Implants have become in recent times the best way to predictably replace missing teeth. The biggest problem as an implant dentist is the amount of bone present within which to place the implant. We need height and width of bone and more is always better.
The problem for all missing front teeth and in more then half back teeth is that the bone is not enough.
When a tooth is removed/ extracted, the bone which surrounded the tooth/root is no longer needed and with time it effectively dissolves away. The resorbtion of bone is quicker initially and slows down after 3 months but still continues through life. This makes placing an implant more difficult the longer the tooth has been extracted.
If you have a gap where a tooth has been removed have a look or feel with your finger and you will see a dip and a thinning of the ridge of bone.
Assessing the amount of bone is the main thing we do at the examination appointment. Other important things to assess are what the soft tissues (gums) are like. Some gum tissue is hard and resistant to being moved around (we like this type!). Some gum tissue is very thin and shrinks easily (we don’t like this type as it’s harder to handle). We need to know/asses any vital structures like nerves/sinus or major blood vessels, the position of the final teeth, what the lip support is like ect.
As you can see the examination appointment is really very important with lots of different things to look at.
This makes giving an accurate estimate over the internet very difficult. Not only that sometimes, when the patient comes in he/she is not suitable for implants or there are alternatives which may be cheaper and better. So when asking for an estimate please gives as much information as possible to enable us to give you a more accurate estimate.
If you'd like a voucher for a refund of your initial assessment fee, please complete the form on our main website http://www.smiledentalimplants.co.uk/
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