This article hopes to answer many of your frequently asked questions about dental implants. Belated thanks to Dr Haroon Sher, of Glasgow dental implants centre Glasgow Smile Clinic for his input to this article.

Firstly – what is a dental implant ?

Dental implants are small titanium fixtures,  that effectively become a replacement rooot for a tooth or teeth. This titanium scaffolding is implanted into the jawbone using anaesthesia, and the new titanium root actually becomes part of the patient’s bone through integration and can become more secure than the natural root. After installing these implants, the dental implant practitioner can insert permanent teeth which are designed bespoke for each patient to give a completely natural looking smile.

Can anyone undergo dental implant surgery ?

in most cases, anyone who has lost a tooth or teeth for whatever reason can normally be a candidate for dental implants. The only real requirement is that adequate bone is available in your jaw to support any implants, and gum tissue has to be healthy and clear of any periodontal disease. Some older patients are concerned that they may not be able to undergo the treatment because of their age,  however health is a much more important factor than age.  The reality is that if you’re healthy enough to have a tooth extraction then you’re probably healthy enough to receive dental implants. Ultimately, your dentist will decide whether or not you’re a viable candidate for dental implants after a thorough evaluation of your dental and overall medical health .

What are the benefits of dental implants ?

There are plenty of benefits associated with dental implants, some of which are highlighted here:

Dental implants are more comfortable than full or partial dentures. Although dentures have improved over the years, they still sit on top of the jawbone and with continuous shrinkage of the jawbone, dentures start to slip over time, leading to clicking, gum irritation and constant discomfort.speech is often distorted when dentures are ill fitting, because the teeth slip and slide around and the muscles in the face become tense trying to keep the teeth in place. This can result in mumbling and slurred speech.

Even in patients with excellent denture fitting, they can only eat at around 15 to 20% of the efficiency of a person with full natural teeth. Dental implants give patients almost 100% chewing capacity compared to natural teeth, which lets you eat all your favourite foods with confidence. Dentures also reduce taste to a large degree, particularly with an upper plate.

Of course dental implants being permanent, mean they are far more convenient and you will never have to think about denture adhesive again. Dental implants patients tell of being more confident, outgoing and feeling better about themselves for having had the treatment.

How long does it take for dental implants treatment ?

this more or less depends on the number of implants and the type of treatment involved. The hall process of integrating the implant into the bone can take as little as three months, although it can take 5 to 6 months for a full teeth  replacement.

Nowadays, some dental mplantologists place temporary crowns on the same day as the implant process.

Is dental implant surgery painful ?

with almost any kind of surgery you can expect to have some discomfort, and dental implant surgery is no different. However anaesthesia and sedation should alleviate the vast majority of any discomfort at the time of the operation. The majority of patients report very little pain and  being surprised at how little pain the procedure involved. You will normally be prescribed with pain relief in the initial days after the implant surgery.

While oral hygiene has improved greatly over the years people still need to replace missing teeth. With advances in technology dentures are no longer the only option. In this article we will review the options available to people when considering dental implants v’s dentures.

The case for dentures

Dentures can be suitable for anywhere you have lost a tooth or teeth because of damage, wear & tear, decay or periodontal disease.  Dentures are made of cast mental, acrylic, a plastic base and of course porcelain for the teeth element. The procedure to make dentures varies in time and last a few weeks. During this time your dentist will examine your teeth, make impressions of the teeth and jaw as well as make moulds. These are sent away to a specialist to create and when they arrive back the final cast is fitted and any minor small adjustments are made.

The only downside to dentures is that in the small percentage of people they can move or make clicking noise when you chew food, which may be embarrassing or cause discomfort. That said upper dentures tend to do this less because of the natural vacuum caused by the roof of the mouth.  Your dentures will need to be re-aligned as your gums and jaw structure change with aging. Dentures are also subject to normal wear and proper oral hygiene is paramount.

The case for dental implants

Dental implants on the other hand are very durable as they are made of titanium and metal which is fully compatible with the human body. The dental implant itself is drilled into the jaw and bone socket. The process is completely painless as you are given a local anaesthetic. Once this is inserted it needs to fuse with the bone. Thereafter it takes 5-8 months to fix the prosthetic tooth onto the implant.

Dental implants or implant-retained dental prostheses are very stable, as they have a root-like portion that fits into the bone socket, like natural teeth. People who have implant-supported artificial teeth can chew efficiently.

The advantages of dental implants

Dental implants alleviate many of the disadvantages of dentures. The main advantages are:

• The tiny titanium screws acts like a tooth root making the crown more stable
• They are much more comparable to real teeth in their appearance
• Some people can be allergic to the materials that are used to create dentures whereas implants are completely bio-acceptable
• Speech can be generally better with dental implants are there is no slipping
• There are no sore points with dental implants as they do not move
• Your ability to chew is completely restored

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

• Dental implants do take longer to get fitted than dentures
• Implants are more expensive than dentures.
• If you grind your teeth at night then implants may not be suitable for you.
• If you have a phobia of invasive surgery then dental implants may not be for you.

In summary, the choice between dentures and dental implants is a personal one. We hope that this short article highlights the pros and cons with of both.

Dental Implants in Glasgow

have come a long way since the halcyon days of my childhood. As we speak, Iam 53 years old, have a lifelong dental phobia and, of course, pretty poor teeth as a consequence. My memories of the dentist in Glasgow are nightmares, shrouded in a fog of teeth extractions under anaesthetic, kicking and struggling to escape that black rubber mask, always knowing who would win. Of course, it’s now well known that oral health is key to one’s general health as well, and I’ve been stumbling around feeling guilty about my holistic health and wellbeing, but being far too afraid to do anything about it.

My redemption arrived decades after this, courtesy of the arrival of DentalFx in Glasgow, along with the arrival of a bouncing babay son, who seems to have grown up overnight into a fun-filled 10 year old. I was determined Jack would not suffer the same phobia as I did, and somehow plucked up the courage to venture into the Dentalfx surgery.  Renowned as one of the best dental surgeries for dental implants in Glasgow , I sat in the dentist’s chair with my heart beating nineteen to the dozen, hoping I wouldn’t pass out in front of my son.  Imagine my surprise when the entire consultation was quick, and painless. Jack sat down next, a quick inspection and we were on our way home.  The gleaming array of dental equipment and the very pleasant waiting room slowly made me realise that the dentistry world must have changed an awful lot -, and indeed the state of health provision overall must have changed radically, but has somehow passed me by. Specifically for instance, if you’re worried about dental implants, there’s a wealth of information at the Association of Dental Implantology (UK)

So this website is aimed at people like me, the out of date, nervous,  people who want or crave better health, be it dental implants Glasgow related, other oral health issues or general health and wellbeing related.