Many of us are familiar with the challenges of missing or severely damaged teeth and until recently the most common solution was replacing them with a dental bridge.
A dental bridge, as its name suggests, replaces missing teeth with a prosthetic tooth supported by neighbouring teeth thus forming a bridge.
However, for my colleagues and I, dental implants have now become the most popular solution to replacing missing or severely damaged teeth because they:
However, we never recommend dental implants without exploring all other options first, some of which are likely to be less invasive (do not require surgery) and less expensive. Following a detailed diagnosis comprising a CBCT scan that provides a detailed 3D image of the teeth, gums and bone, we will explain the pros and cons of each option prior to discussing dental implants as an option.
Dr Guy Bailey and I are placing more and more dental implants week by week due, in the main, to an increase in awareness of what dental implants are, how they work and why they might be better than other solutions.
Not only are we experiencing a sharp increase in enquiries from patients, we are also accepting more dental implant referrals from dentists who normally refer patients to us for treatment with sedation or for more complex surgical procedures.
Another reason for an increase in the demand for dental implants is the availability of interest-free dental finance that helps patients spread the cost of dental implants over 12, 24 and 36 months.
Working in very much the same way as other finance facilities a deposit is then followed by fixed monthly payments taken via direct debit.
There are several dental implant procedures suitable for various clinical circumstances i.e. a single missing tooth, several missing teeth or replacing a full denture where there are few, or no remaining teeth.
Single dental implants
Single and multiple single dental implants that replace either a single tooth or several missing teeth.
All-on-4 dental implant procedure
The revolutionary all-on-4 dental implant procedure replaces a complete (upper or lower) row of teeth with a permanently-fixed bridge that looks, feels and functions like real teeth as this patient of ours will testify:
The All-on-4 dental implant procedure works by securing the bridge to the upper or lower jaw using only four dental implants, the rear two of which are angled in such a way as to achieve remarkable stability.
Zygomatic All-on-4 dental implants
In cases where there is insufficient bone density for the normal all-on-4 dental implant procedure using normal-length dental implants, the patient may have the option of our Zygomatic all-on-4 dental implant procedure that comprises extra-length dental implants that secure the bridge to the zygomatic bone.
(image of Zygomatic all-on-4 dental implant procedure)
In a word yes! Such is the value placed on permanently-fixed realistic-looking, feeling and functioning teeth that patients travel to Arnica Dental Care from all over the UK, especially for the all-on-4 dental implant procedure.
For many the life-limiting characteristics of loose-fitting dentures can be a thing of the past.
Enjoying the freedom to express oneself without the fear of embarrassing oneself is, as many of our patients will testify, truly liberating.
As dentists we get a lot of job satisfaction from simply helping patients enjoy the benefits of healthy teeth and gums. When we are able to literally turn back the clock with procedures like the all-on-4 dental implant procedure the effects on both the patient and us as dentists is extraordinary.
Teeth in a day with the all-on-4 procedure where patients arrive with few or no teeth in the morning and leave with permanently-fixed teeth in the afternoon is something we are very proud to be able to offer.
Life changing doesn’t begin to describe the impact of having these perfect, permanent teeth in my head. Whilst my expectations were incredibly high, the whole painless process has exceeded even those. Thank you Ellie, Guy and your amazing staff. I will always be grateful. Arnica All-on-4 Patient – Thekla Richards
When patients, who are considering dental implants, contact the practice we normally book them in for a free of charge dental implant consultation with either Guy or myself. This gives the patient the opportunity to discuss their options without committing to treatment.
We then recommend that they talk to at least two other dental implant dentists (we recommend talking to at least three) and once they have given the treatment and us careful consideration they book a dental implant diagnostic appointment which will include a CBCT scan that provides a detailed 3d image of their teeth, gums and jaw.
Based on this appointment we then write a detailed dental implant treatment plan including options and costing for the patient to consider and compare with other treatment plans from other dentists.
If they choose either Guy or myself here at Arnica treatment can commence fairly quickly and each stage within the treatment plan completed as soon as possible.
Once the dental implants have been placed we then provide as much after care as is required including regular checks to ensure the implants have properly bonded and the gums fully healed.
We do provide a detailed guide to looking after your implants however we prefer to carry out follow-up checks either 3 or 6 months later.
We’d be very interested to hear from anyone who is thinking of having or have had dental implants. Sharing patient experiences is an excellent way of articulating the benefits of dental implants, especially to patients who are anxious or even dental-phobic who we can treat using dental sedation to minimise anxiety and discomfort.
Dr Ellie Ledger BDS (Wales) FDSRCS (England)
