Here at Plowman & Partners, we understand that missing teeth can leave our patients feeling self-conscious in addition to the sensitivity and pain which may be caused by the missing tooth. We recognise this can have an impact on your well-being, and we know how important it can be for you to receive the dental care you need in such circumstances. We are proud to be your dentist in Marylebone which can offer dental implants as a replacement for your missing teeth.

Now, not every patient is a suitable candidate to receive dental implants, and this is something we must note. An examination by your dentist in Marylebone will provide us with what we need to determine your personal suitability for treatment with dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are one of the popular options you have for replacing your missing teeth. They are versatile in their use of supporting different dental prosthetics and can be utilised in replacing a single tooth, several teeth or indeed a full set of teeth. A dental implant consists of three components: an implanted screw, an abutment, and a visible prosthetic.

• Implanted screw: The implanted screw is a titanium post that can be inserted into your jawbone. It serves as the foundation for the dental implant – much like a root serves as the foundation for a natural tooth. Once the screw is placed, it can fuse with the jawbone over time (known as osseointegration), providing a stable base for the visible prosthetic.
• Abutment: The abutment is a connector post that attaches to the top of the implanted screw. It protrudes slightly from your gum line and provides a surface for the visible prosthetic to be attached to.
• Visible prosthetic: The visible prosthetic is the part of the dental implant visible above the gum line. It can be a crown, bridge, or denture, depending on the number of missing teeth and the location of the implant.

Advantages of using dental implants

Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants can provide you with several benefits.

Dental implants can prevent bone loss, a common problem when it comes to missing teeth, and maintain the structure of your jawbone, even promoting bone regrowth. Dental implants are well known for looking and feeling like your natural teeth, which can improve the appearance of your smile. Dental implants can improve speech and pronunciation when it has been impacted by missing teeth. Because of their similar attributes to natural teeth, dental implants can allow you to eat a variety of foods with minimal discomfort or difficulty.

What can I expect the treatment process to look like?

The first step in replacing missing teeth with dental implants is a consultation with your dentist in Marylebone. During the consultation, your dentist will evaluate your oral health and determine if dental implants are a good option for you. If dental implants are a good option for you, the next step is implant placement which involves placing the implanted screw into the jawbone.

After implant placement, there is a healing period of several months. During this time, the implanted screw/s can fuse with the jawbone, providing a stable base for the visible prosthetic. Often it is appropriate for your dentist to provide you with temporary replacement teeth during this time. After the healing period, the abutment is placed on top of the implanted screw.

The final step in replacing missing teeth with dental implants is the placement of the visible prosthetic; this can be a crown, bridge, or denture, depending on the number of missing teeth and the location of your implanted screw/s.