DENTAL IMPLANTS

At Dr. Gupta's Dental Clinic, We have experienced and skilled implant surgeons with a combined experience of about 15 years in placing implants. We use very well-researched and well-respected implant systems like Osstem and Ankylos. As a team, we pride ourselves on having well-trained implant coordinators and nurses along with the state-of-the-art technology and equipment which will assure our patients and us of the quality of treatment provided. Remember, we expect our implants to last for a very long time, possibly even for life, so there isn’t any justification for taking a cost-cutting approach to such an important subject. In choosing a clinic, we always recommend patients look carefully at the training of the surgeons and dentists involved, the materials used and the long-term backup provided. It’s also a good idea to visit our practice and meet with some of the team. That way, you’ll be able to make your mind up very quickly. Our experience is that the decision rarely comes down to price.

It is perfectly normal to consider carefully the cost of any serious investment. It is a lot to spend on your mouth and it is down to each individual patient to decide if the improvements to the quality of life, function, confidence and appearance are worthwhile. We only ever prescribe treatment that is necessary and would like to reiterate the fact that we are always there for you for the very important aftercare and maintenance of the implant treatment which is very important.

There are a few factors that can make it necessary to wait for healing after tooth removal before an implant can be placed; the main factor being if there is any sign of infection. If the infection is present, we need to allow a healing phase of 8-12 weeks before we can place the implants. There are some cases where we can go for Immediate Implants and then cover with immediate crowns or teeth, but that will depend on the suitability assessment done in the planning stage. Don’t worry because you never need to have a gap if you don’t want one – there are all sorts of temporary solutions, both fixed and removable, to make sure there is no embarrassment at any stage through the implant process.

Normally the treatment times can be as little as 5days from placement of the implant to fit of the final crown. However, sometimes treatment can take longer depending on the level of complexity of your case, with some patients not finishing for up to a year. The exact time frame will be ascertained from your comprehensive assessment including the CT scan done at the practice.

Any surgical procedure can have complications and dental implants are no exception. At the assessment stage, we look into all the potential side effects and complications if any and those are explained to the patient. If there are any contraindications present, we may defer or cancel the treatment. When an implant is placed, your bone then needs to grow onto and fuse to the implant, in a process known as Osseointegration, if it is to become a firm foundation for a crown. In the unlikely event that your bone fails to grow onto an implant, we offer the choice of either a 50% refund, or to replace the implant completely free of charge one more time. We have usually found that patients wish to try again and that a second failure is exceptionally rare. We regularly audit our success rates and have seen about a 95% rate in the last year which is a very impressive figure. Trained and experienced surgeons, dentists, coordinators and nurses help in providing a quality treatment that should last a long time.

Normally yes – We will do a comprehensive implant assessment of the mouth and jaw bone which includes, study models, photographs and most important the 3D CT Scan. We work with our experienced dental laboratories to give a long-term solution for our patients. Very rarely will we explain that there is not enough bone to safely work with implants and then we have to consider alternative dental options with you and your dentist.

Yes, we can and we are highly experienced at this pinnacle of dental implant treatments. You do not need one implant per tooth and can actually have as few as four implants to replace all of the upper or lower teeth. There are a variety of options for the type of bridgework supplied which can either be removable by you or fixed in place, so please see the relevant section of our website.

Absolutely yes! Dentures are most patients’ nightmare due to the difficulty in wearing and the effect on all aspects of life. Small dentures can be replaced with just a few implants, or complete (full) dentures can either be held in position with implants or of course replaced with implants all together – surely the most amazing dental transformation available. Implant-supported dentures provide the much-needed stability and confidence that the patient needs to eat and smile with ease.

Yes, in some cases, our skilled surgeons and dentists can place an implant immediately after extraction in the socket, provided there is no infection around the socket and if it meets all the suitable criteria gone through the assessment. It can then be covered with a temporary tooth till the healing takes place. But most of the time, it is better to wait for the healing to take place before placing dental implants. Don’t worry because you need never have a gap – there are several temporary replacement solutions available to make sure there is no embarrassment at any stage through the implant process.

If the integration is successful and the area is well cared for and maintained with regular reviews and monitoring, an implant should last a lifetime. It is possible to chip a crown or bridge on implants in the same way that it is possible to chip a tooth and sometimes the outer screw over the implants may become loose which can be easily corrected. We recommend annual reviews with x-rays to check the bone levels around the implants in addition to your regular check-ups with your dentist. We offer an annual review and you can enter in one of our membership plans with check-ups and hygiene sessions to take care of the treated area.

We now know that smoking does affect both natural teeth and implants. For natural teeth, smoking increases the risk of gum disease. For implants, smoking slightly increases the risks of complications at every stage of implant treatment. We would recommend stopping smoking to reduce any chances of implant failure in the long run.