In recent times there has been something of a shift in people’s opinion on undertaking cosmetic dental procedures.
With more people than ever before having healthy teeth and gums, more individuals are looking for ways to improve the appearance of their smiles using cosmetic dental care, and one of the most popular and simple procedures has come out on top of all the others. The fitting of oral implants is one of the most versatile solutions to the broadest range of dental issues.
When you come to visit our team at the Chelsea and Fulham Dentist, we will be more than happy to discuss the possibility of you having dental implants in Fulham fitted. We have been able to offer this treatment to our patients for many years and know all there is to know about the fitting, the aftercare and the longevity of these prosthetics. Great stuff!
So, in this article, we provide a very simplified guide to having dental implants in Fulham fitted to provide you with the information you will need to decide whether or not this is the right treatment for you. Enjoy!
What are oral implants?
Dental implants in Fulham (also known as oral implants) are in simple terms titanium screws that are fitted to your mouth via a straightforward surgery. Then, a period of around 3-6 months is needed for the implants to fuse to the bone completely. After this, our team will be able to fit a prosthetic tooth to the implant, closing gaps and restoring bite strength. Great!
Reasons to have them fitted
As briefly mentioned before, there are many reasons to have dental implants fitted. The first and most common reason is to hide gaps that are prevalent. This can prevent bacteria from building up in gaps in your mouth, which can create tooth decay and gum disease to any natural teeth.
They also restore the strength of the teeth, as they are fused to the bone, allowing you to bite into and chew food that is harder and may have been excluded from your diet due to spacing.
The fitting
The fitting of an oral implant is exceedingly straightforward. Although, it does sound very scary!
We will numb the area where they are going to be fitted, and then make some incisions in the gum, peeling it back to expose the bone underneath. Then, we will drill a hole into the jaw and fit the implant. Depending on how many are being fitted, we may need to space out the fittings, as each one can take over an hour to complete.
The aftercare
The aftercare of oral implants is exceedingly straightforward too! You will need to brush them every day, as you would your natural teeth, floss between them and attend check-ups with our dental team every 6 months. This is so we will be able to assess if the implants are fitted firmly in place or if there are any secondary issues, which may cause them to fall out.
Potential complications
Potential complications that can occur with oral implants include blunt force trauma to the area, which can cause them to fall off, or untreated gum disease. The swelling that accompanies gum disease can put pressure on the tooth and may shorten the life span of the implants by causing them to fall out.
