The Dental Implant Procedure – Q&A
Our Bromley dentist answers your implant questions.
Over the years, we’ve understandably had lots of questions asked about dental implants, so, hopefully as a handy guide, we thought we would start 2016 with a look at some of the more common ones and the answers to them.
Is a dental implant procedure painful?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is the most common question that we are asked about dental implants at the Smile Dental Practice in Bromley. The answer is that, like all invasive procedures, some slight discomfort may be felt during the treatment. However, given that a powerful local anaesthetic is used and you are in very experienced hands, any level of discomfort should be minor and no more significant than other treatments.
The inconvenience of the procedure and short healing period is well worthwhile, and you will receive replacement teeth that are strong and long-lasting.
Do they feel natural?
As dental implants are placed into the jawbone; once they have fully become integrated with the bone they will, in effect, perform the same function as a natural tooth root. The addition of a dental crown completes the replacement tooth and you are left with a tooth that is as natural as can possibly be achieved with the current level of dental technology. In the very early stages of the treatment period, you may find that the implants don’t feel entirely natural but as the titanium implant integrates with the jawbone, this feeling soon eases and most patients tell us that they rarely think about their dental implants once they have become used to them.
Am I too old to have them?
As more people experience tooth loss as they get older, they will be pleased to know that age typically presents no barrier to the placement of dental implants. Indeed, older people benefit greatly as implants offer access to a wider variety of food than may have been the case if dentures were used to replace the lost teeth instead.
Are dental implants expensive?
We would love to be able to offer dental implants more cheaply; however, realistically this cannot be done. Given the highly expensive titanium that is used to produce them (titanium being the only metal that fully integrates with the bone), and the years of extra training and specialist equipment that is needed, unfortunately dental implants do not come cheap. This factor has tempted some to take up offers of cheap dental implants abroad, although we would strongly advise against this for reasons we will discuss in a later blog.
Instead, we are pleased to offer 0% finance options which help patients to spread the cost of their treatments over a period of time, making it less of a financial burden on them.
If you are interested in dental implants to replace missing teeth, please call the Smile Dental Practice on 020 8462 2473 to arrange an initial consultation with our implant team.