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Tooth loss can mean looking, eating, and even feeling differently. Even the best quality acrylic dentures may fail to restore the appearance and ability to chew foods previously enjoyed with a natural set of teeth.

As far as missing teeth solutions go, dental implants are a game changer because of their unique ability to mimic tooth roots which in turn, stimulate the jaw bone. No other teeth replacement option can do this.

Like tooth roots, dental implants stimulate the jaw bone when food is chewed. This sends a signal to our bodies to send back nutrients to keep the jaw healthy. Without stimulation from tooth roots, these signals cannot be sent and the jaw bone fails to receive the nutrients it needs to stay strong. As a consequence, it starts to resorb. (1)

Choosing dental implants to replace missing teeth requires a considerable investment in your oral health, the procedure also takes longer than other teeth replacement options. However, modern techniques provide greater safety, predictability and high success rates that deem dental implant treatment, the gold standard of teeth replacement.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

Whether you are missing one, several or all of your natural teeth, Perth Dental Implant Centre offer a range of missing teeth replacement solutions to suit your individual needs and budget. Dental implants can support a single tooth or crown, a small fixed bridge and even All-On-4® dental implants. There are a wide range of advantages to be had. These include:

Eat and speak confidently

Dental implants look, feel and function just like the real thing. They provide superior support and stability to artificial teeth, allowing you to speak and chew confidently without limitations or food restrictions. It allows you to enjoy a wider variety of foods and a more nutritional diet which in turn, aids better digestion.

Maintain facial structure

Dental implants help stimulate the jaw bone when we chew food. This activity keeps the bone healthy and stops it from shrinking away. A healthy jaw bone means that facial muscles have the support they need to maintain shape and structure. Jaw bone loss creates a hollowed cheek or prematurely-aged appearance that can be commonly seen in people with missing teeth.

Fewer adjustments and replacements

Dental implants have been used for over 50 years and have been studied extensively to show a success rate between 95% and 98% over a 30 year period in healthy, non-smoking patients(2). With expert placement and proper care, dental implants can last a very long time, especially in comparison with dental bridges or dentures, which require frequent adjustments or replacements as the jaw bone continues to resorb.

Protect remaining teeth

Unlike dental bridges, dental implants don’t rely on adjacent teeth for support. This makes protecting surrounding teeth much easier as there is no filing or preparation involved to anchor a replacement tooth down.

The Goal of Implant Placement

The process for dental implant placement varies according to an individuals’ needs, whether it means choosing a particular implant design, receiving a bone graft, or delaying a replacement tooth for several months. In each of these scenarios, the goal is to ensure there is enough density and adequate bone health for dental implants to entirely integrate with the jaw bone.

Am I Eligible for Dental Implants?

Receiving a dental implant requires a comprehensive medical and dental evaluation before treatment can begin. The dental assessment begins with Dr Norcross examining your medical history, medical conditions and any medications that may complicate surgery or risk treatment success. This is followed by an examination of your teeth, gums and soft tissues.

During this initial consultation, Dr Norcross also takes a 3D bone scan to determine whether there is adequate bone for dental implants. This scan uses a low dose of radiation and shows the exact amount of available jaw bone. It also makes implant placement safer by revealing the location of sinuses, nerves, and remaining tooth roots to be avoided during surgery.

Dental implants are typically placed in the chair under a local anaesthesia however, for complex treatment or particularly nervous patients, IV sedation or general anaesthesia may be an option and can be discussed during your consultation.

A Typical Dental Implant Procedure

The treatment process for a single dental implant involves multiple steps, often allowing time for the mouth to heal in between each step.

1. Consultation & Treatment Planning– Discuss your treatment goals and process, have diagnostic scans taken and your treatment plan presented.
2. Placing your dental implants– Dr Norcross carefully places the dental implant into the jaw bone using digitally guided keyhole surgery. If you’re having a tooth removed, this may be done prior to surgery or at the same time. If you require a bone graft to build up more bone to support the implant, this is often done prior to implant surgery.
3. Designing your new tooth– Several months after your implant has successfully integrated with the jaw bone, new impressions are taken to design your new tooth.
4. Creating your new tooth– your new tooth is carefully crafted and colour matched by our dental lab technicians to blend in with your natural teeth.
5. Fitting your new tooth– After they are both created, the crown and abutment are attached to the dental implant.
6. Maintaining your new smile– After four weeks, we check your dental implant and tooth, then you’ll attend a check-up and professional clean and polish every six months thereafter.

The above dental implant process details a typical sequence of steps, however, there is no one size fits all approach, and what’s suitable for your needs will depend on a range of factors that determine treatment success.

The cost of a single dental implant starts from $4,420

Book a consultation with Dr Norcross today and we’ll work with you to determine the most suitable treatment plan for your needs. We’re transparent about prices and can explain each treatment process and what results you can expect. We also offer a range of flexible payment plans to help you access treatment sooner.

Want to to learn more about dental implants? Call 1300 108 133 to book at our Kelmscott or East Vic Park clinic or ask Dr Norcross a question directly.

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References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4633481/
2. Malo P, de Araújo Nobre M, Lopes A, Moss SM, Molina GJ. A longitudinal study of the survival of All-on-4® implants in the mandible with up to 10 years of follow-up. J Am Dent Assoc 2011;142:310-204

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.