Remember those little boys in Oliver! Singing about hot sausage and mustard, peas pudding and saveloys, and the joys of indigestion when you can eat what you like? That’s a bit how it can be if you have just lost one or more teeth, and, with them, your freedom of choice around eating.

Chewy food (toffees, steak), crunchy food (apples, carrots), gloopy foods (nut butters), bitty foods (seeds and nuts) – the list is long. Not being able to eat these things can be severely restrictive for some people. Fortunately, there’s a wonderful solution that can give you back your varied diet, and we have it on hand here at Orpington Dental Care in Orpington-dental implants!

In Orpington, dental implants allow a more varied diet than dentures and other artificial teeth because they replace the root as well as the crown of the tooth. The replacement root is a titanium post that we insert into the jawbone under local anaesthetic. Some anxious patients also choose to receive sedation during this procedure.

The implant becomes a stable and fixed feature in the jawbone, just like a natural root, over the following weeks to months. This is because the titanium from which it is made is able to fuse with bone tissue. When bone and post become one, it creates a stable chewing base. Also, because the titanium catalyses bone growth, the jawbone remains full and strong, and you can avoid sunken aged look often acquired by denture wearers as their jawbones lose density.

Once this integration period is completed, you can come back to us for the remaining part of your dental implants in Orpington. During this appointment, we will fit an abutment into the post. An abutment is an internal screw. It is onto this that your new artificial crown is fitted.

Your crowns are custom-made to blend in with your natural teeth. The material used is porcelain and this comes in a range of shades to match the colour of the surrounding teeth. Because tooth shape and size is also important, technicians are specially trained to hand craft teeth to match impressions or photographs of your natural teeth.

Come in for a consultation today to find out more about how dental implants in Orpington could brighten up your smile.

Every time you smile at someone you know they can see the gap in your teeth. This is a problem that you shouldn’t have to put up with and with advancements in dentistry you no longer have to.

At Orpington Dental Care in Orpington dental implants are provided in many forms. We provide a bespoke service for everyone who comes into the clinic. Even if your jaw itself has degraded we have the power to provide you a solution with our bone graft surgery.

If you are missing just one tooth, several teeth or every single tooth we have the experience and technology to help.

What is involved?

While there are obviously similarities in all procedure everyone has their own wants, and needs. Your treatment will be as individual as you are but we aim to provide the same result for everyone, that smile you’ve been missing and the freedom to eat what you want. So, if you live in Orpington,dental implants from Orpington Dental Care might be exactly what you’re looking for. Once your treatment is finished you may want to find a local bakery for some fresh crusty bread.

The treatment begins with a consultation with your dentist. We examine your teeth in minute detail, take X-rays, photographs and moulds. We also use state of the art computer modelling to show you your treatment path from start to smiley end.

Titanium implants are directly inserted into your jaw, and here’s the amazing part, your bone will naturally mesh with the implant forming a strong artificial root. The attachment is so strong that it may be possible to attach your entire set of teeth with as few as four little titanium screws.

Will the surgery hurt?

If you’re worried about discomfort or are a nervous patient in general, we understand and have ways to help. We offer a range of sedation and we have experienced staff on hand for administration.

I’m thinking about it…

If you want dental implants in Orpington feel free to contact us either by calling or chatting with someone on our website. We understand that it can be a big decision and we are ready to offer you our advice and full support.

One in four adults in the UK lose teeth. This may be down to an accident or doing something you shouldn’t, like opening a bottle with your teeth! However, most often tooth loss is due to bad dental hygiene. Luckily, due to the advancements in dental care you can have a second chance at the perfect smile!

What is a dental implant and how are they fitted?

Dental implants can replace a lost tooth or even teeth and give you back your perfect smile. The implant is essentially a titanium screw that is embedded into your jawbone. The procedure is relatively simple and you shouldn’t feel any discomfort due to a local anaesthetic being administered. A small hole is then drilled into the jaw and the titanium screw fitted directly into this hole. The gum is then stitched around the screw. The gum and jawbone will then grow around the screw, creating new blood vessels and tissues fully integrating the screw. This creates a ‘false root’ which is strong and will not wobble. The healing period is around 3 to 5 months depending on the person. Once the rod is integrated a crown is then fitted onto the screw. The crown will match the colour of your teeth creating a completely natural look.

Although most dental clinics offer dental implants, it is always good to find a specialist in the area. If you are living in Orpington, dental implants couldn’t be easier as you have a clinic on your doorstep. Orpington Dental Care fits dental implants, dedicated in providing the best possible care for its patients. They offer a range of options to suit your budget including financial plans to fit your wallet.

After care!

After care of your ‘new’ tooth is also incredibly important. Much like a natural tooth an implant must be kept clean with good oral hygiene. Since food can get trapped around your crown it is possible for your gum to be infected so it’s important to create a good dental hygiene routine. Brushing effectively with a good brush, applying dental floss to all your teeth and using a good mouth rinse will take care of your implant as it does your natural teeth. Specialist dental floss and inter dental tooth brushes may also prove to be effective, your dentist or implantologist can advise you on the best routine.

If you are reading this whilst struggling with loose-fitting dentures, dental implants could bring an end to your denture woes. At Orpington Dental Care we recommend using implants to stabilise your dentures, to ensure you enjoy an excellent quality of life without any fear of your teeth slipping or sliding away.

Modern dentures are much more comfortable, realistic, and functional than their predecessors. However, a lot of denture-wearers still have to come back to visit their dentist on a semi-regular basis in order to have their dentures relined or otherwise adjusted, because they find that their false teeth that fitted so well in the beginning keep getting loose, unwieldy, and uncomfortable over time.

Loose dentures can cause all manner of problems. These include:

• Difficulty eating anything but soft foods/liquids, restricting your diet and limiting your nutrition
• Difficulty in speaking clearly
• Hobbies such as singing becoming impossible
• Constant fear of your teeth falling our devastating your self-esteem and putting an end to your social life
• Never smiling in photographs because you think your teeth look obviously false/loose
• Sore or bleeding gums caused by your dentures rubbing them

Dental implants can help with all of these issues and more. They are artificial titanium tooth roots that your dentist will place in direct contact with your jaw bone, using either local anaesthetic or conscious sedation here at our Orpington clinic.

Your dentures will be attached to abutments on top of your implants. Whilst you will still be able to remove your denture for cleaning if you wish, they will otherwise stay exactly where they should be, enabling you to eat what you like, speak clearly, smile, sing, and socialise with new-found confidence.

Dental implants also address other problems caused by shrinkage of the jaw bone. These include changes to your facial structure, lips, and skin around the face and jowls, all of which can give you a prematurely aged look.

With proper care, your dental implants and the dentures attached to them should last you for many years – often for the rest of your life.

With dental implants, a dentist has a realistic and permanent way to replace your missing teeth. Any dentist will always stress the importance of replacing missing teeth one way or another, for the sake of your general as well as your oral health. At Orpington Dental Care we believe that, more often than note, dental implants are the perfect solution to tooth loss.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are permanent replacements for the root portions of any lost teeth. They are small titanium screws or posts that your dentist will place directly into your jaw bone. After a healing period, which is typically about three months, permanent new teeth will be attached to abutments on top of your implants. These teeth may be a bridge, a denture, or crowns, depending on your individual clinical situation and personal preferences.

Why should I consider dental implants?

Implants do so much more than just holding your new teeth firmly in place. Of course, this is important; it enables you to eat whatever you choose – even the occasional juicy steak or chewy potato skin – without the worry that your teeth won’t be up to the job. It’s also important in terms of both speech and self-confidence; slippy, loose dentures can play havoc with your self-esteem.

But because they are supportive of bone growth, dental implants don’t just alleviate these common denture woes. They also help to preserve the structure of your face, as bone resorbtion can change your entire facial appearance and cause premature sagging of the skin.

How do I get dental implants?

Come into our Orpington clinic for an implant consultation, and your dentist will conduct a thorough clinical assessment, using CT scans and/or x-rays to help with diagnosis and planning. If you have oral health concerns such as periodontal disease, these will be treated before your implants are placed, to maximise their chances of success.

At our Orpington dental practice we can place dental implants under either local anaesthetic or sedation. Once your implants have integrated with your jaw bone, your dentist will attach your permanent new teeth – crowns, a bridge, or dentures – on top.

One of the most exciting developments in the world of dentistry of the past three decades, dental implants give your dentist a permanent way to replace missing teeth. At Orpington Dental Care we always recommend that missing teeth should be replaced, and believe that dental implants are often the best way to do this.

How dental implants work

Dental implants replace the root portion of one or more missing teeth. They are placed directly in your jaw bone in a minor surgical procedure, which can be carried out using either local anaesthetic or conscious sedation at our Orpington dental practice.

Once in position, your implants will integrate with your jaw bone, providing a firm base for permanent new teeth – a crown, bridge, or denture, depending on how many teeth we need to replace – to be attached. With prudent aftercare, implants and the teeth affixed to them should last you many years, perhaps even a lifetime.

The advantages of dental implants

Implants come with several advantages over standard tooth replacements. These include:

1 Implants are permanent

In fact, dental implants are the only permanent way to replace your missing teeth. Standard bridges and dentures often need to be adjusted or replaced fairly frequently, making implants more cost-effective over time.

2 Preventing bone loss

Bone resorbtion is a common side-effect of tooth loss. It happens because the bone shrinks when the tooth roots are missing. Because implants are bionic tooth roots that support bone growth, they stop this from happening. As well as preserving your bone and stopping your teeth becoming loose, this also helps to avoid premature sagging of the facial skin.

3 Eat, smile, and speak with confidence

New teeth attached to dental implants won’t become loose and uncomfortable. They will both look and act like nature teeth, so you can eat whatever you choose, speak, smile, and laugh without fear of your teeth falling out.

If you’ve lost one or more of your natural teeth, you’ll know how distressing an experience it can be. We see patients who have lost teeth for a variety of reasons, from tooth decay or gum disease to accident or injury.

Whatever the cause, it can be very traumatic and can lead you to be embarrassed about smiling in public. In addition, it can cause a range of other health problems, from difficulties in maintaining a healthy diet because many foods are suddenly off the menu to further dental health problems as your other teeth move out of position into any gaps, while gums and bone start to recede.

Fortunately, we offer a wide range of options to replace missing teeth. The best treatment for you will depend on your individual needs and circumstances, which we’ll discuss with you at an initial consultation. Here are some of the choices:

Bridges

Dental bridges can replace one or two adjacent missing teeth. They are usually made of a precious metal base and may also contain porcelain to make them look natural. Bridges usually use surrounding teeth for support, so these teeth will need to be strong and healthy. They may be attached using crowns or wings on supporting teeth, with a false tooth or teeth in between. Sometimes, bridges are attached to dental implants.

Dentures

Dentures may be fixed with dental implants or be removable. Partial dentures replace a few missing teeth while full dentures replace an entire arch (jaw) worth of teeth. Dentures are made from hard-wearing material and look a lot like natural teeth and gums.

Dental implants

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium. They are placed directly in the jawbone, where they can support replacement teeth in the form of crowns, bridges or secured dentures. Unlike other tooth replacement options, implants support bone growth, helping to prevent bone loss.