Is there an alternative to dentures for missing teeth?
A healthy set of teeth will not only give you a confident smile but will also help you to maintain good overall health. With almost one in three (31%) adults suffering from tooth decay, there are many for whom common tasks such as chewing and speaking are problematic due to missing teeth. Worse still for those who’ve lost all their natural teeth, or remaining teeth are failing.
Many who have missing teeth rely on dentures to improve function and the appearance of their smile. However, these come with challenges, ranging from gum sores and irritation to loose dentures that move around when speaking and eating. If you’re constantly conscious of problematic dentures, you’re not free to be the best possible version of yourself.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are responsible for changing the life of thousands of people across the UK who have lost teeth for whatever reasons, usually disease or trauma. Dental implants offer a long-lasting solution for replacing dentures, loose, rotten, missing or otherwise failing teeth, thereby restoring function and confidence.
The need for dental implants is very common, with millions of people benefitting from this treatment every year. Dental implants provide stability for replacement teeth and help maintain surrounding bone, ultimately the implant and the bone integrating together – a process called osseointegration. There are varying types of dental implants:
- Single tooth implants – a single tooth implant is used to replace one missing tooth. A titanium screw is placed in the jawbone as a replacement for that tooth’s root. A false tooth crown is then fixed to this implant, retained by either bonding or preferably a screw-retained crown.
- Multiple dental implants – if there are multiple missing teeth adjacent to each other they can be replaced with more than one dental implant connected by a bridge, typically two implants and three to four teeth in one bridge.
- Implant-retained dentures – held in place by dental implants screwed into the jawbone, implant-retained dentures function better than normal dentures, as they are more stable, although there will still be an element of movement.
- Smile-in-a-day (also known as All-on-4, same day smile, and full jaw dental implants) – a long-lasting solution replacing dentures, loose, rotten and missing teeth, these dental implants are placed into the jaw, providing an entire bridge of functioning teeth, in just one day.
Why dental implants are the best alternative to dentures
Bone loss is common once a tooth root is no longer present, and this can cause several long-term difficulties, including problems with speech, facial definition and issues with your bite. But by putting implants into the jaw, bone levels will be maintained, preventing degradation.
Dental implants offer the freedom to eat whatever you like without worrying about dentures coming loose!
Who can get dental implants?
Many people believe on advice from their dentists they would not be suitable for dental implants due to a lack of healthy bone, or that they would need to undergo bone grafts or sinus lifts, but this isn’t always the case. Even with compromised bone levels you may still be a candidate for dental implants, if treated by an expert in this field. Advanced implant techniques such as pterygoid and zygomatic implants negate the need in most cases for bone grafts or sinus lifts, thereby making a full jaw solution accessible to more people.
The optimum solution for dentures or failing teeth
For people who have no, or very few teeth, full jaw ‘smile-in-a-day’ dental implants offer long lasting, natural-looking teeth, with none of the disadvantages associated with dentures.
The EvoSolution™ from EvoDental™ is an advanced full jaw ‘smile-in-a-day’ treatment using pterygoid and zygomatic implants, when necessary, that replaces dentures, loose, rotten, missing or failing teeth with a full set of dental implants. These implants are not singular teeth on implants placed next to each other, they are a one-piece, full jaw prosthetic bridge secured in place by four to six implants per jaw. And the best bit… you can generally leave the same day with brand new fixed teeth that allow you to chew, smile, and socialise with confidence once again.
How much do dental implants cost?
The cost of dental implants varies depending on what your requirements are and the dental practice you visit:
- Single tooth implants range between £1,500 and £3,600.
- Multiple dental implants are generally a simple multiple of singles, with an additional cost for each pontic of the bridge – a pontic being a false tooth spanning the gap between implants.
- Implant-supported bridges range between £4,000 and £12,000, depending on span and practice attended.
- Implant-retained dentures – range between £10,000 and £16,000 for a full mouth.
- All-on-four/Smile-in-a-day implants range between £20,000 and £35,000 for a full mouth, with single jaws starting around £11,000.
- The EvoSolution™ Smile-in-a-day is between £11,000 and £25,000, depending on the number of jaws necessary and the type of bridge, following a detailed consultation.
How to find out if you are suitable
EvoDental have been specialising solely in full jaw ‘smile-in-a-day’ dental implants since 2007 and this is the only treatment they perform, meaning their expertise is unparalleled. Each patient has the attention, skill, and passion of the entire multi-disciplinary team, who work together to formulate a unique treatment to suit each individuals’ specific needs.
The dedicated on-site lab means everything is done in-house to create a completely unique prosthetic for each patient. Dentists across the UK often refer their patients to EvoDental, especially when the most complex cases present, confirming EvoDental’s unique experience.
EvoDental offer a free of charge full clinical consultation, including a full clinical assessment and are able to tell you there and then whether you’d be suitable for full mouth ‘smile-in-a-day’ dental implants.
Find out more at EvoDental.com