We routinely treat dental patients for implants who are in their 70’s and 80’s. We have even treated patient’s in their 90’s! There is no upper age limit to be treated with implants.

When you come in for your consultation we would assess your suitability for implant treatment.

A “dental implant” is the name given to an artificial prosthetic appliance that is fixed in the patient’s jawbone. It is made up of smaller components, which attach to one another to form a tooth-like appliance.

Dental implants are used to replace missing or loose teeth. Various components can be attached to the implant fixture. Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, several missing teeth or a full arch of missing teeth. Dental implants can also be used to stabilise loose dentures.

Not necessarily. It depends on the occlusal load, aesthetics and amount of bone available. Our implant dentist will be able to tell you more at your consultation.

In the vast majority of cases we aim to finish within 6 months of you having your tooth out, so that you have a fully functional natural looking tooth. Most treatments take between 10-12 weeks from the time the implant is place to the time you get your implant tooth.

• Gently administered local anaesthetic

• Light sedation with nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)

• Deep sedation with intravenous Midazolam (IV)

We will welcome you to our dental practice give you a medical questionnaire to fill out. Our implant dentist, Ric, will see you in his clinic and you can let him know what bothers you about your teeth. Ric will have a look in your mouth and give you his opinion. You’ll be able to ask any questions regarding your care and finances. At this stage, it is up to you if you wish to proceed with the formal implant planning and possible CT scanning. This usually occurs on the same visit if your treatment is routine.

We are able to offer quality implants to our patients at affordable prices because we provide a lot of implant treatments to our patients. This makes us good and efficient at running an implant clinic. We also bulk buy our implant materials at a discounted rate- we can then pass the savings on to our patients. However, we do not compromise on the quality or workmanship- this is reflected by our reputation and the testimonials our patients have given us.

Being conveniently located in Hertfordshire, we don’t suffer the enormous overheads and rent of a high street or a Central London location. Having said that, you can get to our clinic in 20 minutes from Central London!

We have set prices for implant treatments, but an accurate fee can only be given after the dentist has provided your formal implant assessment.

An implant and a fake natural looking tooth can be placed on the same day a bad tooth has been extracted. Our implant dentist will be able to assess if you can have this option. This is our preferred treatment option and this principal can be applied to a single tooth, multiple teeth or a full jaw implant set.

If you had your tooth removed at another clinic, we can provide an implant 4-8 weeks after your extraction, depending on how the gum heals up and the bone under the gum reshapes. It all depends on the patient’s clinical situation.

You have to bear in mind that when a patient has a tooth removed then they are left with a defect in their gum and jawbone. Overtime, this defect is filled with the patient’s own bone and gum.

If the extraction is simple then a period of 4-8 weeks is usually observed before inserting the implant fixture. This is because new jawbone is required to support the implant fixture.

If the patient’s tooth has been a challenge to extract or has been surgically removed, vital jawbone may be lost in this way. An extended period of time may be required before assessing the site for implant treatment. ​ It is important that an infected tooth is not left untreated, even if it causing the patient no issues. This is because vital jawbone can be lost due to the bacteria and infection, making implant dentistry a bit of a challenge. If an infected tooth cannot be saved then it is best to have it removed at the earliest opportunity to prevent unnecessary jawbone loss.

It is an x-ray which shows your jawbone in three dimension. It is used to plan your full jaw implants and their final position.

Traditional dental x-rays are 2-d, which means you can only analyse the teeth and bone from one direction only. A CT scan will show us how much bone there is to place an implant.

And yes, we have a hi-tech CT scanner at our implant clinic!

Having dental x-rays and a CT scan is safe. Some patient think of the excessive amount of radiation; but the radiation risk is very low, otherwise dentists won’t be taking x-rays.

There are many treatment variables, both with fixed and removable teeth. Each option is dependent on the patient’s financial budget and what is possible in their mouth. Your Denture Expert will be happy to discuss more at the time of your consultation.

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There are variations with each treatment modality, but these are the main ones we offer:

• Denture only

• Denture supported by 2 implants

• Denture supported by 4 implants

• Denture supported by 4 implants and a bar

• Fixed teeth supported by 4 implants

• Fixed teeth supported by 6 implants

• Fixed teeth supported by individual implants

As a general rule, the more implants you have placed, the more secure your false teeth will fit in. The number of implants which need to be used to replace your missing teeth depend on varying factors:

• Your budget

• Your smile aesthetics

• The final aesthetic outcome desired

• The quantity of your jawbone

• The quality of your jawbone

• Anatomical features such as the extent of your sinuses and where your nerves are positioned (inferior alveolar and mental nerves in particular)

• Whether you would like a stable denture (which is "rock-solid" but still removable) or if you would like fixed implant teeth (non-removable)

• Your oral hygiene factors

• Any pre-existing periodontal disease ("gum disease")

Visit 1- Consultation & Planning

Visit 2- Implant placement. Wait 1-2 weeks then...

Visit 3- Review appointment. Wait 2-3 months then...

Visit 4- Impressions & mould taking. Wait 1-2 weeks then...

Visit 5- Fit the final implant crown. Treatment completed.

The above scenario is given for a simple implant case. Patients who require multiple dental implants or a full mouth rehabilitation may need more appointments for the planning and treatment stages.

You have to bear in mind that an implant has to be inserted under the gum into the jaw bone. When a patient has had their tooth extracted, they are left with a hollow space in their jaw bone. The body automatically starts to fill this space with natural jaw bone. Depending on the complexity of the tooth extraction procedure, the bone will go back to normal anytime between 4 weeks until 6 months. For example:

If your tooth is very loose and your dentist removes it within 30 seconds, it is more than likely that the bone will remodel into the extraction site within a 4-6 week period.

If your tooth roots are very strong and deeply embedded into your jaw bone, then your dentist may have to do a minor surgical procedure to remove the offending tooth. For the tooth to be removed. your dentist may have to manipulate the bone around the tooth. Because there may well have been bone loss during this procedure, jaw bone remodelling can take up to 6 months. Once the bone remodelling has stabilised, then our Implant Dentist may be able to proceed with the implant treatment.

You may of heard of Same Day Teeth. This is when you have an implant crown inserted the same day you have your tooth removed. You can also have Same Day Dentures. Our Implant Expert will be able to advise you on this aspect at your consultation appointment.