Dental Implants Before and After

Missing a tooth (or teeth) for a prolonged period, can cause distress. Not only could it potentially ruin your smile, but it can negatively impact how you eat and (or) speak. In turn, it can reduce your confidence and make you less likely to smile or talk for prolonged periods of time in front of others. Moreover, if your natural tooth roots are no longer in place, the jawbone can deteriorate, and surrounding teeth may begin to move into the gaps. Additionally, debris/bacteria can go into these gaps, and in the long term it can negatively impact your oral health. Subsequently, a dental implant can be a life-changing solution.

Benefits of implants

Getting dental implants will not simply fill in gaps, instead they can completely change your smile. They can be life altering, allowing you to live your life fully and eat any type of food you want, in any part of your mouth. You may even forget you have implants, as they are so realistic and comfortable in the mouth. They will match any existing teeth in shape, size, and colour, and ensure that you will suffer no spacing issues.

Before and after images of the implant process

Implant supported dentures

This type of implant can offer you a superior alternative to traditional dentures to deal with complete tooth loss. This can be a permanent solution for complete tooth loss, and the impressive results are illustrated below:

Implant for multiple tooth loss

If you have experienced issues with multiple missing consecutive teeth, then it is possible to deal with all these teeth with the support of implants. This can be done through having implants placed on either side of the missing teeth and then using crowns/bridges in between. This is a secure and stable option that can help quickly deal with your significant tooth gap, with the fantastic results evident below:

Implant for a single missing tooth

If you happen to have a single tooth missing, then an implant can be a great option. This can be made to match the existing teeth in your mouth and will be indistinguishable to the naked eye. The remarkable results of this treatment are illustrated below:

Mini implants

This option is great for those who are unable or unwilling to undergo the invasive surgery required for other implant options, or if there is not enough bone in the jaw to support other implant options. If helping to retain a full denture they can be just as effective as the conventional dental implant options, but sadly, they do not last as long. We also need to determine if a patient is suitable for this procedure as mini dental implants need careful consideration. Because these mini-implants are not as big as normal implants, they are not able to cope with as much force being put on them. For example, the biting force of a 40-year-old, heavy set male is going to be much higher than the biting force of an 85-year-old, small, framed female.

We also need to be pragmatic and realistically consider your life expectancy. If for example, you are 85 and feel you only really need the dental implants to last 5-10 years then mini dental implants may be for you. In terms of longevity, I would expect mini dental implants to last around 6-7 years. They can last much longer and most of the mini-dental implants we placed over 10 years ago have survived. If they fail, they usually come loose and fall out themselves. And when they fail, they will not all come out – it would just be one of them. So, if you have four placed in the lower jaw, you should be able to get many years use out of them before the last one fails.

Your dentist can explain more depending on your situation. We do not recommend mini dental implants to support crowns or bridges.

We have successfully treated thousands of patients here at The Denture & Implant Clinic and we use the best implant system on the market. If you would like to request an appointment or online consultation, we will look forward to helping you achieve your dream smile.