You will be asked detailed questions about your medical history and there will be a complete examination of your mouth and any remaining teeth. We will then assess whether implants are a feasible treatment option for you, and for this to be the case we need to be able to mitigate any risk factors. If you are willing, x-rays and CBCT 3D scans will be taken to assess bone volume and density.

A local anaesthetic will be used when we are placing the implant and you should not feel any discomfort. As with any surgical procedure, you may feel some discomfort for a few days following the procedure as the normal healing process takes place. Illume 360 provides a full aftercare service as part of our implant programme.

 

In short, yes, and the success rate for implants successfully integrating is generally quoted at 95%.  Implants are generally made of pure titanium; a material that has been used and has been the subject of rigorous review over many decades. It is even possible to have implants made of pure ceramic.

However, an implant could fail because of poor oral hygiene or infection. If an implant does not integrate well with the surrounding bone, it will eventually become loose and no longer be able to support replacement teeth. Commonly the failing implant causes no discomfort. We will always monitor the health of your implant with scheduled follow-up appointments so that any signs of problems will be picked up early and addressed quickly.

It’s possible to insert implants as soon as the jaw has stopped growing. Therefore, in young patients, dental implants can be placed once the jawbone is fully developed. At the other end of the spectrum, there is no upper age limit, as long as there are no other significant risk factors picked up in the clinical assessment. Even where risk factors are identified, we may be able to mitigate them so it’s often worth speaking to us first or booking an implant consultation even if you have been told you can’t have implants elsewhere.

Yes, and they can safely bite against each other, although the rate of wear of implant based crowns and bridges is different from natural teeth, so we will want to check your bite regularly to minimise the risk of implant damage.

There are several options for replacing all your teeth. Not all of them involve implants.

• A denture supported by two or more implants can replace the teeth.
• A bridge fixed to four or more implants can replace the missing teeth.
• A denture can also be fitted to without being anchored by implants, although they may adversely affect your ability to eat, taste food and speak.