Questions to Ask Your Dentist in Oxford About Dental Implants

Dental Design

Dental Implants

Taking the decision to have dental implants treatment is something most people will wish to consider quite carefully. Although this treatment can be an excellent long-term solution, it isn’t right for everybody and it is important to have a good understanding of exactly what is required. We’ve outlined a few essential questions you need to ask your dental implant dentist in Oxford before making your final decision.

WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE IN PLACING DENTAL IMPLANTS?

This is the most important question to ask and should definitely be top of your list. Some dentists have minimal training in placing dental implants and may only carry out this type of surgery a few times a year.

In comparison, both Neel and Vinit are Specialist Prosthodontists and are actively involved in educating and training dentists in Oxford and at UCL, Eastman dental Institute in London. Neel’s areas of expertise include all aspects of implant dentistry, bone grafting and regenerative techniques, and the management of problems with dental implants. He has also completed a two-year, full-time Fellowship in Implant Dentistry at the University of Florida, USA.

Vinit ‘s areas of expertise include placing and restoring dental implants, bone grafting and managing any potential complications with dental implants. Experience really does matter when it comes to dental implant surgery, particularly if your surgery is likely to be at all complicated or where multiple implants are required.

WHICH IMPLANT SYSTEMS DO YOU USE?

There are a few major dental implant companies that produce high-quality dental implants backed by years of research. These companies are well-known and well respected within the dental industry. There are numerous other companies that produce generic dental implants.

While these may still be of an acceptable quality, they lack the provenance of more widely known dental implant systems. There is another benefit of choosing dental implants made by one of the major companies as these implants are used worldwide. When you need an implant repaired or a component replaced or maintained, it is much easier to find a dentist willing to do this for you, no matter where you are in the world.

Here at One The Gallery, we only use the Straumann dental implant system as it provides all the components required for any situation, and is very well supported by research. But if needed, our team have gained extensive experience in using other systems, especially when it comes to maintaining and solving problems with other dental implant systems.

DO YOU PROVIDE COMPUTER GUIDED DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Computer guided dental implants surgery involves precisely planning using advanced diagnostics that include a cone beam CT scan and planning software. Once everything is planned, this computerised information is used to create a surgical guide or stent which allows precision placement of each implant.

We prefer to use this technique at One The Gallery, as it ensures your implant surgery is smoother, quicker and ultimately more comfortable and successful. Not all dentists will use this technique, but it is especially important when placing multiple implants where precision placement is even more vital.

WILL IMPLANT SURGERY HURT?

You should not feel any pain during surgery, as your dentist in Oxford will ensure you receive plenty of local anaesthesia. We know many patients feel anxious at the thought of any oral surgery and if this applies to you then we can discuss additional sedation.

Our dental team is also very experienced at helping nervous patients feel at ease, and most of our patients will report no or very minimal discomfort that is very well managed with simple painkillers, following implant surgery.

WILL I NEED A LONG TIME TO RECOVER AFTER IMPLANT SURGERY?

If you need just a single dental implant, you should be back to work the very next day. If you have multiple dental implants you might need a bit longer to recover, but your dental implant dentist can give you more advice based on your situation.

Although you may feel some minor discomfort once the anaesthesia wears off, it is not uncommon to feel perfectly fine, especially after single dental implant placements. Again, this is something that can be discussed during your first consultation as it will depend on your treatment.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE IMPLANT TREATMENT?

Dental implant treatment can take up to several months to complete, as the surgery must be planned and once in place the implants need time to heal. It generally takes about 8-12 weeks for the dental implants to fully heal and to bond with your jawbone, and the crown or bridge can be placed shortly after. Treatment may take slightly longer if you need bone grafts or tissue regeneration.

WILL I BE LEFT WITHOUT TEETH DURING IMPLANT HEALING?

This is a major concern for many people, but there is no need to worry, as temporary teeth can be provided while your implants heal. These temporary restorations can be fabricated before your implant surgery and may be placed immediately after surgery is completed.

WILL MY NEW IMPLANT TEETH LOOK NATURAL?

This does depend on the skill of your dentist in Oxford. It is essential that your dental implants are placed in precisely the right position for the best functional and aesthetic effects. Here at One The Gallery, our implant dentists are Specialist Prosthodontists and are specialists in restoring and replacing missing teeth with crowns, bridges and dentures.

Neel, Vinit and the whole team at One The Gallery will do whatever is necessary to make sure your new teeth are designed to look and feel wonderful. We also offer aftercare and advice on how to keep your implants clean.

If you would like to arrange an appointment with one of our Specialists to discuss possible treatment options, please contact our practice. You will also find more detailed information about our specialists on our website at www.onethegallery.co.uk.