We at Harley Street Dental Clinic understand that even though we have created a calm and trusting environment at our practice, there are always going to be people who have fears, anxiety, and even phobias about going to the dentist, making important procedures like dental implants in Harley Street difficult or even impossible to perform on a patient that is awake. For this reason, we can offer an opportunity for such patients to get their implants done under general anaesthesia to make the experience safer and less stressful.
Dental phobias and anxiety
Phobias, though often considered irrational fears, can be quite debilitating for some people, in fact, one in four of us have a fear of going to the dentist to one degree or another and some of us may try to avoid it at all costs. Whether your anxieties are set off by needles, drills, the chair, lights, or even the dentist themselves, we know that you are genuinely afraid and would never trivialise that fear and call you irrational, because fear of the dentist often stems from the fear of pain which is a very real human fear given to us for survival. Now, in modern society where we have very high life expectancies and we no longer need to worry about pain being the difference between life and death, that ingrained fear can be difficult for some people to shake; making a trip to the dentist truly terrifying, never mind facing the procedure for dental implants in Harley Street.
Dentists today understand that each patient’s journey and experience are different and what you may not realise is that dentistry has changed over the years and is a far more pleasant experience than many may have gone through in the 20th century. But if your fear is unmanageable then we have the option to use a general anaesthetic to treat you.
The difference between local and general anaesthetic
Usually, a local anaesthetic is administered to patients who are receiving only one or two implants. This anaesthetic is injected into the area that the dentist plans to work on to numb it, so that the patient doesn’t feel any pain during the procedure. However, if you are particularly anxious or phobic your dentist may suggest that you go under a general anaesthetic. This will put you to sleep while the dentist performs the implant surgery, so you will not have to face any fears surrounding your dental treatment and can wake up with your implants in and ready to heal.
How implants work
Dental implants in Harley Street replace missing teeth in the most natural way possible. A titanium screw is placed into the jaw during minor surgery, which is then capped with a temporary bridge or tooth and left to heal for a few months. During the healing process, the jawbone grows around the implant, securing it in place in the same way a tooth’s natural root does, not only is the tooth secured, but the jaw is saved from experiencing the bone loss that may come from having a gap in the teeth.
Once the healing process is complete, customised and permanent ceramic teeth are made to attach to the implant, these take on the appearance of real teeth and are made to match your other teeth and fit your smile perfectly.