Exploring Patient Concerns About Dental Implants
Like any other clinic in the UK patients who visit us considering dental implants in Richmond have a variety of concerns they need answers to. The most common ones are
Is the treatment affordable or how much will it cost?- Do implants last forever?
- Is it likely that my body will reject dental implants?
- Am I eligible for dental implants?
- Does the process hurt?
With this in mind, let’s take each concern in turn and answer it as honestly and as best as we can.
Cost of treatment
Obviously cost is a serious factor when considering dental implants as a form of missing teeth replacement and there’s no getting away from the fact that they do indeed cost more than dentures or bridges. However unlike bridges or dentures they can have a lengthy lifespan and never need replacing. So once fitted, they’re in your mouth for many years to come. Costs can vary from clinic to clinic and fall somewhere between £850 and £2000 per tooth. That said many clinics offer varying methods of payment including instalments, so you can spread the cost over a matter of months if you so wish.
Implant longevity
We’ve already mentioned that dental implants (provided they’re cared for correctly) have the ability to last for a long time, but just how long is this? The truth is that implants are still in their infancy and many patients who had them fitted ten or twenty years ago are still happily going on with their lives with their implants in perfect working order. That said, what we do know is that the very first person to have them fitted back in 1965 had no problems with their implants right up until his death some 43 years later.
Implant rejection
Whether you opt for dental implants in Richmond or anywhere else in the country, you’ll find that the vast majority of implants are manufactured using titanium. Aside from the fact that titanium is strong, durable, and lightweight, it’s considered perfectly safe when placed into the human body. This is why it’s also used in hip replacement operations as well as in ground-breaking prosthetic surgery. For this reason it’s highly unlikely that the body will reject the implant on this basis alone.
Am I eligible for implant surgery?
Although dental implants can be fitted to anyone of any age there are a few factors that might make the process more difficult and in some cases impossible to fit. Medical conditions such as heart problems, osteoporosis, certain facial cancers and recent radiotherapy might certainly make fitting dental implants more problematic, as can uncontrollable diabetes and lifestyle choices such as heavy smoking and drinking. That said, each case is taken on merit and a thorough examination is carried out prior to fitting.
Is the process painful?
Fitting dental implants does require a surgical process, however due to advancements in technology the vast majority of patients feel little or no pain whatsoever during surgery. Recovery depends upon the amount of surgery done and for a small one off implant placement, a patient should feel very little pain and be back to work within 1-2 days. Larger procedures such as multiple implant placements might take longer to recover from and patients may experience slight pain and swelling. That said, most pain can easily be managed using over-the counter painkillers and should subside within 3-10 days.
If you want to find out more about whether dental implants in Richmond are right for you then visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or contact Sheen Dental on 020 8876 5277 and book yourself a free, no obligation consultation.