HRS Dental

People lose teeth all the time, either through trauma (when teeth are knocked out) or due to decay, gum disease or old age. Whatever the reason for losing your teeth, they need to be replaced, both for aesthetic and functional reasons. The most common treatments for missing teeth are either a denture or a fixed bridge. However, dental implants are now becoming a more popular treatment to replace missing teeth as they provide a better long term solution.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is an artificial replacement for the root portion of your natural tooth and is anchored into your jaw to support a crown, bridge or secure a denture firmly in place. Implants are made from titanium.

What are the advantages of dental implants over dentures and bridges?

• Reduced bone loss
  Normally, the bone tissue surrounding the root of your tooth is maintained by your bodys natural renewal process. However, if you loose a tooth, you will be left with a hole where your tooth root used to be and the bone around this area will slowly begin to disappear (atrophy) which may change the shape of your jaw. A dental implant placed in that area can actually stimulate bone growth and production, preventing loss of valuable bone structure. Bone loss can also make a person look older, since the area around the mouth can sag as bone is lost.
• Improved function
  When dental implants are fully integrated into your jaw, they function just as well as your own natural teeth: you can eat the foods you want and speak with complete confidence. With dentures, eating hard foods such as an apple can be a problem: either the dentures come loose or patients cannot withstand the hard biting forces as they cause pain in the gums. Irritation and inflammation of the gums is a common problem amongst denture patients. Dentures can be supported by implants or mini-implants, which will greatly improve function, enabling patients to eat the foods they want with complete confidence and not having to worry about bone loss and loose dentures falling out.
• Improved dental hygiene
  Unlike bridges and dentures, which require special cleaning instructions and extra attention, dental implants just need regular brushing, flossing and dental hygiene appointments, just like your natural teeth.
• No need to drill or remove any healthy tooth structure
  When replacing missing teeth with dental bridges, the teeth adjacent to the gap need to be trimmed so that a crown or bridge abutment can fit over the top of the tooth. In the future, if one of the supporting teeth is damaged, the entire bridge restoration will also be compromised, whereas with an implant, the restoration is independent of any of your other teeth. By replacing lost teeth with an implant, no support is required of the adjacent teeth, and your natural teeth do not need to be prepared or altered in any way.
• Better aesthetics
  When done correctly, a dental implant should be indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth. Dentures can come loose and look unnatural if they do not blend with your gums, and some bridges and dentures have unsightly metal clasps to hold them in place. Dental implants provide a much better cosmetic and functional end result.

Am I a suitable candidate for dental implants?

Dental implants can be placed in patients of any age provided that they have a sufficient quantity and quality of bone tissue available. Most healthy individuals that maintain a good oral hygiene program are suitable candidates for dental implants.

Before we provide you with dental implants we will completely assess your mouth to ensure you are completely suitable for dental implants. At HRS Dentalcare we also carry out medical testing to ensure that our dental implants will last as long as possible, and that your investment in your dental implants is a wise choice.

How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants have been used for over 40 years to replace missing teeth (Dr Harris was trained by one of the first people in the world to place dental implants) and they can last a lifetime.

How much do dental implants cost?

While we can give a price for an averagedental implant, the fees relate to the many factors that need to be taken into account when planning dental implants. Everybody is different and dental implants need to be tailored to the patient so that the best long term outcome can be achieved.

CALL HRS TO ARRANGE A FREE CONSULTATION WHERE YOU CAN DISCUSS ALL YOUR OPTIONS RELATING TO DENTAL IMPLANTS WITH OUR TREATMENT CO-ORDINATOR. 0845 260 2826