Dental Implants in High Wycombe

A dental implant is an artificial substitute/replacement for the root portion of your natural tooth and is anchored into a pre-drilled socket in your jaw-bone to support a crown, bridge or secure a denture firmly in place. Implants are made from titanium, a material that is well tolerated by bone and integrates easily with bone tissue. During the placement of a dental implant, the goal is to achieve a close contact between the outer surface of the implant and the surrounding bone tissue so they can “fuse” together (osseointegration), creating a stable support for your new tooth / teeth.

Dental implants can be placed in patients of any age (with fully developed jawbones), provided that they have a sufficient quantity and quality of bone tissue available. Most healthy individuals that maintain a good oral hygiene program are suitable candidates for dental implants.

Circumstances where implants may not be suitable, or situations that have an increased risk of implant failure, include:

• Heavy smoking – this slows down and hinders the healing process.
• Excessive alcohol intake – disrupts healing of the gums.
• Periodontal gum disease – all active gum disease must be treated prior to any implant procedure to ensure the long-term success of any treatment. Periodontal disease is a major cause of bone loss, which would hinder the success of any implant procedure.
• Immuno-compromised individuals (steroids, auto-immune disease, patients undergoing radiation treatment).
• Teeth grinders (bruxism) – a night-time splint can be given to treat this.