Dr Nissit Patel attended the European Association of Osseointegration (EAO) Congress from 24th-26th September in Lisbon, Portugal. This was a wonderful event, with incredible presentations from world renowned speakers, live surgery, a wonderful trade fair and educational events. There is always so much to learn in the world of dental implants and it is great to be able to connect with our European and world wide colleagues at such events. 

Congratulations to the EAO for organising such a successful event and we look forward to seeing you next year in Madrid!

Replacing missing back teeth is essential. The molar teeth are designed for mastication i.e chewing . Without molars, it is far harder to break down foods for ease of swallowing. This essentially means that the diet will be one of soft foods only and eating will take much longer. This would not be a great look at a New Years eve dinner party! 

Our front teeth are created for incising food i.e cutting. If the teeth in front of the molars are overloaded with excessive force then further problems will result such as cracks, fractures and even teeth splitting in half meaning the loss of more teeth. 

The good news is that molar teeth can be replaced using dental implants to restore chewing function, spread the forces and enjoy those harder goods once again. 

Our case of the month for December is a classic one where the back teeth were lost due to bruxism which severely impaired function.
 

Teeth can be lost for various reasons such as tooth decay, trauma, failed root canal treatments or periodontal (gum) disease. The loss of teeth can have a significant impact on not only everyday function but aesthetics and general confidence when out and about. Replacing missing teeth is vital as this will restore function ( eating is important!) , improve aesthetics and prevent the adjacent and opposing teeth from moving into undesirable positions. The latter is a particular problem if the teeth are not replaced for a few years as this will make any dental implant treatment far more complicated.
 

Peri implantitis is becoming a major issue for dental implants and it is important to be aware of this when embarking on implant treatment to replace missing teeth. The term relates to a number of factors around implants but the main issues are:

1. Inflammation of the surrounding mucosa ( gum )

2. Increased pocket depths around the dental implant

3. Bleeding on probing

4. Suppuration ( pus oozing from the tissues)

5. Loss of bone around the implant either in a horizontal , vertical or both directions. 

This differs from peri implant mucositis where there is bleeding on probing, possible swelling and inflammation and increase in pocket depths BUT there is NO loss of bone around the implants. Peri implant mucositis is reversible but peri implantitis is irreversible. Diagnosis is essential and the earlier the treatment, the better the diagnosis. Often, the disease may go un noticed, very much like gum disease, but once symptoms develop it is often too late to prevent bone loss. It is essential that regular dental and hygiene visits are maintained after dental implant treatments so that any problems can be spotted at an early stage. In general, we would advise twice yearly appointments or quarterly hygiene appointments if there has been past gum disease present.
 

Our case of the month for February 2022 is one involving 2 dental implants to replace 3 missing back teeth. Dental implants are considered the gold standard to replace missing teeth but what are dental implants? Well, essentially implants are the replacements for the roots of the missing teeth. They provide the foundation to allow us to place new teeth on top. Simple? Not really! Dental implant treatment is complicated and requires a huge amount of training, experience and ongoing education. Of course, some cases are more complex than others but in general, here is our workflow from missing tooth to replacement:

1. Full case assessment and records including x rays and CBCT scans.

2. Diagnostic planning on digital software.

3. Manufacture of surgical stent.

4. Surgery - placing the dental implant(s) using the surgical stent.

5. Allow healing of 12 weeks.

6. Take new records.

7. Place implant tooth/ teeth ( try in stage needed for several teeth).

Our case had lost several teeth over many years which meant she was unable to eat on the right side of her mouth. By using 2 dental implants, we were able to provide 3 teeth by 'bridging' the gap. A lovely end result and the ability to chew again! Life changing? Maybe not but certainly life enhancing.
 

Dental implants can be a costly procedure. During this article I will explain why dental implants in the UK cost what they do and how the prices vary so much. I will not dwell on the technical aspects of dental implant treatment but simply concentrate on costs with an emphasis on a single dental implant treatment.
 

Have you ever had missing teeth? It is quite embarrassing because you can't smile properly, and you become extra shy. Some people deal with missing teeth by using dentures and or bridges. What's truly remarkable, though, is what dental implants can do for you. Sure, it is all about filling in the missing teeth, but dental implants provide far more benefits than only cosmetics. Here are four benefits you will receive from using dental implants:
 

We would like to wish you all a very happy new year. Christmas is over with the daily grind in full swing. New Year is typically a time for resolutions and a plan to improve ones health, fitness, diet or general approach to life. We have a few simple resolutions which you may want to consider for 2019:
 

1. Improving oral hygiene. Oral health is linked to overall health and is simple to improve. Visit our hygienist this month for a full clean and jet wash and advice on how to maintain your gums.
2. Whiten your smile. Everyone deserves white teeth and we can help. We have options that can lighten your smile and improve your self esteem from take home kits to LED and laser in chair whitening.
3. Straighten your teeth. We love to correct crooked teeth and are experts in the most discreet techniques available today. Treatments taken from as little as 3 months- so why wait, start now and have straight teeth for Easter!
4. General tooth MOT. If you have not been to see the dentist recently, now is the time. Early signs of decay can be reversed or removed with minimally invasive techniques which will prevent future problems.
5. Replace your missing teeth. Dental implants are the next best thing to your own teeth. With digital dentistry, replacing missing teeth has never been so predictable. Come in for a free consultation and we will show you what modern day dentistry can do for you.

We have appointments 6 days a week, early morning, late evening and Saturday. Contact us today!

Dental implants are the best way to replace a single missing premolar tooth; at present there is no alternative that can offer the same benefits as dental implants. These include: 

1. A fixed tooth to replace the missing one
2. The adjacent teeth do not need cutting down
3. Preservation of the bone and gum tissue
4. Restoring function to that of the natural tooth
5. Excellent aesthetics as the new tooth emerges from the gum line
6. Dental implants cannot decay
7. Longer lasting than traditional alternatives such as dentures or bridges