Dental implants

The best option available to replace missing teeth?

Dr Keith Doonan, a dental implant expert of North Brisbane, discusses what implants are, why they are often a favoured option for missing teeth, and what is involved in preparing and fitting them.

Dental implants are the most successful form of treatment available for the replacement of missing teeth. They look and feel more like natural teeth than any other option available.

Implants are titanium screws which are so biocompatible that bone can grow onto their surface.

There are usually three parts to an implant. The dental implant itself (which is buried in the bone), the crown (which is the part that looks like the tooth) and the abutment (which connects the implant to the crown).

The benefits of dental implants are that they:

• are a long lasting solution to missing teeth
• are very similar to your natural teeth in appearance, feel and function
• restore your bite by stopping the remaining teeth on either side of the space moving and rotating, which often makes it difficult to chew food efficiently
• improve the appearance of your smile
• reduce the appearance of premature ageing and wrinkles
• may help retain bone structure

Are dental implants the right choice for me?

Dental implants should not be placed until growth has stopped, which is usually around 18 years of age. Most patients, who are in good general health with good oral hygiene, are suitable for dental implants although a thorough oral and medical assessment is required to make the final decision.

There are a number of factors that might slightly increase the chance of implants not working as well as they should, these include:

• lack of bone
• an active periodontal disease
• poorly controlled diabetes
• bisphosphonate medication
• poor oral hygiene
• smoking
• certain systemic diseases

How long does it take to fit a dental implant?

It is possible to fit a dental implant in just one day! However, we would recommend you follow a slower path, which is more predictable and costs less. After all, this is something we hope will last you for a very long time!

Usually, we will wait 6-12 weeks after taking the tooth out before placing the implant.

When we place the implant we wait around 6-12 weeks for the bone to attach to it.

It usually takes around 2 to 4 weeks to make the final crown.

There are a number of factors that can cause the process of fitting a dental implant to take longer but in general we can complete an implant in around 3 to 6 months depending on the complexity. Or we can do it in a day in certain specific situations if you are willing to accept an increased chance of complications and expense.

To see if a dental implant might be right for you, feel free to contact us, Keith will be happy help you explore which options are best for you.