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Dental implant placement is a complex dental treatment that must be performed carefully to minimize complications or risk for implant failure. For the best outcome, it is important that you choose a knowledgeable, well-trained implant dentist expert who is highly skilled and experienced in implant dentistry.

Dental implant treatment is an evidence-based procedure which has been shown for over half a century to be safe and effective. As in any medical procedure, however, there can be complications. Choosing a knowledgeable implant expert and sharing your health history and any habits which might compromise the success of your treatment, such as smoking, are incredibly important to minimize the risks involved.

The procedure is relatively straightforward and can usually be done under local anesthetic. You may experience discomfort and you are likely to be given painkillers after the surgery to help with any pain you may experience. However, in general, most patients report that the procedure really wasn’t painful at all — certainly much less than expected.

Dental implants need to be inserted into a certain amount of strong and healthy bone so they can fully integrate. The amount of available bone might be insufficient if you lost teeth quite some time ago and your jawbone has resorbed, or if bone was destroyed due to advanced gum disease (periodontal disease) or because of trauma. Often a bone graft called a sinus lift is required when replacing upper back teeth, as these teeth are near the sinus cavities where the bone is naturally thinner. Your x-rays and CT scan will show if you have sufficient bone or if a bone graft is needed. If you do need a bone graft, there is nothing to worry about as this is a straightforward procedure that will simply help ensure your dental implants are successful. The bone used during grafting is normally artificial and will contain special growth mediums to encourage the growth of new bone.

Dental implants require the same care as natural teeth, including daily brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings. Although implant teeth will never decay, the gum tissues around them can become inflamed or infected in the absence of good oral hygiene which may lead to the premature loss of your dental implants. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are vital to maintain healthy dental implants and to prolong the life of your restorative implants. With the proper care, you should be able to enjoy your new implant teeth for many years to come.

Dental implants are considered a long term and predictable treatment option. If they are looked after properly they should last for many years but there is no lifetime guarantee. There is a small chance that an implant fails to osseo-integrate, that is, it does not become attached to the bone. In the upper jaw the chances of this happening are approximately 1-2%. We would normally become aware of this during the healing phase after implant placement and should it happen, we would remove the implant and may need to place another, several weeks later. Once integrated and functioning, you have in excess of a 90% chance of any implant still performing fine after 25 years.

Treatment will normally take several months to complete, but it should provide a long-lasting solution for tooth loss, so it is worth spending the additional time required for dental implants. If you need a bone graft, this might slow down treatment slightly, as sometimes additional bone must be added in a separate procedure, prior to implant surgery. If only a minimal amount of bone is needed, it may be possible to add this at the same time as your implant surgery.

Generally, implants are more expensive than other tooth-replacement methods such as dentures or bridgework. But they also last many years longer and in fact, if treated properly, may never need replacement. So, they offer the best, most cost-effective option when viewed as a long-term investment in your health, comfort and well-being.