Why should I consider full jaw implants?

• Do you have loose or decayed (rotten) teeth?
• Do you only have a few teeth left?
• Can you bite into an apple?
• Can you chew your food properly?
• Do you have ill-fitting dentures
• Do you wish to get rid of your dentures?
• Do you want to keep away from dentures?

Am I too old to have full jaw implants?

We routinely treat dental patients for full jaw implants who are in their 70’s and 80’s. We have even treated patient’s in their 90’s! There is no upper age limit to receive full jaw implants. When you come in for your consultation we would assess your suitability for full jaw implant treatment.

Advantages of full jaw implants

• No more dentures
• Bite into your favourite foods
• No denture glueSmile without worrying your teeth will fall out
• Fixed teeth in a day
• Eat comfortably with secure teethNo plastic on your palate
• No more thick plastic in your mouth

Stages of full jaw implants

Phase 1: Planning & assessment Firstly, we need to make sure that you are a suitable patient for this type of treatment. It will involve detailed planning. Certain records like impressions, x-rays, photographs and CT scanning need to be taken, all which are done in our clinic. We’ll assess you for the suitable type of sedation protocol, should you wish to go down this route. If you don’t have an existing denture which we can work with, a new one will have to be constructed so that we can choose the correct shape, colour and size of your new teeth and smile. This is the denture that will be made smaller and converted into your same day fixed bridge. Phase 2: Same day dental implant treatment On the day of your actual treatment, there will be a team of dentists, nurses, sedation staff and dental technicians to help facilitate your care. You’ll receive pain killers and local anaesthetic before we start. If your need teeth to be extracted, this will be done on this day and 4-6 implants placed in your jaw, under sedation. After your implants have been inserted, we will give you a rest. During this time, our technical team will convert your bulky denture (made in phase 1) into a comfortable fitting bridge. This bridge will be attached to your implants and the dentist will make the necessary adjustments to make it feel comfortable in your mouth. We will advise you to rest for the next 2-3 days with your new set of fixed teeth. We will see you for a review appointment 7-10 days later to make sure everything is ok and give you further advice on how to look after your new set of fixed permanent teeth. Phase 3 We will see you again 3-4 months later so that you can have your final strong bridge constructed.

Why do I have to wait 3-4 months for the final bridge construction?

Full jaw implants, which is usually done in a day, is provisional and needs to be revisited later. This is because we need to let the gums heal and allow the bone to grip and grow around the implants. This process usually takes 3-4 months.

Can I have both jaws done on the same day?

Full jaw implants is an all-day procedure, which is time consuming and technique sensitive. We will work with you to decide upon the best protocol: single jaw or dual jaw dental implants.

What will happen at my first consultation visit?

We will welcome you to our dental practice give you a medical questionnaire to fill out. Our implant dentist, Ric, will see you in his clinic and you can let him know what bothers you about your teeth. Ric will have a look in your mouth and give you his opinion. You’ll be able to ask any questions regarding your care and finances. At this stage, it is up to you if you wish to proceed with the formal implant planning and possible CT scanning. This usually occurs on the same visit if your treatment is routine.

How does your clinic keep their implant prices so low?

We are able to offer quality implants to our patients at affordable prices because we provide a lot of implant treatments to our patients. This makes us good and efficient at running an implant clinic. We also bulk buy our implant materials at a discounted rate- we can then pass the savings on to our patients. However, we do not compromise on the quality or workmanship- this is reflected by our reputation and the testimonials our patients have given us. Being conveniently located in Hertfordshire, we don’t suffer the enormous overheads and rent of a high street or a Central London location. Having said that, you can get to our clinic in 20 minutes from Central London! We have set prices for implant treatments, but an accurate fee can only be given after the dentist has provided your formal implant assessment.

How soon after having a tooth removed can a dental implant be placed?

An implant and a fake natural looking tooth can be placed on the same day a bad tooth has been extracted. Our implant dentist will be able to assess if you can have this option. This is our preferred treatment option and this principal can be applied to a single tooth, multiple teeth or a full jaw implant set. If you had your tooth removed at another clinic, we can provide an implant 4-8 weeks after your extraction, depending on how the gum heals up and the bone under the gum reshapes. It all depends on the patient’s clinical situation. You have to bear in mind that when a patient has a tooth removed then they are left with a defect in their gum and jawbone. Overtime, this defect is filled with the patient’s own bone and gum. If the extraction is simple then a period of 4-8 weeks is usually observed before inserting the implant fixture. This is because new jawbone is required to support the implant fixture. If the patient’s tooth has been a challenge to extract or has been surgically removed, vital jawbone may be lost in this way. An extended period of time may be required before assessing the site for implant treatment.
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It is important that an infected tooth is not left untreated, even if it causing the patient no issues. This is because vital jawbone can be lost due to the bacteria and infection, making implant dentistry a bit of a challenge. If an infected tooth cannot be saved then it is best to have it removed at the earliest opportunity to prevent unnecessary jawbone loss.

What is a CT scanner?

It is an x-ray which shows your jawbone in three dimension. It is used to plan your full jaw implants and their final position. Traditional dental x-rays are 2-d, which means you can only analyse the teeth and bone from one direction only. A CT scan will show us how much bone there is to place an implant. And yes, we have a hi-tech CT scanner at our implant clinic! Having dental x-rays and a CT scan is safe. Some patient think of the excessive amount of radiation; but the radiation risk is very low, otherwise dentists won’t be taking x-rays.

What are full jaw implants?

If you have failing teeth which need to be removed, then this method may be an option to you. All your bad teeth are removed gently, under local anaesthetic and sedation, and can be replaced with implants and new teeth on the same day. This treatment protocol may also be suitable: -if you have no teeth -if you wear a denture which you would like to get rid of.