Advantages of dental implants: Implants provide an alternative to dentures and bridges where a tooth or teeth have been lost. The advantage of implants over dentures is that they are fixed into the jaw bone like a natural tooth and are therefore more secure when eating and talking and do not have to be removed for cleaning. They are more hygienic and do not cause damage to other teeth or the surrounding soft tissues.

The advantages of implants over bridges for replacing lost teeth is that implants do not require other teeth for support therefore avoiding drilling or overloading other teeth in the mouth.

What is a dental implant: A dental implant consists of a titanium "root" inserted into the jaw bone with a porcelain crown fitted on to the top. The procedure is carried out in two stages:

1) the titanium "root" is inserted into a predrilled channel in the jaw bone and is left for a period of time to allow the bone to reform around the implant. During this period a denture may have to be worn

2) once the bone has grown round the implant (osseointegration), the porcelain crown is placed on to the implant and the process is complete.

Where a number of teeth are missing, implants can be used to support a bridge thereby reducing the number of implants required eg: a four unit bridge could be supported by two implants.

Implants can also be used to help retain a denture. Many people find dentures very difficult to wear as they move when eating and drop during speech. Implants with special attachments which clip into the under surface of the denture are a very effective method of solving this problem.

Dr Ewart will carry out an assessment free of charge on patients who are interested in having dental implant treatment. He will discuss what is involved, arrange for xrays and study casts to be taken and will send out a treatment plan and estimate. Each treatment plan and estimate is tailored specifically to that patient's requirements therefore the estimate will depend on exactly what is involved, however, a rough guide for cost is as follows:

First implant ………………………………..£1800.00
Second implant ……………………………£1400.00
Each Additional implant……………….£1200.00