Dental implants have become an important part of modern dentistry. An implant fixture is inserted into the jaw bone to provide a base for supporting and attaching the prosthesis. Implants are made of different materials, mainly titanium which is compatible with most patients. Implants help replace one or multiple missing teeth, prevent bone loss in the jaw, are firmly secured in the jaw, and, unlike bridges, do not require the cutting and shaping of adjacent teeth. They last for many years, if a good oral hygiene routine of brushing, flossing and regular check-ups is maintained just like with natural teeth.
Before your implant placement our dentist will discuss your medical and dental history and whether implants are the best option and if so, what type. Dental implant procedures are mainly performed under local anaesthesia, but general anaesthesia is available for those with complex cases. The dentist will prepare the site in the gum to expose the underlying cone. A special drill prepares a hole in the jawbone to accept the implant. The implant screw is then gently placed into the prepared site and the gum is stitched and closed to allow healing and integration. This can take three to six months.
Once the implant has integrated and attached to the bone the abutment is fitted. This a support post for further restoration on the implant either to support a crown or a denture over the implant.
Keyhole or mini implants are useful in some cases where the patient’s medical or dental history does not allow for major implants or surgery. There are many benefits of mini implants: no major surgery is required, they are placed under local anaesthesia, have a very high success rate and can be an immediate life-changing transformation at an affordable price. Gold Coast Dental and Denture Centre provides this painless and simple treatment for suitable patients to replace missing teeth at convenient times for each patient.
Gold Coast Dental and Denture Centre has developed a regular implant maintenance schedule for all our patients. This includes regular check-ups with our dentist who will take x-rays at regular intervals to make sure your implants are stable and bone levels are healthy. Our hygienist will provide you with the right tools and techniques to keep your implant clean at home in between returning to your scheduled maintenance appointment. Implant hygiene is a life-time commitment for the patient and the dentist, but this is what will ensure the success of your implant.
Wisdom teeth or your third molars are the very back teeth on either side of the upper and lower jaws. They are the last teeth to erupt and usually appear between ages of 17 and 25 years old. The average mouth is made to hold only 28 teeth. It can be painful when 32 teeth try to fit in a mouth designed to hold only 28 teeth.
The removal of wisdom teeth is necessary only when your wisdom teeth are prevented from properly erupting within the mouth. They may grow sideways, partially emerge from the gum and even remain trapped or impacted beneath the gum and bone.
Dentists may recommend removal of wisdom teeth to eliminate problems such as pain in the back of the mouth, bacterial and plaque build-up on wisdom tooth, development of cysts, crowding of mouth and pushing teeth out of alignment.
Most wisdom teeth can be removed by our dentist in the practice but for more difficult cases patient may require day surgery under general anaesthetic or referral to an oral surgeon.