Lack of bone in the jaw is a common hindrance to many missing teeth patients. If you’ve ignored gaps in your mouth or survived with dentures for years, you might have been told that you don’t qualify for implant surgery.
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Is Prior Treatment Necessary Before Implant Placement?
Dental implants are an advanced tooth replacement solution – their strength, durability, and stability are unmatched.
And for this exact reason, they need a solid foundation of adequate bone for implantations to be successful.
Without sufficient bone, the vital osteointegration process at the implant site is not supported, which can increase the likelihood of your dental implant failing – and we certainly don’t want that to happen!
Pre-implant procedures are vital for creating a suitable and healthy oral environment to secure the implant for the next 20 years.
Examples Of Pre-Implant Procedures
Creates a sufficient amount of room for bone under the maxillary (upper jaw). The surgery will add new bone to your upper jaw in the area of your molars and premolars.
Bone Grafts
Adds and restores bone density and volume in the areas of the jaw where bone is lacking. Bone grafts need 3-6 months to heal correctly prior to implant placement.
Preparation Is Often Needed Before Implantation
Atraumatic extraction: An atraumatic extraction is advised when a tooth is beyond saving and is surgically extracted and replaced with a dental implant.
Socket preservation: Following tooth extraction, socket preservation involves the placement of a small bone graft into the socket to protect it.
Guided bone regeneration: Also known as bone grafts, this procedure increases the width and height of the bone in the jaw where the implant is to be placed.
Maxillary sinus lift: Some patients might require a sinus lift for implants in the upper jaws. We will add bone to your upper jaw between the molars and premolars.
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How To Avoid Pre-Implant Procedures Completely
Here at Maida Smiles, we offer several implant-based treatments where preimplant procedures are not applicable.
For example, methods like All on 4 allow patients with some bone to receive implant-hybrid dentures. But there are other procedures, like implant-supported bridges, which are faster and render bone grafting unnecessary.
Other highly advanced and expensive treatments like Zygomatic Implants also exist, where the implant does not hook into the jawbone but instead pulls support from areas like the cheekbone.
Patient story – how dental implants changed their life for the better. Talk to us today to see how we can help you; 020 3984 9123. Maida Smile’s dental studio is based in West London.
Choosing us
Dr Gutierres has unrivalled experience in placing dental implants, placing close to 20,000 throughout his 17-year-long career, so much so that he founded and opened the Maida Smiles Clinic in London after identifying a gap for successful immediate implant placement in London.
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Preparing For An Implant
Pre-dental implant treatment instructions provided by Dr Gutierres:
- Stock up on plenty of soft foods and nutritional drinks – you will need to eat a soft diet for weeks after your surgery or more if a bone graft is required.
- Take it easy the next day as some toothache can be expected.
- Get a good night’s rest the night before to ease any worries and ensure your body is well-rested – this can kickstart the healing response.
- Eat a decent meal before the procedure to ensure adequate blood sugar levels.
- Inform the dentist of any medication you take before your visit.
- If you have opted for sedation, ensure a responsible adult is ready to take you home. We recommend you not drive or look after small children following surgery.
Fast Answers To Common Questions
We can make your mouth suitable with pre-implant procedures like bone grafts or opt for other non-conventional methods that place implants in points of the jaw where the bone is strong and healthy.
This depends on the implant treatment you opt for; for example, we offer advanced techniques like All-on-4, which dentists hail as the graftless solution to missing teeth.
Our patients have reported little discomfort that’s easily managed with over-the-counter medications.
It all depends on the complexity of the work we need to complete; however, patients can expect preimplant systems like bone augmentations to cost £950 and sinus lifts to cost from £1,950 at our London implant clinic.
With the proper care and attention, implants can last a lifetime.
In most cases, we advise a recommended healing time of three to six months before implantation.
