Dental Implants Sydney

Advantages of Implant Dentistry

• Single tooth replacement: no need to file off the neighbouring healthy teeth when preparing them for bridgework,
• Dentures often make a person feel and look older than they are,
• Quality of life that is much more comfortable and secure than the lifestyle endured by those with fixed bridges or removable dentures,
• Dental implants eliminate the day-to-day frustrations and discomfort of ill-fitting dentures,
• Enjoy a healthy and varied diet without the restrictions many denture wearers face,
• With a sense of renewed self-confidence, many people rediscover the excitement of an active lifestyle shared with family and friends and the chance to speak clearly and comfortably with co-workers.

Who can get Dental Implants?

Whether you are suitable for dental implants depends on the condition of the bone in your jaw. This will initially be assessed by our dentist along with your gums and teeth.

Once we have assessed suitability, we will arrange for a consultation with our implant surgeon Dr Cecilia So.  She may arrange for a number of special tests and x-rays. If there is not enough bone, or if it isn’t healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without grafting bone into the area first.  

Please refer to bone grafting for further details. There are some relative constraints which should be judged individually:

• uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
• previous bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis
• cytostatic therapy for various diseases (cancer, rheumatoid arthritis etc.)
• heavy smoking
• bleeding disorders
• previous radiotherapy for the jaws or nearby regions.

Of course, we wouldn’t place a dental implant with serious acute periodontitis, neglected oral hygiene carious teeth, dental calculi etc. These problems should be dealt with prior to implant surgery.

Implant Materials

Three main components:

• A titanium implant: a metal root
• An abutment: a post
• A Crown

We can place only those materials that will not cause any local or general disease and will not be rejected by the body itself. Implants are made of pure surgical-grade titanium, that doesn’t cause any allergic reaction, and is accepted by the body.

At Uplus Dental, we use only the highest quality dental implants such as Straumann and Osstem implants.

Read more about dental implant materials used by Uplus Dental.

Dental Implants over Dental Bridges & Dentures

Today there is another option for patients who are missing permanent teeth. Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures, or using adjacent teeth as anchors like fixed bridges, dental implants are long-term replacements that your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone.

Composed of titanium metal that “fuses” with the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration”, dental implants never slip or make embarrassing noises that advertise the fact that you have “false teeth”, and never decay like teeth anchoring fixed bridges.

Because dental implants fuse with the jawbone, bone loss is generally not a problem. After more than 20 years of service, most dental implants still function at peak performance. More importantly, those early dental implants’ recipients are still satisfied; they made the right choice. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

A dental implant (tooth implant) designed to replace a single tooth is composed of three parts: the titanium implant that fuses with the jawbone; the abutment, which fits over the portion of the implant that protrudes from the gum line; and the crown, which is created by a prosthodontist or restorative dentist and fitted onto the abutment for a natural appearance.

Many people who are missing a single tooth opt for a fixed bridge; but a bridge may require the cutting down healthy, adjacent teeth that may or may not need to be restored in the future. Then there is the additional cost of possibly having to replace the bridge once, twice or more over the course of a lifetime.  Similarly, a removable partial denture may contribute to the loss of adjacent teeth.

Studies show that there is a failure rate of up to 30% in teeth located next to a fixed bridge or removable partial denture within five to seven years. Further, conventional dentures may contribute to the loss of bone in the area where teeth are missing. The presence of natural teeth preserves the jawbone. When a tooth is missing, the bone may erode and weaken until it may be necessary for your oral and maxillofacial surgeon to graft bone to the area to strengthen it for placement of a dental implant.

When a dental implant replaces a missing tooth, the implant and bone’s fusion, or osseointegration, provides stability, just as the natural tooth did. If you are missing several teeth in the same area of your mouth, you may still enjoy the confidence and lifestyle benefits that come with dental implants. Your oral and maxillofacial surgeon will place two or more dental implants, depending on the number of missing teeth.

Your replacement teeth will be attached to the implants to allow excellent function and prevent bone loss. The implants will serve as a stable support that tightly locks into your replacement teeth and dentures to prevent slipping and bone loss.

Dental implants (teeth implants) are frequently the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth. Implants can be used to replace one missing tooth so that the replacement looks and feels natural. Also, two or more dental implants can serve as a stable support for replacing many teeth.

What is the surgical procedure?

Dental implants combine the best of modern science and technology, including a team approach spanning several disciplines. A successful implant requires that all parties involved – the patient; the restorative dentist, who makes the crown for the implant; and the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who surgically places the implant, follow a careful plan of treatment.

All members of the implant team stay in close contact with each other to make sure everyone clearly understands what needs to be done to meet the patient’s expectations.

The most widely practised method of placing dental implants is a “staged surgery” procedure The first stage consists of surgically burying the implant (which replaces the tooth root) flush with the bone but underneath the gum.

This protects the implant from the force while it is healing. At the end of this healing period, the implant needs to be surgically exposed by removing some of the overlying gum.

A local anaesthetic is used during implant surgery. Other forms of sedation, such as laughing gas or sedative might be used. Patients are advised not to operate any vehicle, automobile, or hazardous devices, or work, while taking such medications, and/or drugs; or until fully recovered from the effects of same. Gum tissue is cut open and pulled away to expose the jawbone, a hole or holes will be drilled into the jawbone, and the titanium dental implant screw(s) will be placed.

The implants will have to be snuggly fitted and held tightly in place during the healing phase. The soft tissue (gum) will be sutured over, closed over or around the implant(s). Healing will be allowed to proceed for a period of four to six months. While a period of between 4 and 6 months is usually needed for proper healing of the implants, the exact time will be determined by the operating surgeon. Wearing dentures could be uncomfortable during the first one to two weeks of the healing phase.

After the required healing time period, the implant will need to be exposed. A local anaesthetic will be given, the overlying tissues will be opened and pulled away, and the stability of the implant will be verified. If the implant appears satisfactory, an attachment (healing screw) will be connected to the implant. Following the healing of the gum, if all goes as planned with no complications, plans and procedures to create an implant prosthetic, appliance or artificial crown may begin with your general dentist or prosthodontist.

At this stage, the surgeon checks the implant for its successful integration and connects some form of the post which penetrates through the gum into the mouth. This post is called the abutment. Abutments come in many forms and can be stock-manufactured or custom-moulded by your dentist and a laboratory. The gum is allowed to heal around the abutment and form a cuff or collar through which the dentist has access to the implant when preparing the final restorative stage of placing the prosthetic tooth or teeth.

Research has shown that it is often possible to place a suitable abutment at the same time as the implant. This has certain limitations but can eliminate the need for a second surgery to expose the implant. However, the implant still requires adequate healing time for the bone to osseointegrate.

The abutments must also be protected from chewing forces during this period to assure effective bony integration and successful healing. Once the teeth implants have had a chance to heal and have been tested for successful integration, the final restorative step takes place. This stage consists of fabricating and connecting the prosthetic teeth to the successfully osseointegrated implants. At this point, you will be referred back to a general dentist or prosthodontist.

This phase is just as important as the surgical phase for the long-term success of oral reconstruction. During this phase, an implant prosthetic device will be attached to the implant. This procedure should be performed by a person trained in the prosthetic protocol for dental implants.

Steps in Dental Implant Procedure

Prior to implantation

After a medical examination, a thorough oral hygienic treatment like tartar and plaque etc. removal is required. Later digital x-rays and three-dimensional CT scans are taken for making an accurate treatment plan. A three dimensional CT scan shows more than a dental X-ray. The 3D scan images can be sliced and every single detail in the jawbone can be measured separately millimetre by millimetre. Before the patient accepts the treatment plan he receives comprehensive information on all treatment options and potential risks.

The implantation procedure

Although implantation is surgery it is still a gentle dental surgical procedure that is done under local anesthesia. First, the oral surgeon gently pushes the gum aside and then marks the planned location of the screw in the jaw (single or multiple implantations is possible). The drilling carried out by a special device, which has adjustable parameters and causes a slight vibrating sensation. The diameter of the pure titanium screw is larger than the diameter of the hole so it can easily and securely be screwed into the bone.

According to the treatment plan, an additional bone replacement could be needed to replace the missing jaw bone. The duration of the operation depends on the number of implants to be implanted or other complicating conditions. It happens that it only takes ten minutes and sometimes it can take up to three hours.

After the titanium screw is inserted the implant is sutured over the gums. In the period of two to three days after implantation your face may be swollen, and rarely can experience pain. One week after the operation stitches can be removed, if necessary, however, the Uplus Dental uses absorbable stitches, so you do not have to see your local dentist, stitches will disappear.

One week after the surgery you can wear your temporary prosthesis. During the next few months, bone grows around the implant, which guarantees a secure connection. High variance in prices Getting implants is actually like buying a new car. You can choose between the upper and lower categories. The Uplus Dental only uses top quality implants such as Osstem Implants.

For more information please refer to the link to Healthdirect.