Replace damaged teeth with our realistic dental implants in Swansea
Dental implants are becoming more and more popular among patients who have damaged or missing teeth. A single tooth can be replaced with a single implant, whereas multiple teeth can be replaced with implants to support a denture or bridge.
The implant itself is made of a metallic material like titanium which is inserted into the jaw where the missing tooth’s roots were. Over time, the jaw bone grows around the implant and holds it in place. Then, an artificial tooth or crown is attached to the metal implant and fills the gap left by the missing tooth.
The crown is custom made to look like the remaining teeth — in size, shape and colour. Our dentists will make careful colour comparisons between our composite crown materials and the natural colour of your teeth. Your new crowns will be made in-house and secured to your implants, restoring your smile to its former glory.
At Swansea Dental Practice, we have dentists on board who have extensive experience with both dental implants and crowns. We can help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. For professional dental implants in Swansea, contact us at (02) 4971 1432 today.
Who is best suited to dental implants?
If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants might be the best option to restore your smile. There are some variables we will need to consider before we recommend dental implants, including:
- A fully grown, healthy jaw
- No gum disease
- No conditions that affect bone healing.
We might also recommend an alternative treatment if you have a systemic disease or regularly smoke. For more information about dental implants in Swansea, get in touch with our friendly and professional team.
What else do I need to know about the dental implant procedure?
In your initial consultation, we will examine the health of your teeth, gums and jaw bone to determine if dental implants are appropriate. This process is quite involved because we will need to do x-rays and a CT scan.
If we determine that dental implants are an appropriate treatment option for you, we will refer you to a surgeon for implant planning and placement. This is essential to avoid structures like nerves and sinuses during the procedure.
Inserting dental implants is a small surgical procedure where a titanium post (or multiple titanium posts) are screwed into the jaw bone. The posts are left to heal for several months and merge into the jaw bone. This process is called Osseointegration.
Once the site has healed (around three to six months), the implant will look like an artificial tooth root. You will then be invited to Swansea Dental Practice for the final restoration — applying the crowns, bridges and/or dentures.
Why should I choose dental implants over other treatment options?
When one or more natural teeth have been lost, dental implants behave most like a natural tooth — they’re comfortable and allow you to chew hard foods with confidence. When you bite down with natural teeth, the force is transmitted through the tooth, into the roots and out into the surrounding bone, stimulating the jaw to keep renewing old bone cells.
Once teeth have been extracted, this cannot happen. Dental implants, however, act as artificial teeth and stimulate the surrounding bone to help preserve it.
Compared to bridges — another potential replacement for missing teeth — implants are the best treatment option. Bridges require the adjacent teeth to be cut down to receive crowns as part of the bridge. This can put those teeth at risk of future complications like decay. Bridges are also harder to clean and are not as strong as implanted teeth.
Plus, compared to partial or full dentures, dental implants do not have a bulky plate over your palate or under your tongue.
Other FAQs about our dental implants in Swansea
There’s no doubt about it — dental implants can be expensive when compared to other treatments. Before opting for dental implants, be sure to talk to your dentist about costs, budgeting and payment options. Plus, check in with your private health fund and find out how much can be covered between the dentist and the oral surgeon.
Dental implants are successful most of the time — however, no treatment or surgical procedure is 100% risk-free. Some rare problems include:
- Infection
- Damage to the surrounding teeth or blood vessels
- Nerve damage
- Sinus problems.
A surgeon is involved in the planning and placement process to help avoid these rare complications.
On average, dental implants take around three to six months to heal. During this time, we recommend eating soft foods to help the implant site heal.
After the initial surgery, you may experience some bruising, pain and swelling around the gums and face. You can treat this swelling with paracetamol and ice packs.
Dental implants toe the line between cosmetic and orthodontic treatment, so Medicare cannot cover the costs of implants. Medicare, in general, does not contribute to dental treatments. However, if you have a private health fund, you may be able to get some financial support there. For more information, please contact your private health fund.
There’s no special care for dental implants! Like natural teeth, dental implants can last a long time if you care for them properly. Continuing a daily routine of brushing and flossing is paramount, as well as making sensible life choices to maintain your overall health.
We also recommend maintaining a bi-annual check-up schedule with your local dentist.
It’s important to take good care of your teeth and gums as this is what holds your implants in place. If you fail to care for the gums surrounding your implants, you can develop a buildup of bacteria and worse, infection.
You may not be eligible for dental implants if you have any of the following medical conditions:
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Blood clotting disorders
- Immune system problems
- You are a smoker/drug user
- Untreated tooth decay
- Gum disease (periodontitis)
Young people are also not eligible for dental implants (i.e. people under the age of 18) as their bone tissue has not fully developed and their jaw bone is still growing.
If you’re interested in dental implants but you’re not sure if you will be eligible, book a consultation with our experienced dental team. We will complete a thorough check of your medical and oral history to determine if this is an appropriate treatment option for you.
Like all surgical implants, there is no lifetime guarantee for dental implants — but if they are well-maintained and inserted into a healthy jaw bone, then dental implants can last for many years — possibly even the rest of your life. According to the Association of Dental Implantology in the United Kingdom, “it could be probably said that implants will last as long as natural teeth.”
Yes! Dental implants have a very high success rate — in fact, implants are successful in 95% of all cases. They are a very reliable way to replace missing teeth.
Yes. You can either wear your existing dentures or we can prepare a temporary denture for you to wear during the treatment process. Generally speaking, temporary dentures are made before any extractions or surgeries to remove damaged teeth. This helps to maintain the shape of your face during the healing process.
Removable bridges can also be worn temporarily before permanent tooth restorations have been made.
Book an appointment with our implant experts today
Restore your smile with strong, reliable dental implants in Swansea! Our dentists have more than 30 years of experience preparing patients for dental implants and making stunning replacement teeth, whether it’s crowns, bridges or dentures.
Book an appointment with our gentle and professional dentists in Swansea today!