Dental treatments can be as individual as you are. Although the general goal might be the same from patient to patient – replacing teeth for example – the way that this is achieved can vary.

With a procedure like dental implants, there is no way to tell exactly what course your treatment will take without consulting a dentist for advice.

Consultation

When you have dental implants in Orpington with Orpington Dental, the first thing that will happen is a detailed consultation and examination. This is so that one of our team can check what you need. It may include x-rays of the teeth and jawbone to check for health and density.

You are asked a series of questions to determine whether any historical, medical or lifestyle factors are likely to affect your capacity to support implants. If there are any issues, your dentist will discuss them with you.

Preparation

There are two main procedures that might be used to prepare for dental implants, if required.

You may need to have the remains of old teeth removed in order to make way for your new set. Your dentist will also talk to you about any remaining teeth that look like they might deteriorate in the near future and cannot be saved in any other way. It could be easier to replace these at the same time as your others. Any healthy teeth will be unaffected and can stay where they are.

Dental implants are supported in your jawbone. They need a certain amount of height and thickness in order to be able to do the work you want them to do. If you do not have the necessary composition in your jaw, you can have material added to create it. This is achieved by means of a bone graft or sinus lift.

A bone graft is where material is taken from elsewhere in your body and applied to the area. This then knits with the existing bone. If you prefer, you may be able to consider a bone donor or animal source instead. This process extends the overall treatment time but makes dental implants accessible for many people who have deterioration in the jawbone.