Dental implants Bristol
Replacing several teeth
Implant Home | Replacing a Single Tooth | Replacing Several Teeth | Replacing All of Your Teeth/Loose DenturesGood news: If you have several missing teeth, you may not need an implant root for every missing tooth. This simplifies treatment and reduces the cost considerably. For example if you are missing four front teeth, these can be replaced by placing just two implant roots and these can be used to support a block, or bridge, of four teeth at our Bristol dental implant clinic.
What are the advantages of implant supported bridges over conventional bridges or dentures?
Dental implants provide several advantages over other tooth replacement options. In addition to looking and functioning like natural teeth, dental implants can replace several teeth without sacrificing the health of neighbouring teeth. The other common treatment for spaces, a tooth supported bridge, requires the adjacent teeth to be ground down to support the bridge and this significantly increases the risk of long term problems.
A removable denture does not involve trimming down teeth but, over the long term, may still lead to gum problems and decay around the adjacent teeth due to food trapping and plaque build up.
With a bridge or denture, the bone that previously surrounded the lost teeth shrinks and this leads to visible gum recession. This can lead to a collapsed, unattractive smile. Because dental implants replace some of your tooth roots, the bone is better preserved. Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to maintain the bone and reduce gum shrinkage.
In the long term, implants can be more aesthetic and easier to keep clean than a conventional bridge. Gums can recede around a bridge, leaving a visible black line. Cement holding the bridge in place can wash out, allowing bacteria to decay the supporting teeth. Very few conventional bridges turn out to be a life long solution, most lasting about ten or fifteen years. When a traditional bridge fails it often causes irreversible damage to the supporting teeth.
How will the implants be placed?
Firstly, the implants, which look like screws or cylinders, are placed in to your jaw and the gum is closed over them. Intravenous sedation is available for this. Over the next two to four months, the implants and the bone are allowed to bond together to form anchors for your artificial teeth. During this time, a temporary tooth replacement option can be worn over the implant sites.
The second stage of the procedure is to expose the implants and attach extensions. These small metal posts, called abutments, complete the foundation on which your new teeth will be placed. Your gums will be allowed to heal for a couple of weeks following this procedure but a temporary denture or bridge can continue to be worn during this time.
Occasionally it is possible to combine the first two stages so that the implants show through the gum immediately after placement. This substantially reduces the over all treatment time.
Finally replacement crowns are custom made for you and cemented to the abutments. These are often splinted together for extra strength but look like individual teeth. After a short time, you will experience restored confidence in your smile and your ability to chew and speak naturally.
Click here to meet Jim Toms, the implant dentist
To book your free implant consultation
e-mail : jim.toms@ukrtc.net