Unsure if oral implants are for you?
At Chelsea and Fulham Dentist, we have fitted hundreds of dental implants in Chelsea and our friendly team is always on hand to answer any questions you may have about the procedure.
Here, we provide a brief guide to receiving dental implants in Chelsea.
What are oral implants?
Dental implants in Chelsea are, in essence, small titanium screws which are fitted to the jawbone and act as a fake root for the prosthetic tooth or teeth that are to be attached above.
Made from titanium, they gradually fuse to the surrounding bone and once fully fused, can remain in place for 15 years or longer with correct care.
The fitting process
Firstly, we will numb your gums. Then, we will make some incisions into the gum line where we wish to place the implant(s). If you have a vacant socket, we will use this to affix the implant to the bone; if one is not present, due to the tooth being lost long before, we will drill a hole into the bone.
After this, we will attach the implant to the jaw; this stage may be a bit fiddly and, depending on how many are being fitted, can take up to 2 hours to complete. Once in place, we will sew the gum back together around the implant(s) and then the surgery is complete!
Aftercare
Once you have had your oral implants fitted, you will need to keep the implant site clear of debris. To do this without aggravating the gums or the implant, you should aim to rinse your mouth out with salt water as required each day until our team says that it is ok to brush. Incidentally, you may also wish to switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush for cleaning your teeth.
You are also likely to experience a bit of discomfort once your implants have been fitted; we recommend using over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol. Try to not use ibuprofen or aspirin, as these can thin the blood and may cause any bruising to worsen.
If you suspect there is an issue with your implants at any stage post-fitting, please call our team!
Longevity
Provided that you engage in good dental hygiene, your oral implants should last up to and over 15 years.
This means brushing them each day as you would your regular teeth, keeping an eye out for issues such as gum disease and, of course, attending biannual check-ups with our team. It is also advised that you floss between your implants or use interdental brushes to remove plaque and bacteria from in between your teeth.
In short, good dental hygiene is the way to go with oral implants if you want them to last a long time.
Potential complications
With oral implants, or indeed any surgery, there is the risk of infection. Though this is more likely to occur if the implants were not fitted correctly or if the implant site is not cleaned effectively post-fitting.
Also, a rare occurrence, the implants that are fitted may become loose, due to either an inappropriate amount of jawbone or due to excessive pressure being placed onto them post fitting.
If you suspect that your implants are coming loose or you can see that they are wobbling, please contact our team for an assessment.
