Restore your confidence and enjoy longer lasting smiles with natural looking dental implants
Tooth loss can happen at any stage of life, and can affect your general well-being and confidence in your appearance. When a tooth is missing, the jawbone in that area may regress, causing bone loss which may eventually alter the contours of your face. A dental implant can restore your oral health and your natural appearance long-term, giving you back your smile and the ability to enjoy a wide variety of foods again.
Dental implants are exceptionally strong and stable and are designed to feel like your own teeth. For many people, the difference between an implant and a natural tooth is virtually undetectable.
Smile again with dental implants
- Enjoy longer lasting smiles and restore your confidence with dental implants
- Affordable & convenient dental crowns
- Save more of your natural tooth and avoid damage to teeth either side of the gap
Taradale Family Dental is located in Lee Road, Taradale and welcomes patients from across Napier and Hawke's Bay
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a way of replacing missing teeth. The implants themselves are metal structures, much like a screw, made of titanium alloys. Dental implants replace the roots of teeth and can be used to anchor a single dental crown, a bridge or a denture.
They are placed into your jawbone in a precise and highly specialised procedure under local anaesthetic or sedation. Typically, after a minimum of three months healing to give a chance for the bone to integrate into the implant, the implant is exposed and a replacement tooth can be attached on top.
It depends on the condition of the bone in your jaw. The implant surgeon will carry out a number of special tests to measure the amount of bone still there. If there isn’t enough or if it isn’t healthy enough, it will be difficult to place an implant there without some bone grafting first.
Implants are anchored into your bone very firmly (more firmly than your natural teeth) so there is security in knowing they won’t become loose. The implants replaces both the root and visible crown which in the long run preserves the natural contours of your face. They are inserted directly into the jaw so they also don't compromise any existing healthy teeth, and you will get artificial teeth that look, feel and work more like your own natural teeth. The aim is to improve your health, chewing function and aesthetic appearance, and once healing and restoration is complete you will be able to enjoy a wide variety of foods again.
In your initial consultation, we'll decide on the best treatment plan for you based on your individual case, medical history and X-rays or scans. In the next stage, your dental implant - the titanium root - will be surgically placed into your jawbone. In most cases this is a minor procedure performed under local anesthesia. After surgery, the implant needs time to integrate with your jawbone. This can take from 6 weeks to 6 months depending on the individual. During this healing time, a temporary tooth, denture or bridge can be put in place. Lastly, the final abutment and dental crown are connected to your dental implant.
Unfortunately, yes. However, over the longer term, implants are usually more cost-effective and satisfactory than conventional treatment with bridges and dentures and are the most natural looking and hard-wearing system for restoring smiles. With the right care and good oral hygiene, your investment can last a lifetime.
When are dental implants needed?
Dental implants are an excellent alternative to dentures and dental bridges for replacing missing teeth. They are anchored to the bone more firmly than natural teeth and avoid the need to damage teeth on either side of the gap for crowns to support a bridge.
An implant can be used to replace a single tooth, and two or more implants can be used to anchor a group of artificial teeth.