Are you fed up with hiding your smile because you don’t like prominent gaps?

If you are, then you may be happy to learn that there is now a more permanent way for dentists across the UK to restore missing teeth; oral implants!

At Clapham South Dental, we are dedicated to giving our patients the best smiles that we can and if you are suitable, we are more than happy to begin the process of fitting dental implants Clapham with you.

So, what can you expect when you are looking to have dental implants Clapham fitted?

Initial consultation and tests

During your initial consultation for having dental implants Clapham, our team will explore your dental and general health with you. We will perform a routine check-up to assess your mouth for signs of decay or gum disease, which will have to be treated before any implants are fitted if they are present.

We will also take x-rays of your jaws, to ascertain if they are thick enough or in good enough condition to support implants.

Fitting

When it comes to fitting your implant(s), our team may use an open, vacant socket in the case of a recently lost tooth or we may drill a new one.

We will ensure first and foremost that your mouth is numbed and then, we will make some incisions into the gum line and gently peel it back to expose the bone. Then, depending on whether we need to drill a hole or use an already existing one, we will fit the implant.

This process can be a bit time consuming and if you are having multiple implants fitted, we may wish to divide the fitting over multiple appointments.

Aftercare

When you get home post-implant fitting, you will need to take care to not aggravate the implant site.

This will mean cleaning around the area with a soft-bristled toothbrush and using salt water to clean the implant. You may also need to avoid overly hard or spicy foods for a while, as these can put pressure on the implant and may even lead to a newly fitted implant coming loose. You will also want to avoid spicy foods as they can worsen inflammation.

For more advice on implant aftercare, talk to our team.

Prosthetics

Once the fusing period is up, our team will then fit the prosthetics; these can be a single tooth or a full set of dentures.

The fitting of the prosthetics typically takes over an hour and is not uncomfortable. Meaning you can walk into our surgery with one smile and leave with a completely different one! Perfect!

Daily life

After your prosthetics have been loaded to your oral implants, you are ready to bite into and chew whichever foods you want.

But take care to look after your oral implants; they will need daily brushing, flossing and general hygiene care along with biannual check-ups by our team. This will help us to keep an eye out for things like gum disease which can significantly shorten the lifespan of implants.