Dental Implants Cronulla

Dental implants comprise two parts: a small titanium post that is placed into the jaw bone, and a dental crown that replaces the visible top part of the tooth. The reason implants feel and work like natural teeth is they become part of you: the titanium post fuses with your bone over time, holding the crown as firmly in place as your original tooth. Made from premium quality material, the dental crown is carefully hand-crafted by a technician to match your look perfectly and function just like a natural tooth.

Your dental implants can last for over 25 years with proper care. And the good news is proper care for dental implants means exactly the same thing as it does for your natural teeth. It just means regular brushing and flossing and keeping up with your six-monthly check-up and clean appointments. The fact that dental implants last such a long time is one of the reasons they are an excellent investment in your long-term wellbeing.

There are three stages to dental implant treatment. First, the implant surgery - where Dr Daley gently and precisely places the titanium post into the jaw - takes around 1 to 2 hours. And IV sedation means you can sleep comfortably right through it. The next part is the healing phase, which can take between 3 to 6 months. A healing cap or ‘abutment’ is placed over the top of the implant straight after surgery and stays there until the jaw bone and gums fully heal. Once they have, it’s time to fit your new permanent tooth crown. To make sure your crown fits properly, this stage is done across two appointments a couple of weeks apart. At the first appointment, we check that the titanium post has fused with the jaw bone, and we take an impression of the implant. The impression is sent to our local, specialised laboratory, where a dental technician carefully hand-crafts a crown to fit your implant - and your smile - perfectly. At the second appointment, the crown is fitted and you can see the results you’ve been waiting for.

Rest assured you will feel relaxed and comfortable throughout your implant surgery thanks to IV - or twilight - sedation. You will drift into a peaceful, sleep-like state until your procedure is all done. And you most likely won’t feel a thing or even remember anything afterwards. We will keep you safe and comfortable during the recovery period until the anaesthesia wears off. But a family member or friend will need to take you home because you will still be a little too drowsy to drive.

This is a very understandable question! And it’s the first thing most people want to know. But the truth is, implant surgery techniques are incredibly advanced these days. And that, together with Dr Daley’s specialised training and gentle skill make the procedure a lot more comfortable than you might expect. There may be some mild discomfort the day or two after your surgery, but it will be easily managed with over-the-counter medication. Your total recovery and healing time will depend on your medical and dental history, your bone condition prior to treatment, and how many implants are placed. But healing is usually complete within 3 to 6 months.

While the dental implants procedure may seem relatively big, the difference replacing teeth with implants makes in people’s lives is much bigger. Dental implants not only make eating and speaking feel comfortable and natural again, they also hugely improve confidence. And on top of all of that, they help prevent any further bone loss or damage to your existing teeth. When you have missing teeth, your jaw bone will naturally start to recede. Jaw bone loss can affect your facial appearance and facial structure as your cheeks and lips begin to collapse inwards. Dental implants help to stop bone loss and support your facial structure. Dental implants also prevent your existing teeth from moving into the gaps left by your missing teeth. This will help to reduce any added stress on your remaining teeth.

Most patients who are missing teeth are good candidates for dental implants. However, there are some cases where tooth implants will not work. For example, if you have been missing teeth for a long time and have suffered extensive bone loss, there may not be enough bone to place the titanium post. We will determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants at your first consultation after we take x-rays and assess your teeth, jaw bone and gums.