Dental Implants

Implants are now commonly used to replace missing teeth and there have been many studies showing very high success rates of 90-95%.
Over thirty years ago Professor Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered the process of osseointegration which describes the process a titanium implant goes through when it is placed in the jawbone. After healing the implant becomes surrounded by live healthy bone and as it is completely rigid it can be used to support teeth.

Implants can be used to replace a single tooth or a full set of teeth. Adequate bone must be available into which implants can be placed and this can be assessed by examination or using X-Rays.


In order to replace a single tooth you will need one implant, but you will not need an implant for each tooth. For example three teeth could be placed on two implants or a full lower set of twelve teeth will need four implants or a full set of twelve upper teeth will need six implants.
They do not affect other teeth in the way that removable dentures do and no damage is done to adjacent teeth as is the case when fixed bridges are constructed.
Although most implants are left for a while, to allow for osseointegration, before teeth are constructed more recent developments have allowed us to attach teeth at the same time as the implants are placed, this is termed immediate loading. 
 

Full lower arch on 5 implants

This patient had been wearing a full lower denture for many years but was finding it difficult to eat as the denture was moving during function.

Five implants were placed and left to heal for 8 weeks after which they were restored with gold custom abutments and a metal/ceramic bridge.

Single failing front tooth

This tooth is failing due to advanced periodontal disease. The tooth has drifted forward and down giving a very poor appearance.

Note the bone loss seen on the radiograph.

The tooth was extracted and a single implant was placed. A temporary bridge was placed immediately to restore the space until the implant was integrated (about 8 weeks).

Implant placed at time of tooth removal.

Temporary adhesive bridge. This is attached by a metal wing to the back of the adjacent tooth.

After 8 weeks the implant was restored with a titanium custom abutment and a ceramic crown.

Final implant supported ceramic crown. The other front tooth was restored with a ceramic veneer to improve its appearance.

Testimonials

Read what the patients have to say.

Teeth-in-an-Hour™

Thanks to an amazing new technique developed in Sweden by Nobel Biocare it is now possible to replace missing teeth using titanium implants in a procedure that takes just one hour.

After a number of preparatory visits and a CT scan your teeth will be constructed in advance in the laboratory using virtual modelling and computer aided design techniques. This means that your implants can be placed with incredible accuracy and your new teeth attached at the same visit. This unique and innovative treatment can be used to replace any number of teeth from a single to tooth to a full set. Although this technique is not suitable for all cases it will help many patients.

This procedure has just been made available in this country and is now available at St Paul’s Dental Care where Dr Kevin Gibney and his highly trained team have been using this technique for 2 years.

The practice has a long history of providing dental implants for their patients and has always been at the cutting edge of implantology being the first to introduce a number of new procedures.

Dr Gibney has been using implants for ten years and has helped hundreds of patients. He studied implantology at Sheffield Dental School and was awarded a Masters Degree in Medical Science in implantology. His team of dental nurses and dental technicians have trained extensively using the latest equipment and techniques.

If you think they can help you please call for a free initial consultation on 01704533686.

Success rates

A recently completed audit of 500 implants placed at here has shown a success rate of more than 96%’

In addition we have achieved similar success rates for immediately loaded implants in full arches using the Teeth-in an-hour system.
 

For further information please click on the link  www.kevingibney.com