How can we help you?
We want every patient who visits BMB Dental Clinic to feel completely confident in their dental care and treatments. For that reason, we encourage our patients to ask questions, and we've provided answers to a few of our most commonly asked questions below.
If you don't see your questions listed, we welcome your call for more information. We're always happy to provide help over the phone.
Dental Implants
Whether or not you are a good candidate for dental implants depending on two factors - the amount and quality of the bone you have at the site of implant placement and your general health. To explore this further, the bone quality and size need to be assessed with a special CT scan called Cone Beem CT. Your medical history is important as well. Smoking and diabetes are contraindications or can increase the chances of implant failure. Some medications, like Prolia, which is related to bone density can also cause issues with an implant. When discussing this with your dentist, be sure to be honest and transparent about your health and history.
Usually, dental implants are not painful. The entire procedure is done under local anaesthetic, which means the patient will not feel any pain while the work is being done. When the local anaesthetic is administered and the jaw and face are numbed up, it does not matter if it is a simple filling or surgical procedure - the patient will not feel any pain.
For single implant placements, there is usually no pain even after the procedure as the surgical site is small and the gum heals quite quickly. Multi implant placements or more complex procedures like bone grafting or sinus lifting can cause a bit of pain which can easily be controlled by over-the-counter pain killers.
Yes, they can. The success rate of implants is about 98%. So, there is always a chance that for any reason they fail. This can happen right after placement or even sometime after.
You cannot see the dental implant itself as it is buried into the bone. The crown placed on that is visible and looks like a natural tooth.
Having said that, there is a big difference between crowns over the implants and the crown part of a natural tooth. Light cannot go through implant crowns as the core of that crown is usually made of metal or zirconia, but light can go through a natural tooth. This is why there is always small difference between the two.
The cross-section of a tooth at the gum level is always bigger than the diameter of an implant. This can sometimes make the implant crown look different from a natural tooth crown.
The most important thing for the longevity of an implant after its placement procedure is the health of the gum around it. Good oral hygiene and cleaning the teeth and gums, specially around the implant, is very important.
Smoking is harmful for the gums and will shorten the life of the implant. Some medications, medical conditions and those who are genetically predisposed to periodontal disease (gum disease) are amongst the people who may lose the implant sooner than expected.
This depends on a range of factors. Typically, we expect them to last 10 to 15 years. This is based on the quality of the bone the implant is placed in, the size of the implant chosen, oral hygiene of the patient, strength of face muscles and chewing forces, existence of para functional habits like grinding and clenching of the teeth, periodontal health (gum health) in general and specifically the gum right next to the implant. Medical conditions such as diabetes and smoking can also impact if implants last shorter or longer than the standard length.
Of course, the quality of the implant and the quality of the work and placement done by the dentist can also affect the longevity of the implant’s life.
Depending on the brand and material used, dental implants can cost between $3500 and $5000.
Bone grafts in Mona Vale, NSW, act as fillers and scaffolding to promote wound healing and facilitate bone formation. Four main types of bone graft materials are available after tooth extraction and before a dental implant:
- Autograft – tissue from the patient's own body
- Allograft – donor tissue from another human
- Xenograft – tissue from another animal
- Synthetic – non-biological, artificially produced
An autograft is ideal for bone grafting because we collect it from another part of your body. If we use an autograft, we typically collect bone from the chin, back or lower jaw, or even the hips.
Allografts are another common type of bone graft material. The donor tissue is safe and effective, but there's a risk the patient's body can reject another person's tissue.
Xenografts use bovine (cow) or porcine (pig) bone and are commonly used.
Synthetic bone graft materials are artificial and have a higher risk of resorption over time.
Your Mona Vale Dentist Welcomes Your Call!
BMB Dental Clinic invites you to contact us to discuss dental implants in Mona Vale and our extraction and grafting procedures. If you have any questions, our friendly team at Mona Vale dental is ready to assist you with expert care and guidance.
We look forward to helping you improve your smile today!
Dental implants are titanium or zirconia screws which are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. A special dental crown, bridge or denture then will be made in dental lab and attached to the implant to restore the look and function of the missing teeth.
After a dental extraction in Mona Vale, NSW, the jawbone immediately starts the process of atrophying and loses its original shape. Socket preservation is a treatment your dentist uses to reduce bone loss after removing a tooth.
Socket prevention involves placing a bone graft in the tooth’s socket––which acts as scaffolding––and bone cells create the bone around the bone graft material your dentist places in the socket. After placing the bone graft into the empty socket, your dentist covers it with a collagen membrane to nourish the bone graft, encouraging healthy and quick regeneration.
This procedure protects the jawbone and empty socket from decay and creates a more robust support system for the dental implant.
Once the dentist completes the socket preservation treatment, the patient’s remaining teeth are less susceptible to shifting and loss. Also, your dentist can reconstruct the lost part of the bone with bone graft material and allow the body to replace it with bone cells suitable for dental implants.
We Welcome Your Call!
BMB Dental Clinic is here for you and your oral health needs. If you have a missing tooth and desire dental implants Mona Vale, we invite you to contact us today for more information about our services and how we can assist you. We aim to ensure your treatment meets your specific needs and goals, so you can have the smile you’ve always wanted.
The process of a dental implant begins with a tooth extraction. The patient then needs to wait around 2 months for the gum to heal. After this, the implant is placed and gum is stitched, with the patient then having to wait about 3-4 months. In this time, the bone will grow into the implant micro-porosities and the implant gets fused to the bone. This process is call osseointegration.
After this, the dentist will make a punch hole in the gum, access the top of the implant, do the necessary measurements and get the crown or any other restoration made by a dental lab. When the restoration is ready, the dentist will screw that into the implant and the job is done.
For simple single implant placement, recovery time is just few days or even less. If it is a bigger procedure like bone grafting, then recovery may take around a week.
Dental implants in Mona Vale, NSW require healthy bone to hold them in place. If the jawbone isn’t healthy or dense enough to surround the implant, the bone will shrink over time, and the dental implant will be exposed. When this occurs, the gums don’t attach to the implant’s surface, resulting in a gap between the gum and implant.
Patients with low bone density in the jawbone may need a bone graft to ensure the implant stays in place. In fact, anyone who has a missing tooth might need a bone graft before placing a dental implant. Every day a tooth is missing, the body experiences bone loss, which leads to disuse atrophy of the jawbone over time. Also, empty tooth sockets can collect bacteria, resulting in infection.
Jawbone resorption can occur due to gum infection, periodontitis, and bone loss. Typically two months after a tooth extraction, the dental implant should be placed to prevent future problems due to bone loss.
Bone Grafts and Dental Implants in Mona Vale, NSW
Do you have a missing tooth and need a dental implant Mona Vale? Our friendly and knowledgeable team at BMB Dental Clinic welcomes your call. We will be pleased to help you find the best treatment for your specific needs.
Dental implants offer many patients the ideal option for replacing their missing teeth. However, in order for dental implants to be successful, it’s essential to ensure you’re a good fit for dental implants.
The best way to ascertain whether dental implants are the right option for your tooth replacement is with a thorough exam in our Mona Vale dental practice. Dr Babak Moharrami will thoroughly evaluate your dental situation, using x-rays and other diagnostic tools to ensure you have a high chance of success with dental implants.
One crucial factor that dentists look for when evaluating a patient for dental implants is bone volume. Your jawbone must have enough volume to hold the implant in place securely.
What Are the Options for Patients with Bone Loss?
If your jawbone isn’t wide enough or long enough to hold a dental implant, the dentist can perform a bone graft to create more bone volume for the security of the implant.
Additionally, mini-implants, while not ideal, may provide an alternative to traditional implants in some situations, such as when the patient doesn't have the appropriate bone volume or when the cost of traditional implants is a concern.
Dental Implants in Mona Vale
At BMB Dental Clinic, our experienced dentist, Dr Moharrami, expertly places dental implants Mona Vale for patients using advanced technology. If you need to replace missing teeth, we invite you to contact our knowledgeable team.