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ANSWERS TO MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A natural tooth consists of a tooth root, which firmly sits in the jawbone, and a tooth crown, which is the visible upper part of the tooth.
A dental implant is a small titanium screw which is placed in your jaw to act as a fixed and permanent root. During the healing process this screw integrates with the surrounding bone (through a process known as osseointegration). The implant acts as a base for fixing single crowns, multiple tooth bridges, or can be used as an anchor for full jaw teeth replacements.
- Implants appear and function like natural teeth – An implant is the gold standard replacement option for teeth. After completion of treatment your implant tooth/teeth will be just as strong and indistinguishable from your natural teeth
- Maintain your smile and self-confidence – An implant solution looks and feels natural. You can feel more comfortable talking smiling, laughing, eating and kissing too.
- Eliminate need for a denture – Implants can eliminate your need for a full or partial denture, ensure tooth stability and encourage better gum health with adjacent teeth.
- Preserve your jawbone and facial structure – Our natural teeth help jawbone to remain strong and healthy. The forces we generate as we chew transmit through the tooth roots to the bone, which stimulates the maintenance of bone density and shape. Where a tooth or teeth are missing, the bone around it shrinks and recedes after extraction. This process continues for as long as there are no teeth present in that part of the jaw. With shrinking bone, the shape of your face changes over time and this is demonstrated by wrinkling on the face and an ageing appearance.
Implants help maintain jawbone and preserve your facial structure helping maintain a more youthful facial appearance.
Dr Adam Patel has been placing implants for over a decade. 99% of the implants placed by Dr Adam Patel are still functioning and stable. Dr Adam Patel has some of the highest implant success rates in the UK. The long-term success of an implant is dependent on your general health, oral hygiene and maintenance. When implants fail it is usually due to the same reasons as with natural teeth – poor oral hygiene, lack of care, smoking or trauma.
No matter age or gender, dental implants can help any adult patient. Dental implant candidates include anyone with congenitally missing teeth (ie. Missing from birth), trauma (accidents) causing tooth loss, disease or decay related tooth loss, denture users and people with advanced gum disease.
- Bone resorption – Following the loss of a tooth/teeth, bone resorption occurs. As the bone resorbs problems associated with lack of support can lead to instability of the remaining surrounding teeth. The bone loss is continuous and does not stop unless the tooth/teeth are replaced with implants. Continued bone loss in upper and lower jaws gives the appearance of ageing, wrinkles and leads to the sunken look which we associate in people with no teeth (edentulous patients).
- Difficulty chewing/eating – The balance of your chewing is affected and you are more likely to place excessive bite forces on opposing teeth.
- Difficulty breaking down food – Tooth loss impacts on our ability to adequately break down our food and studies have shown this gradually has an impact on our digestive system leading to other potential digestive problems.
- Movement of adjacent teeth – Teeth next to the area of tooth loss are likely to move unfavourably to occupy the space left by the lost tooth or teeth. This can alter your bite and create problems with chewing.
- Overeruption of opposing teeth – Teeth in the opposite jaw will eventually over erupt to occupy the space left by the lost tooth, leading to alteration in your bite and eventually lack of space to replace teeth.
Dental implants are made from titanium, which is known for its biocompatibility – because of this the human body does not consider the implant a foreign material so rejection is rare. Our implants are made from high quality titanium, which has been chosen for its strength, lightness and biocompatibility. The implants are also treated with calcium molecules to further aid integration with the surrounding bone. The risk of infection around a healed and functioning implant is the same as with your natural teeth. This is why practising good dental hygiene and regularly visiting your hygienist and dentist is so important.
Dental Implants are a long-lasting solution for single or multiple missing teeth and are easily cared for with brushing and flossing – just like your natural teeth. Routine regular check-ups with your dentist and hygienist will help your implants stay healthy.
The cost of implant treatment varies depending on the complexity of your case. Think of implants as a long-term investment in your health and future comfort and confidence. Implants are a cost-effective alternative to conventional restorations and improve the quality of life. Your treatment plan will be uniquely tailored and bespoke to you. Following your consultation and assessment stage, you will be provided with a full written treatment plan. Implants can cost from as little as £69 per month.
Dr Adam Patel has expertly trained worldwide and is experienced with the most advanced surgical techniques and innovations to make your surgery quick and painless, and healing as smooth as possible. He generally provides implant treatment under local anaesthetic and offers the option of sedation with an anaesthetist for those who don’t want to be fully awake or are anxious about treatment. This is an excellent option for patients who are nervous about having treatment.
No. You are usually able to wear a denture to hide the space, have a temporary bridge or possibly a temporary restoration on your implant.
If you are having full jaw implants you may be eligible for ‘teeth in a day’ immediate fixed teeth replacements so you never have to be without teeth.
Dr Adam Patel has trained worldwide in the most advanced bone grafting techniques and is able to provide implants in even the most difficult of situations. Patients are routinely referred to Dr Adam Patel from across the UK by Dentists and Implant surgeons to rehabilitate jaw bone for single, multiple and full mouth implants. He offers a wide range of synthetic and natural bone substitutes designed to build up bone. Bone graft surgery is carried out in a similar manner to implant surgery, and the procedure is generally painless.
If you have loose teeth due to gum disease, you wear full dentures or you need to have your teeth removed due to failing dental work you will require expert treatment to rehabilitate your teeth. Such cases can be very challenging and require state of the art rehabilitation with bone and implants with a qualified implantologist.
Dr Adam Patel is one of a select few clinicians nationwide who can reconstruct your jawbone, gums and place implants to support new fixed teeth for the whole jaw that look natural and allow you to eat, smile and talk with confidence. Dr Adam takes on referrals from Dentists and clinics nationwide specifically for full mouth rehabilitation with implants. If you would like to visit Dr Adam Patel for a consultation to see how we can transform your life with implants, you are welcome to self-refer directly to Dr Adam Patel here.
Even if you have worn dentures for many years and suffered bone loss, we are able to place jaw or zygomatic implants even in the most difficult of situations. We can confidently rehabilitate your teeth, appearance and oral function whilst restoring dignity and pride to your appearance.
If you have dentures that move around and are uncomfortable to eat with, we have solutions to provide you with fixed denture teeth and the confidence to smile and eat without embarrassment or self-consciousness.
Say goodbye to denture fixative forever and don’t think twice about biting into an apple again.
Even if you have worn dentures for many years, we have techniques that can rehabilitate your appearance and function and restore dignity and pride to your dental appearance.
This is a procedure especially suited to patients who are happy to wear dentures but wish for them to be more stable and to chew and eat better with them. We place implants which have a ‘press stud’ style attachment over the top known as locator abutments.
Two to four implants are placed into the jaw and a denture is seated over the attachments and is clicked into place. Although there can still be slight movement with this restoration it is a world away from a conventional dentures and offers security, stability and confidence for patients who experience difficulty wearing and eating with dentures.
This is the ideal option for most patients.
Four to six implants are placed into the jaw, with teeth constructed on top that are secured in place and not removed. This is the closest possible solution to natural teeth.
With fixed teeth solutions we expect our patients to be able to eat whatever they want and to smile and function with immense confidence.
Four to six implants are placed into the jaw, with teeth constructed IMMEDIATELY on top that are secured in place and not removed. This is the closest possible solution to natural teeth. You may walk in to surgery in the morning with no teeth but you will leave by the end of the day with a fixed full set of teeth in place. The immediate teeth are usually replaced with a final bespoke set of teeth a few months later, but you will never have to be without teeth at any phase of your treatment.
With fixed teeth solutions we expect our patients to be able to eat whatever they want and to smile and function with immense confidence.
The procedure is usually completed in 3-4 painless visits typically spread across three months. Firstly, a small opening is made in the gum and the implant is inserted. This procedure typically takes an hour. The gum will fully heal within a few weeks and you can return to normality within 72 hours of having the surgery. The tooth is then attached to the implant after the implant is fully healed within bone usually twelve weeks after the insertion.
Four to six Implants and any associated bone graft are often placed simultaneously at one visit. The surgery typically takes two to three hours per jaw and heals remarkably quickly. You will have either a temporary fixed bridge or dentures during the healing phase which typically takes up to three months. Maintenance of a soft diet is imperative during healing. Once the implants are strong enough your final bespoke teeth are made and fixed to your implants. The process usually involves seven to eight appointments from start to finish. Timings may vary depending on your dental and medical health.
If you require a minor bone graft the bone is placed at the same time as the implant and will typically heal within three months. If you require a larger bone graft this will typically be carried out prior to the insertion of the implant(s). Larger bone grafts can take up to six months to heal.
Dental implants require the same care and attention as natural teeth. Regular dental health checks and hygienist visits are imperative. Dr Adam Patel’s hygienist will demonstrate after care instructions and advise of various oral health care tools such as interdental brushes, a waterpik and electric toothbrush to help you maintain long term implant health and get the best out of your wonderful new teeth.
Yes, we provide monthly payment options to enable you to fund your treatment in a manner which suits your financial circumstances best. See your options.