Dental implants

Implant dentistry at North Street Dental

Dental implants are the nearest possible substitute for natural teeth. They feel and function just like real teeth and can provide long-term, predictable solutions for several dental problems.

The procedure of placing implants to support retained dentures, bridges, single or multiple teeth demands a complex and meticulous type of dentistry.

North Street Dentals implant dentistry is headed up by Dr Owain Rees BDS, DGDP (UK) Dip Imp Dent (UCL) GDC 61575. Owain has been placing implants for more than 25 years.

We recognise dental implants as the most efficient way of replacing missing teeth. They are a permanent dental solution – the implant acting as a substitute for a tooth root on which we fix the prosthetic.

Implant dentistry consultation

Initial implant dentistry consultations take about 40 minutes and will enable us to assess your suitability for the procedure accurately. Your appointment at our Dudley clinic will probably require a digital scan of your mouth.

Dental implant treatment plans

Our aim is simple: To meet your dental needs and to help realise your goals. We will fully explain your options and for the time you are in our care, we’ll encourage you to contribute to your clinical journey actively.

Dental implants – the options

The following options are available:

• Implant supported single crowns
• Implant supported multiple teeth
• Implant supported bridges
• Implant retained upper and lower dentures
• The ‘teeth in a day’ procedure
• All-on-4 treatment

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium threaded pins that screw into the jawbone. Occasionally, a synthetic bone graft will be required if the natural bone has eroded through the ageing process.

The procedure for traditional dental implants would typically take up to nine weeks from initial consultation to having prosthetic teeth loaded onto fixings.

Are they safe and how long will they last?

Dental implants are a safe, established therapy and generally, much like natural teeth, will last for as long as you care for them.

How well you look after them – and whether you go for your regular maintenance appointments – will have the most significant impact on how long they will last.

If oral hygiene is poor, they will develop a coating similar to what you get on neglected natural teeth. Left untreated, this can lead to gum infections, bleeding, soreness and general discomfort. Although we would expect implants to potentially last a lifetime, like other surgical implants, such as a hip replacement, there is no lifetime guarantee.

I have some of my teeth, could I still have dental implants?

Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced with dental implants, from one single tooth to a complete set.

Can they replace missing teeth?

This depends on the condition of the jawbone. A 3-D scan will allow us to see whether you are suitable for the procedure. If there is bone is erosion in your jaw at the critical point, it’s possible a synthetic graft could make the surgery possible.

Will it hurt?

Placing a dental implant is often easier than having teeth extracted and is usually done using a local anaesthetic. You should not feel pain at the time, but you may feel some discomfort following the surgery. Most patients report significantly less discomfort than they anticipated following the procedure.

What if I’m anxious?

For anxious patients, North Street Dental and Implant Clinic offers a sedation option, which we’d be happy to discuss with you.

What about aftercare?

At our West Midlands clinic, we pride ourselves in our excellent aftercare, and we’re always here for you should a problem arise. The dental team will give you instructions on how to look after your implant/s and what to look out for during the period required for them to fuse into the bone.

What next?

After we place the implants, bone needs to grow around them, and this can take a few weeks. When we are entirely happy that the implants have consolidated into the bone, we will permanently fix the prosthetic.