In Harley Street, dental implants are an effective and durable solution to the problem of missing teeth. Unlike dentures, which are another teeth replacement solution, dental implants are permanently fixed into the jawbone, offering a stable and durable alternative to dentures. If you are someone who is considering dental implants as a means of replacing your missing teeth, you will need to understand the process required as it is very different from getting dentures fitted.
The dental implant process
Dental implants in Harley Street, at Harley Street Dental Clinic, are made up of three integral parts: the crown, the implant, and the abutment. The implant serves as a base that is inserted into the area of jawbone where you are missing teeth. This requires surgery and a period of bone and gum healing afterwards before the crown can be fitted onto your teeth. Once the implants are stable enough, our dentists will insert an internal screw into the implant and onto this they will fit the crown that will serve as replacement teeth. It is because dental implants replace the root of the tooth as well as the crown, providing a more stable chewing base and stimulation for continued jawbone cell renewal that dental implants in Harley Street are considered a more effective alternative to dentures. Whilst implants may be costlier and the process may take longer, the final product is much longer-lasting than dentures, indeed it is usually expected to last a lifetime. Dentures wear out and need to be periodically replaced. They can also become loose as the gums and bones underneath them shrink, a natural process which happens when there are no tooth roots to stimulate cell renewal. It used to be that if your jawbone had already suffered some resorption, it would not be possible to receive implants. However, there are now procedures you can have to replace the lost bone, or anchor implants into other denser bones. If this is the case, you may find us recommending a bone graft or sinus lift.
What are your options
In Harley Street, dental implants are the first choice for our patients who are willing to invest in a long lasting and effective means of replacing missing teeth.