Dental Implants – Some Common Misunderstandings

Addressing some common concerns about this popular tooth replacement procedure.

Dental implants may, at some point in the future, phase out dentures altogether given that the advantages they offer are significant (as we have covered in some of our previous blogs).

Despite the fact that thousands of people in the UK now have implants placed, some of our potential patients from Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham have raised understandable concerns with us about the treatment process.

Pain

For those unfamiliar with the workings of the human body, it is probably not surprising that they expect a dental implant procedure to be painful. Drilling holes into the jawbone may seem like something out of the film ‘Marathon man’ but, in reality, this part of the procedure should cause no more discomfort than other invasive dental procedures.

As well as the modern equipment used in the treatment room, which ensures that the implants are placed precisely, the implant dentists at Arthur House Dental Care have undergone many years of training to ensure successful placement of this popular tooth replacement.

In addition to this, human bone actually contains relatively few nerves and is therefore not as susceptible to pain as some other parts of the body.

Naturally, the implant procedure is also performed using a local anaesthetic which will reduce the chances of discomfort even further.

Implant damage

For some people, there is a fear that once the implants have been placed, they may break. This is a very rare occurrence providing that they are  placed by a professional implant practitioner.

There are two particular instances where breakages may occur.

Firstly, where the implant has been placed into the jawbone which is insufficiently strong to support it. This leaves the implant insecure and may cause its failure.

To avoid this happening, x-rays and scans are taken at our Sutton Coldfield dental practice prior to the placement. Whilst most patients will be able to have the implant placed, for those who may have insufficient bone, such as heavy smokers and the elderly, a bone graft may be needed prior to the implant placement to build up the bone structure.

The other potential risk is physical damage, such as a blow to the jaw. Whilst accidents can always happen, at Arthur House Dental Care, we recommend that those who partake in activities, such as heavy contact sports, might wish to consider delaying having dental implants placed until such time that they have ‘retired’ from the sport.

For these people, an easily removable solution such as our comfortable and flexible Valplast dentures offer an excellent solution until such time as you decide to have your implants placed.

If you are considering having dental implants and have any concerns, we are here to help. Please call our Sutton Coldfield dental practice on 0121 323 4492 to speak to a member of our friendly team.