Implants, made of titanium, can replace missing teeth without dentures, either for a single tooth space or multiple spaces or the whole mouth.
Implants do not have to be placed in all areas desirable at one time. Two, say, could be placed in a jaw to partially support a denture, then more added later as suits a patient's time and finances.
An implant is placed in a site prepared in the bone of the jaw. This might sound awful, but it's no more awful than having the tooth out in the first place. It's normally placed under simple local anesthetic, but for the apprehensive patient, we offer Intravenous Sedation (see IV).
The implant surface is then covered over again with gum (usually) so that bone can grow onto the implant. Sometimes, new bone has to be grown before an implant can be placed: other times, where there is enough bone to place the implant but insufficient bone to get enough final stability or good final aesthetics, it is necessary to place (non-human) bone substrates at the site at the same time: we do all that too!
After six months or so, when the good osseo-integration (bone growth onto the implant surface) has occurred, the surface is uncovered, with the superstructure (crown, bridge or a magnetic attachment) being attached a short while afterwards. It might be necessary to place a temporary denture, temporary bridge or other replacement in the space while the bone grows.
We started placing implants fourteen years ago when few dentists did this kind of work. Now many practices offer the service, but please note, all implant surgery is carried out in this practice by Mr. MacDougall. We do not (and never have done) refer our patients elsewhere.
Implants do not have to be placed in all areas desirable at one time. Two, say, could be placed in a jaw to partially support a denture, then more added later as suits a patient's time and finances.
An implant is placed in a site prepared in the bone of the jaw. This might sound awful, but it's no more awful than having the tooth out in the first place. It's normally placed under simple local anesthetic, but for the apprehensive patient, we offer Intravenous Sedation (see IV).
The implant surface is then covered over again with gum (usually) so that bone can grow onto the implant. Sometimes, new bone has to be grown before an implant can be placed: other times, where there is enough bone to place the implant but insufficient bone to get enough final stability or good final aesthetics, it is necessary to place (non-human) bone substrates at the site at the same time: we do all that too!
After six months or so, when the good osseo-integration (bone growth onto the implant surface) has occurred, the surface is uncovered, with the superstructure (crown, bridge or a magnetic attachment) being attached a short while afterwards. It might be necessary to place a temporary denture, temporary bridge or other replacement in the space while the bone grows.
We started placing implants fourteen years ago when few dentists did this kind of work. Now many practices offer the service, but please note, all implant surgery is carried out in this practice by Mr. MacDougall. We do not (and never have done) refer our patients elsewhere.
Implants
