Dental Implants Horley, Crawley and Reigate

The placement of the implant is accomplished quickly and easily in a one-step procedure performed at our practice. Under local anaesthesia, or light sedation, employing precise and minimally invasive techniques, the implants are positioned into the jawbone.

The head of the implants protrudes from the gum and provides a solid foundation for securing crowns, dentures, or a brace.

Teeth

The new Mini and Midi Implants are the perfect systems to provide greater denture stability for those who refused regular implants due to a lack of bone, or who simply cannot afford the cost of conventional implants. Once the implants are secured a tailor-made crown (the tooth itself) is secured to the implant. It is not necessary for each missing tooth to require an implant and if you have 3+ teeth missing next to each other you could opt for a bridge or partial denture supported by only 2 implants (depending on the individual circumstances). This can be removed and cleaned and would reduce the volume of surgery that could be required.

Dentures

The most effective use of this unique dental product is the stabilization of a lower denture. There are approximately 120,000 people in the UK who are “edentulous” (literally meaning lacking teeth), struggling daily with prosthetic devices. The majority suffer discomfort as a result of loose or ill-fitting dentures. Some withdraw from any type of social engagement as a result of wearing them. It is also not uncommon for family members to complain about a denture wearer’s disagreeable breath as a result of food being trapped and decaying under their denture prosthesis. Successful placement of the mini implants addresses and solves all of these social and practical problems.

The head of the implant is shaped like a ball. The retaining fixture in your denture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. This snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated the denture gently rests on the gum tissue while the implant fixture allows for micro-mobility while withstanding the natural lifting of eating.

Conventional Implants

Conventional Implants can be provided at the UK Mini Implant Service, meaning we can use the most appropriate treatment customised to suit your needs.

The implants are placed in the bone, using a particularly gentle surgical technique. This usually means that the patient experiences little discomfort after the implants are placed. For patients who are a little anxious, this procedure can be carried out under sedation.

Following the implant placement procedure, the implants are left undisturbed for a period of 3 to 6 months so that the bone can grow around the implants to form a strong biological bond to them. During this bone ‘remodelling’ phase, you will have some type of temporary replacement teeth, so that you never have to be without teeth during treatment.

Dental implants preserve bone because they function like tooth roots, firmly embedded in the bone. In order for the implants to become embedded in the bone, the bone must bond to the implants. This process takes anywhere from 1 to 9 months, depending upon the quality of the bone in which the implants are placed.

There are other treatment options that do not take as much time to complete; however, none of these traditional methods of tooth replacement preserves bone. In fact, dentures and partials actually accelerate the bone resorption process.

Treatment Stages for Conventional Implants

1. Initial evaluation and planning.
2. Preparatory procedures.
3. Possible healing period.
4. Implant placement.
5. The settling-in stage of four to eight months.
6. Follow-up review appointments.
7. Restorative or denture stages may include the fitting of crowns or bridges or the attachment of dentures to the implants.
8. Trial use phase.
9. Progress review and maintenance appointments.
10. Upgrading stages.

Comparison

The mini implants compare favourably to the conventional implants in many ways. However, there are instances when it may be more appropriate to use conventional implants or a combination of both.

As a revolutionary departure from routine implant methods, mini implants are so narrow they are typically inserted directly through the overlying gum tissue and into the bone underneath. Consequently, the need to surgically cut and “flap” open the gum tissue, routinely required for standard implant systems, is avoided in most mini implant applications. As a result, post-insertion patient irritation and soreness are significantly reduced. While all dental implants require care during insertion to avoid encroaching on the vulnerable nerve, sinus or bony structures, the ultra-small width of the mini implants offers a much more comfortable margin of safety.