Oral implants are considered the pinnacle in restorative dentistry with the capacity to replace individual teeth or a whole set of dentures. Dental Implants in Clapham are performed by Dr Aussia who holds qualifications in dental implantology and oral surgery with a very high success rate. However, there are situations which make implants inappropriate.

How they work

Modern Dental Implants in Clapham are formed from three components; the implant, the connector and the prosthetic.

The implant is a tapered, ridged titanium rod with a rounded tip which sits in the bone of the jaw and acts as an artificial root. It is held in place by the process of osseointegration, which happens when titanium integrates with the bone and is the reason why titanium is so widely used in surgery.

The connector attaches the titanium component to the prosthetics. This allows the implanting to occur in multiple stages, with a period left for the bone to heal. There are multiple options, as to what you may wish to fit onto the connecter from a single porcelain tooth, (not unlike a crown) to a set of dentures.

The fitting process

After an assessment and confirming that you’re suitable for the procedure, the implant treatment can be booked in. It usually takes one session to place the titanium root, then a second session 4-6 months after to have the prosthetic fitted.

What would make me unsuitable?

Most people can receive dental implants. The aspect of the procedure with the highest risk of failure is the root not ‘fixing’ into the bone. This is aggravated by bone disorders like dental imperfections, osteoporosis and medication which may prevent bone growth, like those used to treat cancer.

There is no evidence supporting age as a limitation unless there are underlying conditions, but a full set of adult teeth must be present and if below 18 parental consent must be given.

Are there other options?

Are there alternatives to Dental Implants in Clapham? Possibly – you would need to speak to Dr Aussia to make an impartial assessment and present you with your options, as it would vary on a case by case basis. If there are options to save teeth from unnecessary extraction, it should be explored first. This could involve crowns or mini-implants into a healthy root to build up a badly damaged tooth.

Implants have excellent longevity, even compared to root canal treated teeth, so in comparison, they are a superior form of restorative dentistry. There is the ability to disconnect a damaged prosthetic from the root via the converter and replace only the ceramic component, leaving the rest of the implant undisturbed in the jaw bone. This simplifies future treatments and reduces their cost and recovery time.

What is it like having a dental implant?

Most of the time, our patients find by the 2-year check-up, the implants are indistinguishable from the natural teeth. With the same care needs, 6-month check-ups and regular brushing, it’s easy to see why. Over time, the porcelain of the prosthetics may diverge from the natural enamel shade. This is due to the prosthetic being more stain-resistant than natural enamel and can be fixed by our team.