Posts Tagged ‘dental implants’

Dental implant Q and A from city of Leeds dentist

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Dental implants are an innovative and revolutionary way of restoring lost or missing teeth. They closely resemble real teeth, both in feel and appearance and better yet, they are permanent. Here are a few commonly asked questions about dental implants.

What are dental implants?

They are artificial replacement teeth that are anchored directly into the jawbone to look and feel like real teeth. They are custom made to fit your mouth and are the most solid form of dental restoration. They can help you to eat and speak more easily and restore the cosmetic appearance of your smile.

What does the procedure involve?

A small titanium screw is drilled directly into the jaw and left to fuse with the bone and gum tissue over several weeks. This then acts as an anchor for an artificial dental crown, which will be attached during a subsequent appointment. The procedure is relatively painless, especially when you consider the possible benefits of the implant.

Why are they better than traditional restorations?

Although dentures and dental bridges have their place, nothing can compare the solid nature of a dental implant. Because they are the only restoration to be anchored directly to the jawbone they feel more like a real tooth than any other dental substitute.

Am I a candidate for a dental implant?

If you have missing teeth and your jaw and gums are in relatively good condition you may well be a candidate for a dental implant. Make an appointment with a City of Leeds dentist to see if you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant.

How long do they last?

A dental implant can last you for the rest of your life.

Tags:
Posted in dental implants | No Comments »

Dental implant from City of Leeds dentist looks and feels like real tooth

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

One of the main problems patients have experienced with dental replacements over the years is that they never quite look or feel like real teeth. Dental bridges and partial dentures serve a purpose in restoring to some degree the appearance of missing teeth and enable the patient to eat slightly easier, whilst protecting the position of the remaining teeth. But they never quite feel natural. This is mostly because they only replace the part of the tooth visible above the gum. A real tooth has a root that is anchored deep into the bone and gum tissue of the face. This is what makes a tooth sturdy and gives it its strength.

One dental replacement however, replaces the whole tooth including the root and offers an incredibly lifelike replacement. Dental implants are small metal screws, usually titanium, which are anchored into the jawbone itself to act as a base. The surgery is quite straight forward and once complete will require several weeks rest in order to allow the implants and bone to fuse together. Once this has happened the implant has essentially become part of the bone and plays exactly the same role as the missing root.

Onto the implant is attached a post and finally a porcelain crown which is designed to look exactly the same size, shape and colour as the lost tooth. Because there is not need to attach anything else to the tooth once it is screwed to the post from underneath it will look incredibly lifelike. Dental implants from City of Leeds dentists last a lifetime and do not need replacing like many other dental substitutes.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in dental implants | No Comments »

Experience benefits of dental implants at City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Nobody wants to lose teeth, either due to decay or because of an accident, but the likelihood of losing at least one tooth is something that nearly half of us will face at some stage in our lives. Missing teeth can look unpleasant and particularly in younger patients cause a loss of confidence and self esteem. There are also several very important medical reasons why it is important to replace missing teeth.

Missing teeth can cause teeth to move in the dental arc, interrupting bite and causing painful jaw conditions. It is also very bad for the other teeth as they are exposed to more plaque and bacteria. More and more teeth are now being artificially replaced with a procedure called a dental implant. Implants are small titanium screws fixed directly into the jawbone to act as a solid base for an artificial tooth.

Dental implants have several key advantages over other forms of dental restoration. Firstly, because they replace the root of the tooth as well as the crown they are much more stable than dental bridges or partial dentures. This means that patients are able to eat whatever foods they want without the anxiety of breaking any part of the restoration.

Implants also look and feel a lot more realistic as they replace more of the original tooth preventing further bone loss and gum recession. A well-fitted dental implant will also last a lifetime compared tot the ten to fifteen year average of a bridge or denture. For these reasons and many others, dental implants are the number one choice of dental restoration at City of Leeds dentists.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in dental implants | No Comments »

Anxiety-free dentures with mini-implants from Central Leeds dentist

Monday, December 14th, 2009

For patients who are denture wearers, the fear of your dentures falling out at inopportune moments can be a real source of worry and anxiety. Many denture wearers resort to wearing sticky and messy dental adhesive strips and gels for that added feeling of security. There is an alternative that can put your mind at rest and involves no unnecessary fuss or adhesives. Mini-dental implants are a series of small screws anchored into the jawbone to which dentures can be snapped on and off.

Like normal dental implants, the screws are usually made from titanium or other strong metal non-harmful to the human body. They are drilled into place in the jawbone before being left for several weeks to allow the bone and tissue to fuse to the screws in a process called osseointergration. The implants will have a set of clips attached to them, which will be used to fasten them to the dentures. Small wells and clips will be fitted to the dentures so that they can clip on securely to the implants. These wells can be fitted to your existing set of dentures to reduce cost. The dentures can then be simply clipped on and off to the implants safely and securely and with no limits on what you can eat. For the first time ever dentures will actually feel like real teeth.

Unlike the larger normal implants, there are few factors that limit the fitting of mini-implants. For example, it is not necessary to have a very strong jawbone for mini-implants, which is essential for the full sized variety. This means that mini-implants are perfectly suited to older patients.

If you are always worrying about your loose dentures and you want a life free of the anxiety, make an appointment to see a Central Leeds dentist and ask about the benefits of mini-implants.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Dentures, mini-implants | No Comments »

Central Leeds dentist replaces tooth with dental implant

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

3177562_blogWe all want a beautiful smile full of shiny white, straight teeth. It can make you feel confident and comfortable with your appearance. Similarly, a flawed smile can be the source of great embarrassment and self-confidence issues. This is never more true than for patients with missing teeth. A missing tooth, whether cause by sporting injury or tooth decay, carries with it a certain stigma that most of us would probably wish to avoid.

There are also physiological reasons why a missing tooth can be a problem. When a tooth is missing form the tooth line it can cause all the other teeth to lean into the space. This can cause interruptions with bite that can be irritating and even lead to painful conditions called TMJs. Teeth also act as rigid supports for facial muscles and if missing can cause the facial muscles to sag giving a sunken appearance that causes patients to look much older. However, there are several artificial dental substitutes which can be used to replace a missing tooth.

The most realistic and sturdy of all of these is called a dental implant. Although a slightly more complex procedure than a partial denture or a dental bridge, an implant provides the most realistic alternative to a natural tooth. A dental implant is a small cylindrical screw that is anchored directly into the jawbone. A post is then attached to this and then finally a dental crown. Because the implant is anchored to the bone it is very solid and provides a level of stability only beaten by a real tooth. This means that patients have an added feeling of security over the more fragile dentures and bridges. It also means patients are not prohibited from eating certain foods they might be with other dental substitutes.

After the screw has been implanted it will need to be left for several weeks to allow the bones and gums to fuse with the implant in a process called osseointergration. This requires the jawbone to be in a good condition and means that certain patients may not be suitable for dental implants.

If you are suffering form lost confidence due to a missing tooth, or feel that your existing teeth may be affected, consult a Central Leeds dentist and ask about dental implants.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in dental implants | No Comments »

Dental implant from Central Leeds dentist replaces missing tooth

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Missing teeth can not only be a source of embarrassment, but they can have significant adverse effects on remaining teeth and facial structure. The gap left by a missing tooth can be a breeding ground for bacteria if not effectively cleaned, which can be difficult with conventional brushes. Existing teeth will also naturally lean into spaces in the tooth line. This can cause sagging of the facial muscles, giving a sunken appearance, and can also affect bite and profile. It is a good idea to consult your dentist and have the missing tooth replaced as soon as possible.

One of the options to replace a missing tooth, besides a dental bridge, is a dental implant. Although this is a more complex procedure, it does provide a more secure, long-lasting and realistic alternative to a real tooth. For this reason, dental implants are becoming more and more popular with dentists and patients alike.

Dental implants take the form of a cylindrical screw that is anchored into the jawbone, which acts as a stable base to attach a veneer, or artificial tooth. They are particularly suitable for patients with strong and healthy gums and bones, and whose existing teeth are in a good condition. The screw will usually be made form titanium, which is a very light but very strong material which has no harmful affects associated with it. Because the screw is anchored into the actual jaw, and not secured to existing teeth, it has a greater degree of stability which means there is no need for more fragile bonding or adhesives. It also means that certain foods not suitable to eat with other dental prosthetics can be eaten without any fuss.

The procedure will usually involve two or more visits to the dentist. During the first visit, the screw implant will be fixed into the jaw. This will then need to be left to heal and fuse with the jawbone in a process called osseointergartion. On subsequent visits the dentist will attach a post and finally the artificial tooth.

Visit a Central Leeds dentist to see if a dental implant can be suitable to replace your missing tooth and you can restore your smile and protect your remaining teeth with one procedure.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in dental implants | No Comments »

Cracked tooth repaired with low cost dental bonding from Leeds dentist

Monday, September 28th, 2009

Sometimes in dentistry it is the most basic and routine procedures that can make all the difference. It doesn’t have to be a painful root canal treatment, or extensive dental implant surgery to restore the appearance of healthy teeth. Sometimes just small adjustments or repairs are all that is needed to produce a healthy looking smile. Dental bonding is one such procedure. By using small amounts of this tooth-coloured resin, a dentist can repair a cracked or chipped tooth, can fill uneven gaps between teeth and even create a barrier to more sensitive areas of the teeth.

Dental bonding also has the advantage of being very cheap compared to some of the more intrusive procedures. Because dental bonding does not need to be manufactured in laboratory conditions, it is greatly reduced in cost and also means dental bonding can be carried out in one visit to the dentist. This is unless there are large areas that need to be bonded, in which case the bonding will need to set before a new layer is added. Dental bonding is usually a painless procedure unless it is being used to protect exposed or sensitive areas.

The main alternatives to dental bonding are dental crowns. Crowns are computer manufactured, ceramic caps that fit over the top of existing teeth. They are very strong but do require existing teeth to be ground down before they can be cemented. Crowns are therefore only used when the integrity of the teeth has been damaged beyond repair. When a tooth is still intact and relatively strong, a dentist will prefer to use bonding to make the repairs.

Dental bonding resin can be mixed to most closely resemble the natural colour of the patient’s teeth to provide the most satisfactory cosmetic results. It is molded to the desired shape by the dentist and then set hard by the intense heat of a laser. This whole process should take no longer than an hour and is a strong and painless way to restore the strength and appearance of your teeth.

Dental bonding is a very versatile material that can be used to carry out all sorts of repairs, both structural and cosmetic. A Leeds dentist may be able to make some small, low price adjustments to your teeth with dental bonding to give your smile that extra edge.

Tags: , ,
Posted in cosmetic bonding and contouring | No Comments »

Dental implants to replace missing teeth

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

We have recently treated a patient who lost front teeth in a road traffic accident. Over a period of time we replaced her lost teeth with dental implants. Dental implants are a long lasting solution for missing teeth anywhere in the mouth. This patient was so happy with the result that she even filled another gap at the back of her mouth with a dental implant. If you are interested in dental implants and cosmetic dentistry then contact our friendly team for a FREE consultation. We have treated many patients in and about Leeds in areas such as Chapel Allerton, Moortown, Shadwell, Headingley, Adel and Leeds city centre.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Smile Makeover, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, teeth whitening | No Comments »

dental implants the perfect solution for missing teeth

Friday, November 21st, 2008

Recently we had an interesting case where a young lady from Harrogate attended to see us complaining of not being able to smile on photographs due to the ugly gap in her smile. We found the perfect solution for her, dental implants! Dental implants are a fixed solution to missing teeth. Within a couple of appointments with our experienced dentists we had restored her confidence and she is now smiling again in photographs. If you are from Harrogate, or the surrounding areas and are interested to know more about dental implants why not call our helpful team on 01132454868 or email us with your questions at info@citydentalleeds.com.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Dentures, dental implants | No Comments »