Following your initial consultation and the diagnostic stages of your treatment, we will arrange an appointment for your ‘Teeth in a Day’ procedure. You can expect to be at the practice for several hours on this day. The amount of time your procedure will take will depend on your specific treatment plan. Your dentist will be able to give you a guide as to how long your procedure may take.

Before this date, the CBCT will be completed and reviewed with you in one visit (possible at your consultation if you so choose). The diagnostic stages are individual to each patient and may require multiple visits over a few weeks in order to provide our excellent laboratories with all of the information to give you the best possible outcome.

Dental implants are inserted into the jaw bone under local anaesthetic so the procedure is not painful. 

Just like with any other dental procedure, local anaesthetic takes away any painful sensation for a number of hours so that you can comfortably undergo the procedure without the risks that are carried by the use of general anaesthetics (where you are not conscious). 

Following the procedure, it is normal to experience some discomfort for a week after which symptoms should begin to resolve. In this time, you should carefully follow post-operative instructions to ensure quick and uneventful healing. 

Over-the-counter painkillers (analgesics) are often recommended and are sufficient to get you through this period comfortably. After a few days, and from thereon in, you will feel no sensation from your implant.

Dental implants can last forever but this is not always the case. It is best to make your decision on the assumption that you will need some form of maintenance of your implant and restoration in your lifetime – the younger you are, the more likely this will be.

Complications related to dental implants can be categorised as short and long term, and biological or mechanical.

In the short run, it takes a few months for your body to grow bone onto the implant surface – a process known as osseointegration. The success rate is excellent, in excess of 95% if certain protocols are followed.

In the long run, biological problems can cause the development of gum disease around your implant. This is more likely to happen if you smoke, have gum disease (periodontitis), do not clean your implants thoroughly and regularly (with toothbrushes and interdental brushes), do not visit your dentist and hygienist regularly or have certain medical conditions (for example diabetes).

Mechanical complications can lead to chipping, staining and wear of your restoration. Over time, as with anything manmade, more extensive maintenance may be needed, such as replacing the crown/bridge/denture. Dentures are often cheaper than ceramic restorations such as crowns and bridge, but the softer materials will need replacing more frequently. 

If the implant under the gum is healthy, then replacing the restoration on top is normally straightforward but can be costly and should be factored into your decision.

Your new implants and restorations are guaranteed for 3 years, subject to annual check-ups with a dentist and quarterly hygiene visits. The guarantee covers any breakage or damage that is not caused by inappropriate use. 

Your restorations will develop some wear and tear over time – after all, you will use them a lot! This is to be expected. Your restoration will certainly need maintenance and even replacement over time. 

There are two parts to making an implant retained bridge or denture look natural. The camouflage is dependent on the pink aesthetics (gum) and the white aesthetics (teeth).

The pink aesthetics are the most difficult part and will depend on:

The healed shape and texture of your gums following tooth loss

The surgical techniques used by your dentist and your subsequent healing

The appearance of your teeth will be down to the quality of the dental laboratory and the skill of the dental technician creating the teeth. Sometimes it is not possible (or very difficult) to restore the natural appearance of the area where you may have lost teeth. Your dentist will be able to advise you on this and suggest ways in which the outcome could be improved when they are planning your treatment. If you show a lot of gum when you smile, then it can be more difficult to hide these areas.

This may be a consideration in your choice of treatment and again, your implant dentist will be able to discuss this with you.

The main reason why we may not be able to offer you fixed teeth (and instead offer implant retained dentures) is that we cannot hide the junction between your prosthesis and gums (known as the transition line). If this were visible when smiling then it would look unnatural. We explore every option for hiding this behind your lips and will discuss this with you if necessary.

Yes. As with any minor surgical procedure, it carries risks that your dentist will be able to explain to you. These risks are dependent on your own circumstances, the site of the implant and your individual anatomy.

The gold standard for diagnosis and planning is the use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans which are relatively low dose x-rays that provide your implant surgeon with an accurate 3D model of your jaw. This can be used to further minimise the risk of complications associated with implant placement.

Depending on the number of implants being placed, the complexity of the procedure and whether you are having teeth removed on the same day, the time you spend in the dental chair can range from 45 minutes to a few hours. Your implant dentist should be able to give you a better idea.