dental Practice, we understand that our patients may feel a little nervous about getting implants fitted. We do everything we can to ensure that patients feel at ease about improving their smile; including keeping the patient informed about every step of the process; answering any questions; and addressing any concerns or worries.

Most patients can expect minimal discomfort getting dental implants in Bromley. We use a local anaesthetic to numb the mouth, which minimises any feeling at all during the procedure. After the anaesthetic has worn off, some people experience a little discomfort, though this should resolve in a relatively short time. Within a couple of weeks, most patients have recovered well and the area into which the implant was fitted has healed nicely.

What can the patient expect?

Those considering implants should make an appointment at Bromley Dental Practice to discuss their options. We’ll set up a comprehensive consultation to make sure that this is the right treatment. The dentist will listen to any concerns, and ask questions about any difficulties as well as finding out about the general oral health of the patient. We might give you some x-rays or scans to get a clearer picture of your mouth and jawline.

Having conducted all the necessary investigations, and ensuring that this is the correct treatment for the patient on an individual basis, we will then create a personalised plan of action. We’ll explain what will happen before treatment, what to expect during the implant fitting, and what the after care plan will be.

Plan of action for those considering dental implants

Here at Bromley Dental, we offer a wide range of treatment options. Patients should read about how we can help, then make an appointment with us to talk about the best way to improve their smile. We are here to help every patient feel confident about their smile, and happy to allay any concerns or questions so that everyone has the best possible experience.

As a modern dental clinic, we at Bromley Dental Practice focus on providing patients with a modern approach to high-quality dental care. One of the more impressive dental cosmetic treatments in our bouquet of dental solutions is Dental Implants in Bromley.

In our humble opinion, Dental Implants in Bromley has been a trailblazer in transforming the aesthetics and function of patients’ teeth. Simply put, the treatment uses artificial tooth roots that act as an anchor, holding the implant firmly in the jawbone. This reliable and versatile dental treatment option can be used to stunning effect to improve the appearance of teeth and works just as well to offer patients who have lost their natural teeth, a more stable and long-term solution to conventional missing teeth replacement options.

For patients wanting to fill in a missing tooth or multiple teeth but are put off by the traditional dental devices, here’s why we think you should get excited about Dental Implants in Bromley.

What to know about artificial tooth replacements

Unique construction

Taking a look at the way in which dental implants are structured, it is easy to see why this system has set the world of dentistry ablaze. There are two main components to artificial teeth implants that contribute to its success in delivering pleasing aesthetic results and function – an embedded metal screw-like root and the dental crown. These two components complement each other and give rise to a number of plus points that include: comfort, improved oral hygiene maintenance and confident bite function.

Qualifying criteria

One of the most frequent questions we hear from our patients at our dental practice is whether they are suitable for implant dentistry. Patient suitability is an important criteria, without it, the treatment is not guaranteed to be a success.

To determine suitability, we require patients to schedule a consultation appointment where our well-experienced implant dentists will thoroughly examine the patients’ mouths (x-rays may be needed) as well as oral and general health.

This step is critical for ensuring teeth, gums and jawbone are in optimal condition, and there is a greater chance of the implants being lost down the line. Patients may find that they will require additional dental care such as resolving gum issues or a bone graft to strengthen bone quality before being able to receive implantation.

Procedure

Provided that they don’t need extra treatment to resolve underlying conditions, patients will find that receiving artificial teeth implants, simple and straightforward. A surgical procedure is needed to implant the metal root into the jawbone. The patient will then have to wait for the healing period which will allow the metal root to fuse into the jawbone and become a natural part of the mouth. It is only once this has taken place and all looks well that our implant dentist will then place a dental crown on top.

For further information on the length of treatment and the implantation process, it is best to contact us at Bromley Dental Practice for a consultation. Each patient’s case is different and we will need to conduct an oral examination first to provide you with more precise information.

Dental Implants in Bromley give patients a chance to, once again, attain a sense of normality. As a modern, permanent tooth replacement option, this highly popular dental solution offers a number of incredible benefits that are hard to achieve with more traditional options of replacing a missing tooth or multiple missing teeth. All of its plus points come from the way it is designed and how this helps improve teeth and gum health and overall function.

As a leading dental clinic that takes pride in delivering exceptional dental care, Bromley Dental Practice has well-qualified implant dentists to ensure our patients receive efficacious Dental Implants in Bromley to restore their dental healthy and visually aesthetic smiles.

Missing teeth create numerous challenges for the patient, so in order to avoid these problems dental practitioners encourage patients to opt for a suitable dental solution such as Dental Implants in Bromley that fits in with their goals. We’ll take you through some of the more prevalent reasons why this has become a favourite go-to missing teeth replacement solution.

Benefits of dental implants to help you achieve oral health

Bite and chew with confidence

Patients with missing teeth often complain that they are unable to enjoy the foods they once did due to reduced biting and chewing capabilities. As replacement tooth implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone with little chance of them falling out or moving, patients regain their ability to bite and chew with confidence, so are able to eat their much-loved foods once again.

Another related advantage of renewed confidence is with patients who would once be too embarrassed or afraid (due to traditional tooth replacement options falling out) to eat out in social settings. The fact that dental implants are reliably fixed in one place means patients can once again enjoy their social engagements.

Protect surrounding teeth and jaw

Patients don’t often realise the importance of replacing missing teeth – safeguarding the health of neighbouring teeth and gum and jawbone quality. A single gap left open by a tooth falling out can open the way for surrounding teeth to move out of position, which can then potentially create a whole host of other problems, including jawbone deterioration. The metal screw or rod that is inserted into the jawbone acts as the implant anchor and deters this from happening, securing the health of teeth, gums and jawbone.

In addition to this, patients with missing teeth tend to compensate for the loss by relying more on existing teeth to support eating and chewing function, which places additional pressure on these teeth. By seeking natural-looking tooth replacement implant treatment, this pressure can be effectively avoided and teeth are protected from further damage or tooth loss.

Easy to care for

Another highly sought after advantage of tooth replacement implants is that they offer fuss-free maintenance. The oral hygiene recommendation is very similar to that of natural teeth – daily brushing of teeth and flossing. Patients may be asked to use specially-formulated dental products to protect the aesthetic look of the crown or tooth cap.

Are you looking for a dental clinic staffed by caring and compassionate dental professionals with a hard to beat track record? Make Bromley Dental Practice your preferred choice in dental clinics that offers convenient opening hours (late night and lunch time appointments).

Many people think that a dental implant is there simply to hold a false tooth or multiple false teeth in place and while this is certainly part of it, it isn’t its only job. There is another function that dental implants in Bromley perform that is absolutely vital, which is supporting the structure of the face as well as any other teeth that remain in the mouth. At Bromley Dental Practice we know and understand this function thoroughly which is why, when we suggest dental implants as a tooth replacement, we don’t do lightly. This is because we know it’s a long journey to undertake and wouldn’t recommend such a big surgery if it wasn’t actually necessary.

Dental implants hidden benefit

So what is this highly important function that dental implants in Bromley serve? Long story short – they keep your face in place. Seriously, here’s how it works.

The entire function of the bones surrounding the teeth is to keep the teeth in place. When you lose a tooth the bone no longer serves a purpose, so the body decides it’s time to reabsorb the bone. This is actually a delicate part of the ageing process but once that bone starts to dissolve, your face appears more sunken and you look older.

A dental implant replaces the tooth’s root thus encouraging the bone to grow and stay in place instead of dissolving. It does this through the use of titanium, a metal alloy which in the ’60s was discovered to be a brilliant substance to strengthen bone, as bone tissue in both humans and other mammals loves to grow around and fuse with this particular metal.

Does this mean that you need to replace each tooth with an implant? – No

While you can replace a single missing tooth with a dental implant that supports one false tooth, you can actually support a full set of dentures on only 4 implants and still have the full hidden benefits of implants. 4 carefully placed implants (2 at the top and 2 at the bottom) can support the entire jaw bone.

How does the surgery work?

Once you have been cleared for dental implant surgery we will numb the area of the face that needs to be worked on. It is important for nervous patients to note that this surgery can be performed under sedation, so that you can get through it without any anxiety. Once the area is numb we will cut open the gum so that we can drill a hole into the bone big enough for the implant to be screwed in. Once the implant is in we will close it up again and send you home for 6 months in order for the healing and fusing process to be complete, but don’t worry, you will be provided with a temporary crown or denture for that time.

After 6 months an abutment will be fitted to the dental implants in Bromley upon which a false tooth or set of false teeth can be fixed, and then your treatment is complete.

When it comes to missing teeth there are a number of solutions that could help you, but by far the most secure, and long-lasting solution is dental implants in Bromley. We at Bromley Dental Practice know this to be true but don’t take our word for it, let us explain each option available for missing teeth and compare them to implants so that you can make your own decisions for the future of your oral health.

Crown Bridges

A bridge of teeth is used to close a gap of multiple missing teeth or just a single missing tooth, so if you have a few teeth in a row missing, this bridge of false teeth is custom created to fit in your specific gap. On each side of these false teeth are crowns which are secured onto the teeth that exist on each side of the gap, these teeth will need to be filed down slightly in order to snugly fit into the crowns but once the bridge is fixed in place the dental arch will be restored once more. The problem with bridges is that food can slip under the bridge as it rests gently on top of the gum so careful care and cleaning needs to be done when wearing bridges to avoid rotting food and gum disease.

Dentures

Dentures have been worn for centuries and while the materials used have evolved to look as convincing as possible and they do a moderately good job of chewing food there are some major downfalls to these oral appliances.

Unreliable – the biggest problem patients have with loose-fitting dentures is that they fall out at the worst times when singing, laughing or even eating making these patients feel very self-conscious about partaking in these activities publicly thus lowering their quality of life enjoyment.

Breakable – because dentures are completely removable and can fall out, they are in fact more susceptible to breakage which can be costly in the long run.

Bone loss – there is a simple inescapable fact when it comes to losing teeth, once the tooth is completely gone, root and all, the bone no longer serves the function of holding it in place and so the body begins to reabsorb it. Those who wear dentures for a long time will suffer significant bone loss in the jaw.

Dental implants

Dental implants in Bromley offer a solution to all these problems as they are able to secure a single false tooth in place and well as bridges and an entire set of dentures too. By securing these different kinds of false teeth patients need not worry about food getting stuck and rotting, they need not worry about anything falling out and embarrassing them and they can rest assured that their bone remains firmly in place and are even encouraged to grow back through the use of titanium implanted into the jaw.

What you need to know about dental implants in Bromley is that they require surgery and have a long healing period of about 6 months before the false teeth can be secured to them. There is sedation on offer for patients nervous about the surgery and we will never send our patients home with a gap in the smile, we will provide a temporary false tooth, bridge or lose denture while you wait for your body to heal.

Whether you are about to have a number of teeth extracted, have been used to living with a bridge or even a full set of dentures, there is an option for you to replace missing teeth (however many that may be) with dental implants in Bromley. Achieve a new look and a transformed smile that not only works perfectly but re-establishes confidence in your day to day living because we at Bromley Dental Practice understand just how low your confidence and mental health can get if you are self-conscious about your teeth and we want to restore them in order to get you back to living in full abundance.

Why implants are your best option

Let’s start with the obvious; a loose set of dentures are always at risk of falling out at inopportune moments, it makes eating certain foods or even laughing a risky business when you are in public. Patients who have been living with dentures know what it means to always be thinking about what activities would make their teeth fall out causing a great deal of embarrassment which is something everyone wants to avoid. This can lead to a hesitation towards or even avoidance of partaking in activities and even eating foods that were once loved, this is no way to live and with dental implants in Bromley, we hope to change all of that.

Aside from the mental health issues that go along with avoidance behavior, there is an underlying physical problem that occurs when there are one or a few teeth missing and this is bone loss. The human body is capable of many things, including reabsorbing bone it no longer needs, the jaw bone is there to hold the teeth in place and therefore the teeth give it something to latch onto, but when we are missing teeth due to injury, decay or simply old age, the jaw bone no longer serves the body so it begins to dissolve, causing the face to appear sunken and old.

Both these issues are serious but both are avoidable with implants, in fact they are reversible. By having a set of fixed implants which secure false teeth neatly in place, you will be able to partake in activities and enjoy all the foods you would normally have without worrying about your teeth falling out. Also, your jaw bone will once again have something to latch onto and is encouraged to grow back thanks to the titanium used for the implant which human bone tissue loves to grow on.

The procedure

This is an intense surgical procedure that can last a few hours if multiple dental implants in Bromley are needed, but as with all dental procedures you will not feel a thing as your mouth will be made numb and, if you are particularly nervous, we can even provide you with a sedative that will help you relax.

The implant dentist will carefully cut open the gum and drill into the bone in order to place the implant. Then the gum will be stitched up and you will be provided with a temporary bridge or denture in order to return home for a few months while the bone healing process takes place. We will then secure the implant to the jaw enough to fix a false tooth or set of dentures to.

The unfortunate reality of a missing or broken tooth could result in a loss of confidence and no small amount of personal embarrassment. Even a set of dentures for those of you who have tried to hide missing teeth may cause you some discomfort and insecurity when it comes to speaking or even eating in public. Getting dental implants in Bromley, here at the Bromley Dental Practice can bring back quality of life as well as your former confidence by getting implants that fit securely in your jawbone to support a convincing and secure set of crowns or bridges so that your life can go back to normal.

Where dental implants started

Implants today come from centuries worth of testing and learning, you can be confident that dentists have been improving this procedure well past what you may even know about your own family tree. Evidence of the ancient Chinese having used bamboo pegs to replace missing teeth has been discovered, as well as similar evidence from the ancient Egyptians. But it wasn’t until the 1960s that the procedure we use today was first invented and the research that has been done since has given us the immensely successful results published in many studies.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants in Bromley are small titanium posts or screws that are planted and embedded into your jawbone. Titanium is very tough and has a high tensile strength which makes it the preferred material for this procedure, it is also the only metal that isn’t rejected by the human body, in fact, bone loves to grow and fuse with it. The implants act like the root of a tooth to hold not only the tooth but the bone itself in place.

The procedure

We offer sedation for nervous patients, those of you who have anxieties about being at the dentist or having surgery can have it performed while sleeping. The surgery in question can take from 30 minutes for a single implant to 3-4 hours for multiple implants but wherever your needs may be, the surgery itself remains the same.

The dentist will numb the area that needs to be worked on even if you are sedated, our aim is  to not cause you pain but to improve your quality of life. Once the area is ready a small incision will be made in the gum in order to expose the bone, in some cases a tooth will first need to be removed. Once the dentist has made space for the implant with drills and other special tools, the titanium screw is then inserted and the area is stitched up. It will then be up to your body to heal, as the bone needs to grow around the implant, this can take 6-8 months to occur before permanent dentures, crowns, or bridges can be attached.

Will I ever have gaps?

Never. Immediately after surgery, you will be fitted with a set of temporary crowns or bridges, you will need to handle these with care over the course of the healing period and be mindful of the foods you eat but we will never leave you with embarrassing gaps when you get dental implants in Bromley.

Unfortunately, accidents happen; whether you fell down the stairs, got into an altercation or were involved in some other kind of mishap that resulted in a severe knock to the face, it has still caused a tooth to come loose and fall out. We at Bromley Dental Practice understand that this can be a very distressing situation for many people, but would like you to rest assured that with dental implants in Bromley, the solution to fixing the new gap in your smile is tried and tested and can make your smile look just like new again.

The danger of missing a tooth

Even just losing one tooth can create a host of problems in your mouth that you may be unaware of. If a front tooth gets knocked out the obvious main concern is that your smile is affected and you may lose a lot of confidence because of it, and if a back molar falls out, you may have issues with chewing; but what is more concerning than either of these things is the knock-on effect it will have on the other teeth. When space opens up between teeth it gives the other teeth an opportunity to move and shift and even to become infected.

What the root of a secure tooth does when it is anchored in the jaw is support the bone structure, if the root is pulled out, you will begin to lose bone mass in that area over time and it will become more difficult to get an implant to secure itself in place. The loss of bone mass will begin to change the shape of your face, making your cheeks appear sunken and aged, due to a loss of fullness, but all this can be avoided with dental implants in Bromley.

The single implant

For some people more than one tooth needs replacing, sometimes it’s a whole row, but in the case of an injury resulting in a single missing tooth, your surgery won’t take as long as a major smile replacement, and the healing time will be much quicker.

Once the dentist has made sure the area is clear of debris and is properly prepared for the implant, they will then place the titanium implant into the bone and sew the gum shut once more. Then a temporary tooth is attached to the area, so that you won’t need to worry about your aesthetics while you wait a few months for the bone to fuse with the implant.

At your final appointment, your dentist will check that the fusion process has worked correctly and if the implant is stable then a more permanent tooth is fixed to the abutment which is attached to the implant.

By restoring your mouth to its most natural state, you can boost your confidence with a winning smile that allows you to eat, talk and laugh as you normally used to prior to the accident, also there is no change in lifestyle with dental implants in Bromley. You can clean your teeth as usual, in fact, you may very probably forget that you even have an implant and prosthetic, due to how well they fit and function inside your mouth.