Hansalia Dental Clinic

Dental Implants are the latest innovation to replace a missing tooth or a number of teeth. An implant consists of an artificial titanium rod which is placed directly into the jaw bone and acts as a replacement for the root portion of the natural tooth. The implant is made using pure titanium which allows new bone cells to grow around it: the implant then integrates with the newly formed bone which firmly locks it into place. This process is called 'Osseointegration'.

A Dental Implant can be used to replace -

• One tooth - One implant will be placed, a crown will then be fixed on top of the implant
• Several teeth - Either several implants and crowns will be placed or a dental bridge will be fitted onto the implants
• All the teeth - A number of implants are placed, then either a fixed bridge will be fitted onto the implants or the implants will be used to firmly hold a removable denture

Initial Consultation

• A consultation appointment is necessary see if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants and to explain the process of placing an implant. X-rays may be taken and impressions (moulds) of your teeth. A treatment plan will then be drawn up detailing all the appointments required and the costing.
• How are implants placed?
• An incision is made in the gum where the implant is going to be placed, to expose the bone; a small hole is then drilled into the jaw bone
• The titanium implant screw is inserted into the bone. A protective cover or ‘healing cap’ is placed over the top of the screw. This is either left visible in the mouth, or if the implant is deep in the jaw bone the gum will be stitched over the healing cap
• This is left for 3 to 6 months to allow new bone to integrate with the implant allowing osseointegration to happen. If osseointegration does not occur the implant will fail
• When the implant has securely integrated with the jaw bone the healing cap is removed. The final crown or bridge can be cemented or screwed into place or a removable overdenture can be clipped onto or supported by the implants

• Looking after your Implant

Good oral hygiene and regular check-ups with the dentist and hygienist are a very important part of looking after your implants as the gums need to remain healthy. The implants can then last a lifetime.

Fillings are the most common type of ‘restorative treatment’. A filling replaces the part of the tooth that has been lost because decay has caused a cavity in the tooth or because the tooth has broken. One option in restoring the tooth is to have a white filling, commonly known as a ‘Composite Filling’.
Many people have fillings, the majority being grey metal called ‘Amalgam’. Fillings do not just have to be practical, they can also be aesthetically pleasing and thus many patients no longer have the desire for amalgam fillings because they are visible: with most white fillings, no-one would know it was there.

Composites are

• Composite are referred to as white fillings. Composite is a tooth coloured material composed of glass particles suspended in a resin matrix. It is available in several shades to perfectly match your tooth
• Composites are bonded directly to your tooth which can help to support the remaining tooth structure

Composites can be used for a variety of cosmetic dental procedures

• Repairing chipped or broken teeth
• Closing gaps between your teeth (diastemas)
• Reshaping your teeth

A crown is a tooth shaped cover which fits over the existing structure of your natural tooth to protect and restore the tooth’s function.
Crowns can be used to

• Strengthen teeth which have been weakened by decay or a large filling
• Protect fractured, cracked and worn teeth
• Improve the shape, alignment and shade of a tooth
• After root canal treatment, to help strengthen the tooth

Each crown is individually handcrafted by our dental technician to create a healthy, natural look.
Crowns Preparation
Crowns can be made using the following materials - all metal (often gold)or tooth coloured crowns such as porcelain fused to metal (often gold or a gold alloy), full ceramic (porcelain) or composite (plastic with glass particles embedded). The material used will depend on why you are having the crown.
Whether you choose to have a crown to improve the shape and alignment of your teeth or to strengthen your tooth, the procedure is the same. Two appointments are necessary, the first to prepare the tooth for the crown and the second to fit the crown.
The preparation appointment

• The dentist will then shape the outer surfaces of the tooth, creating a cylindrical shape onto which the crown will seat
• An impression (mould) is taken of your teeth using special dental "putty"generally made from silicone. The putty is placed into an impression tray; they are both then inserted into your mouth and pushed over your teeth in order to take an impression. Once the dental putty is set, the impression will be removed. An impression is also taken of the opposing teeth, so the technician can see how you bite together
• A temporary crown will be cemented onto the prepared tooth to protect it whilst your crown is being fabricated
• The impression will be sent to the Dental Laboratory where our technician will handcraft your crown. This will take between two and three weeks

The "Fitting" Appointment

• The temporary crown will be removed and the tooth will be washed to remove the temporary cement
• The dentist will then try in your new crown, making sure that it fits correctly and that you are happy with the appearance. The crown will then be permanently cemented in place. The bite is checked carefully and may need minor adjustments