Name: Single dental implant
Brand: Beechview Dental Care
Rating: 4.9 (196 reviews)

Single dental implant

The loss of a tooth could be caused from many different reasons; tooth decay, infection, gum disease, trauma, or removal of an impacted tooth.

A single dental implant from Beechview Dental Care in Belfast is the most functional secure replacement for a missing tooth, allowing you to eat, smile and laugh with confidence.

A single titanium implant is placed into the jaw, as the replacement root. It’s a straightforward process which can be completed under local anaesthetic. The implant will need three to six months to heal and integrate with your jaw bone to provide a solid support for your replacement tooth.

Once your jaw has healed, an abutment will be fixed to the implant to hold your replacement tooth (crown) in place. Abutments are produced in titanium, gold or porcelain, and can come as a standard fit or crafted specifically for you. These options offer a range of aesthetic results, depending on your requirements.

A crown is then fitted on top, to replace your missing tooth. Your Belfast dentist will carefully match the colour of your crown to your natural teeth.

Treatments

Multiple dental implants

If you’re missing more than one tooth, there are a number of options available to you at Beechview Dental Care.

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Treatments

Implant secured dentures

Dentures can be uncomfortable, irritating and embarrassing. With advances in Implant Dentistry, Beechview Dental Care now have many innovative techniques for either denture stabilisation or completely replacing the need to wear a denture.

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Related FAQs

Does it matter if I have missing teeth?

A natural smile and a healthy mouth are important for your confidence, but it is important to replace missing teeth for health reasons as well.

Some of the health reasons to replace missing teeth are:

If you have missing teeth, the way your jaw opens and closes can be affected. This can result in a condition called TMJ dysfunction (or TMD), which is extremely painful and requires surgery in extreme cases.
Gaps between the teeth can allow the movement of other teeth into these spaces. These surrounding teeth become increasingly susceptible to decay and gum disease, which can result in them being lost as well.
Once teeth have gone, it results in bone loss. This not only shortens your face and ages it, but can cause other teeth to become loose which are then at risk of falling out. Your features droop and can appear prematurely aged.

What is a dental implant?

When a tooth falls out, the root which normally holds it in place is lost as well. This means there is then nothing to hold a replacement tooth in place. A dental implant solves this problem by using a titanium fixture to replicate the function of the tooth’s natural root.

The implant is placed into the jaw where it fuses with the bone. Like your natural root, it then provides a foundation. This provides a secure point onto which a crown can be placed, replacing the missing tooth.

How long do dental implants last?

Dental implants have been used for over 30 years to replace missing teeth. As with natural teeth, they can be damaged by trauma and affected by gum disease and poor oral hygiene. However, if they are looked after like normal teeth, they can last a lifetime.

Is a dental implant right for me?

Most healthy people, who regularly brush their teeth and visit the dentist, are suitable for implants. Dental implants can be a great solution for people of any age.

While implants are suitable for most people, there are circumstances where implants may not be suitable. It’s important that you speak to your Portman dentist if you’re concerned about any of the below.

Heavy smoking, which slows down and hinders the healing process.
Excessive alcohol intake, which can disrupt healing of the gums.
Those with a weak bones, as the implant needs to fuse with the bone in the jaw.
Severe gum disease. Tooth decay and/or gum disease needs to be treated before proceeding with a dental implant. Gum disease is a major cause of bone loss, which would hinder the success of any implant procedure.
People with compromised immune systems.
People who suffer from teeth grinding (bruxism).

What is Immediate Loading?

Immediate Loading is when a dental implant and crown are fitted at the same time. This is as opposed to a Delayed Loading implant, which is a two-stage process, separated by a period of up to six months.

The main advantage of Immediate Loading is convenience. The procedure can be done in the same day, which is why it’s sometimes known as ‘the same day smile’.

Other advantages are that it’s a quicker procedure, there’s no need to wait for the bone and implant to fuse, and you don’t need to wear a temporary bridge or dentures.

However, the main disadvantage with Immediate Loading is that there’s an increased risk of loss of the implant, due to a failure of the bone to fuse sufficiently to the implant.

Your Portman dentist will advise you on which technique will be the most beneficial for you.

What is Delayed Loading?

Delayed Loading is a two-stage process in which the implant is inserted, followed by a period of healing before the replacement teeth are fitted.

The benefits of this procedure are that there is less risk of implant failure, fewer implants are required, and the fusion between implant and jaw will have taken place, providing a firm base for your replacement teeth.

The main disadvantage to this procedure is the time you have to wait while the bone fuses. Speak to your Portman dentist about which procedure is the best for you.

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