Types of dental implants in Harley Street, London

Natural teeth are held in place because their roots are firmly attached to the jawbone. For some patients with missing or damaged teeth, the best and most satisfactory way of replacing the natural teeth and roots is to use a system of dental implants at a Harley Street clinic. Dental implants are made out of extremely strong titanium or titanium alloys and offer a replacement where natural roots are no longer in existence.

Each individual dental implant is carefully placed into the jawbone below the spot where a substitute tooth will eventually sit. This is a surgical procedure, which can be professionally managed with topical and local anaesthesia at our Harley Street dental clinic. Depending on suitability, implants will either be tapped or screwed into place with as much contact with the bone as possible. Further stability is obtained over the following months as new bone develops around the dental implant. During these months, implants are often invisible below the gums and temporary tooth-replacement systems can be worn to avoid dissatisfaction or embarrassment.

Once a strong enough bond between jawbone and dental implant has been established, the implants can be prepared to receive new porcelain teeth at our Harley Street clinic. Our London, Harley Street dental implant experts will make the decision as to whether or not a temporary first set of teeth is required to assess the integrity and aesthetics of the implant and teeth combination. Once the final set of teeth has been fitted, this can take between 3 and 9 months, the results will look and function in a very similar way to natural teeth. Regular examinations and appointments with our Harley Street hygienists are recommended following treatment but patients can expect longevity from both dental implants and teeth. Dental bridges supported by implants can usually be expected to last a lifetime.

Why should I consider dental implants?

Dental implants are a whole tooth substitute and an excellent alternative to dental bridges or dentures if you have teeth that are missing or need to be replaced because of damage or accident. Whilst dental bridges can provide an attractive option, installing them always requires intentional damage to the otherwise healthy supportive teeth. Dentures have to be removed for cleaning, are bulky in the mouth, not very secure and never feel like part of you. Placing dental implants at our Harley Street clinic is not an instant solution to missing teeth but it is the most long-lasting and reliable alternative to natural teeth. Once your Harley Street dental implant treatment has been completed and your hygiene programme set up at one of our London clinics, you will be able to appreciate your food as though you still had a full set of natural teeth.

How much do dental implants cost?

At our Harley Street clinic, there is no set fee for dental implants, each case is different and we will be happy to discuss costs with you following your initial consultation. Fees will vary according to the number of implants required and the number of teeth being replaced, it might not be necessary to place an implant for every root that is missing but some patients require additional procedures to prepare the implant area. The important thing to remember with Harley Street dental implants is that they provide a long term solution, which will avoid the on going costs and unpredictable fees that other, more temporary specialist dental procedures might incur.

Types of dental implants we offer

Please click on the links below to find out more about the types of dental implants we offer here at 75 Harley Street:

• Immediate implant placement after extractions
• Single tooth implant-supported crowns in Harley Street, London
• Multiple tooth implant-supported bridges
• Implant retained overdentures (partial and complete)
• Mini implants to help orthodontic tooth movement
• Full mouth implants

Immediate implant placement after extractions

At our Harley Street dental clinic we can place a dental implant into the jawbone immediately after a tooth extraction and may be able to use that implant to support a same day crown, bridge or denture. Losing a tooth due to damage or accident can be a difficult time and most people prefer to return to their usual facial look as soon as possible. Immediate implant placement at our Harley Street clinic can drastically reduce the time between losing a tooth and gaining a fully functioning replacement. Dr Sanei, our specialist implantologist, has over 20 years dental implant experience and a deep understanding of the procedures necessary to place a dental implant immediately after extraction. At our London, Harley Street practice a pre-surgical appointment will deal with sedation options, postoperative pain medication, sedatives and anti-inflammatories in light of individual health requirements. It is important to emphasise here that only a few dental-implant procedures significant require pain medication; local anaesthesia keep our patients comfortable during the procedure.

Once the damaged tooth has been extracted and the implant site prepared at our Harley Street clinic, a dental implant can be placed into the jawbone and, if the implant is firmly enough in place, an immediate dental restoration or crown placed onto it. If the immediate placement of a crown is not possible then a temporary cosmetic solution such as a bridge can be created until bone growth has provided greater dental implant stability.

Single tooth implant-supported crowns

Even with just one missing tooth the impact on your overall facial look can be significant. A single tooth implant-supported crown at our Harley Street clinic can give a long-lasting and satisfactory solution to this problem. The creation of a bridge used to be the only option to replace a single missing tooth but whilst bridges provide a good cosmetic solution, they also have an impact on the existing teeth required to provide support. Most of the enamel has to be removed from supporting teeth before a bridge can be fabricated and keeping your mouth healthy and clean with a dental bridge can be difficult. A single tooth dental implant at our Harley Street clinic can fill the gap caused by a missing tooth without having an impact on surrounding, healthy teeth. After a thorough examination, including x-rays, impressions and a check for the location of nerves and sinuses (all completed at our Harley Street clinic), a titanium implant is inserted into the jawbone and the area is left to heal over a period of months. Once sufficient healing has occurred patients are invited to return to our Harley Street dental practice and the implant is prepared for the placement of implant-supported crowns. Once a dental implant-supported crown has been created the replacement crown will look and function like a natural tooth and will prove to be a long lasting and convenient solution.

Multiple tooth implant-supported bridges

A dental bridge is designed to fill any unsightly gaps in rows of teeth. In the same way that a natural bridge uses the healthy teeth either side of the gap as anchoring points, an implant-supported bridge uses dental implants to provide support. Whilst implants at a Harley Street practice are a great solution to missing teeth, there may be areas in your mouth where your Harley Street dentist does not want to place one. Reasons for this might include, insufficient jawbone to support an implant, closely located nerves or (above the upper teeth) vulnerable sinus cavities. By placing dental implants either side of the gap in your teeth, your Harley Street dentist can use these to support an implant-supported bridge. Multiple tooth implant-supported bridges use implants either side of gaps where more than one tooth is missing.

A multiple tooth implant-supported bridge at our Harley Street clinic consists of three main parts:

• A titanium implant placed into the jawbone during a surgical procedure. One implant is required for each supporting tooth in an implant-supported bridge.
• A gold or porcelain cylindrical abutment screwed securely into a previously inserted implant. The threads on the abutment and implant ensure that the abutment remains firmly fixed in place.
• A restoration, which is firmly attached to a metal substructure and looks like a row of teeth but is actually a series of connected porcelain crowns.

Implant retained overdentures (partial and complete)

You Harley Street dentist will explain to you that dentures work in a similar way to dental bridges but they are designed to be removable whereas bridges are a fixed solution and cemented or bonded to natural teeth, or supported by implants. In the same way that dental bridges can be supported by dental implants where natural teeth are unsuitable or in tricky locations, so can dentures. When a denture is supported by dental implants it is known as an overdenture and does not rest on the gums like regular dentures. Some patients who are edentulous (lacking some or all of their teeth) have enough bone in the jaw to support implants. If dental implants can be successfully inserted at our Harley Street practice then we will be able to create specialist implant-supported overdentures that clip easily onto connectors on the implants. The two principal types of implant-supported overdentures are bar-retained and ball-retained. The base of the denture for each of these will look like your natural gums and have either porcelain or acrylic teeth naturally attached to it.

• Bar-retained overdentures – These require at least two supportive implants, which connect a thin, metal bar. Specialist fastenings connect this bar to the overdenture.
• Ball-retained overdentures – These are also known as stud-attachment dentures and use a system of ‘male’ and ‘female’ attachments on each implant to join it to the overdenture.

Removable dentures and overdentures are sometimes considered an easier option at our Harley Street clinic than bridges for maintaining dental health.

Mini implants to help orthodontic tooth movement

At our Harley Street practice, our implant specialist Dr Sanei might sometimes decide to use mini implants to support orthodontic treatment. During orthodontic treatment, misaligned or crooked teeth are eased back into line by the appliance of orthodontic force over time. In traditional treatment orthodontic devices are either anchored to larger teeth such as canines or molars or to internal or external appliances. This does not always provide a satisfactory result because, when force is applied over time, both types of anchorage can move. Our Harley Street team believe that the advantage of using a mini dental implant as anchorage for orthodontist treatment is that mini implants are screwed directly into the mandible (the lower jaw) or the maxilla (the arch of bone which holds the upper teeth). This provides a more satisfactory anchor for orthodontic appliances and can achieve impressive results. Before orthodontic treatment with mini implants you will have consultation at our Harley Street, London clinic. Mini implants are not a suitable orthodontic solution for everybody, for example patients who smoke or use particular medications; our specialist will explain all of the implications and options before proceeding with treatment. Occasionally larger dental implants can be used for orthodontic treatment; these will remain in the mouth and be used as support for crowns or bridges once teeth have been orthodontically realigned.

Full mouth implants

For patients who are missing all of their teeth, we also offer dental implant treatment at our Harley Street clinic. Full mouth implants have a natural look, function in the same way as natural teeth and provide an excellent working alternative to dentures. Modern dentures are more comfortable than their predecessors but they still have disadvantages including cleaning issues (they must be removed to be cleaned), discomfort over time and chewing difficulties. Full mouth dental implants are strong and long lasting because they are attached firmly to the jawbone and can be cleaned in the same way as natural teeth. Another option, instead of a full set of individual implants is to use an implant supported bridge. With this technique, multiple implants (6-10) are placed in the mouth, which will then help to support a full arch ceramic bridge. This implant supported bridge will provide the edentulous patient with the best tooth replacement option and is less invasive. Whilst there are full mouth dental implant systems that allow for a one-stage implant, usually the process takes the same steps as when fewer implants are required. Dental implants at our Harley Street practice are first placed into the jaw during a surgical procedure; these are given a few months to bond with the jawbone and then the implants are uncovered before crowns and fitting devices can be attached. Whilst full mouth implant surgery might seem invasive, it should be remembered that this long-term solution is far better for your oral health than dentures. When you visit our Harley Street, London dental clinic we will discuss your needs and advise you as to the most efficacious treatment.

You can find out more about the benefits of dental implants as well as the risks and complications on our site. You can also view some tooth replacement before and after photos of patients that we have treated. If you want to ask us any questions about dental implants please contact us.

For more information on dental implants please also see:

• Harley Street Dental Implants
• Why Have Dental Implants?
• Dental Implant Consultation
• Dental Implant Procedure
• Dental Implant Photos
• Dental Implant Benefits
• Dental Implant Risks
• Dental Implant Costs
• Dental Implant Questions