Dental Implants in Townsville
Are you looking for a more permanent fix for missing teeth? Dental implants* are a longer-term alternative to dentures.
At North Queensland Family Dental, our dentists are trained in the latest in dental implant technology. To ensure greater precision and care we most commonly perform digitally guided dental implant surgery.
To find out if dental implants are right for you book a consultation at North Queensland Family Dental. Call us on 07 4755 2055 or make an appointment online.
* Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding with a surgical or invasive procedure, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots usually made of titanium. They can be implanted in the jaw, directly in place of a missing tooth. Once the implant has bonded with your jaw, a crown can be placed over the top to permanently replace a tooth without impacting on any of the neighbouring teeth.
Dental implants are designed to look, feel and function similar to natural teeth. They can last for many years when you take good care of your oral health. (Be aware that smoking can increase the risk of implant failure, not to mention its other detrimental effects on health.)
What are some benefits of dental implants?
- A more long-lasting answer to missing teeth
- Stronger and more securely fastened replacement teeth
- Avoiding bite problems caused by teeth shifting into the space created by a missing tooth.
- Reducing the risk of speech impediments from spaces created by missing teeth
- Re-establishing the ability to eat a variety of foods, which may have been affected by the loss of teeth
- Re-establishment of the natural shape of the mouth and face
- Supporting a loose denture
Who may require implants?
Dental implants can replace teeth that were lost due to any oral health condition such as tooth decay or gum disease, or teeth that were damaged or knocked out in an accident.
They’re most commonly used to replace individual teeth, but they can also be used to support a dental bridge if you need to replace several teeth in a row.
Loose and poorly fitting dentures are a very common problem. Dental implants can be used to help support a denture, fixing it into place, allowing you to eat the foods you love.
Who is suitable for implants?
Dental implants can be a more permanent fix for missing teeth than other options like dentures or a bridge, but they’re not suitable for everyone.
Dental implants are suitable for most adult patients, as long as you have good general health with a healthy jawbone and no gum disease.
If you have gum disease or tooth decay these will need to be treated before implants can be option. Those who smoke will need to stop well before treatment and ideally after the implants are fitted. Other factors that can affect the success of implants are some medical conditions and the medications required to treat them, such as diabetes, cancer and gastric reflux.
It’s important to discuss your medical history with your dentist as part of the decision making process to determine if implants are suitable for you.
What does the implant procedure involve?
Our dentists routinely perform digitally guided implant surgery. At the first visit, we assess the amount of bone in the area with a low dose 3D Cone Beam CT scan performed at the surgery, followed by a Trios scan to develop a digital model of your teeth to construct the implant surgical guide. With the use of this state of the art technology, the implant position is planned out exactly where we want it to go.
The next visit is the placement of the implant under local anaesthetic. The gum is gently lifted away, the titanium implant is inserted, and then covered by the gum again. The implant stays covered for between 3-6 months, allowing for the jaw bone to bond to the implant. Generally, during this period, a temporary denture or bridge can be used so you can continue ordinary activities.
For the second stage of the surgery, the implant is uncovered and a healing cap is placed to allow the gum to heal to the correct shape, so the final result looks as natural as possible.
Finally, a digital scan is taken, and we make a crown that is either screwed or cemented onto the top of the implant to complete the replacement tooth.
What is digitally guided implant surgery?
Digitally guided implant surgery is designed with the aid of the latest in digital 3D technology to ensure a precise, safely placed dental implant in a fraction of the time of a traditionally placed implant.
With many critical structures in and around the jaw area, we can plan the position of the implant with millimetre-perfect precision.
As well a greatly reducing the risk of the surgery, the implant placement planning also ensures the implant is placed in the best position possible, so the final crown or bridge is far easier to design, often greatly reducing costs of the final prosthesis.
Caring for your dental implant
Caring for your implants is not very much different to caring for your natural teeth. Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing everyday, and following a nutritious diet, are simple steps to looking after your teeth and any implants.
Routine dental check-ups and cleans are important so you and your dentist can monitor and maintain the health of the gums and bone supporting your implants as well as your oral health overall.
You’ll increase the risk of your implant failing if you smoke or don’t take good care of your oral health.
What are the alternatives to implants?
If you’re not a candidate for implants or you’d prefer another option to replace a missing tooth, you might be better suited to dentures or a dental bridge.