Anterior Implants

Posterior Implants

Denture-Supported Implants

Full Arch Reconstruction

What happens when you lose a tooth?

When teeth are lost, they need to be replaced to prevent adjacent tooth migration, and over-eruption of the opposing teeth.

Importantly, teeth need to be replaced in order to regain the lost function of the missing tooth (for biting and æsthetic purposes).

In the past there were only two dental options to replace missing teeth.

1.  Dentures These are removable appliances.  They rely on unsightly “clasps” for retention.  They tend to be bulky, and fall out when a person is laughing widely or has a broad smile. Retention of dentures worsens over time as underlying bone resorbs away.

2.  Bridges These are fixed appliances.  They require preparation of the adjacent teeth (i.e. cutting away the enamel of the crown).  They can be a suitable option if the teeth adjacent to the space are heavily restored, but are damaging to teeth that have no (or small) restorations present. Bridges replacing missing anterior teeth can have a poor aesthetic result due to the bone loss in the area of the replaced tooth.

Dentures and bridges are not permanent and have a high biological and financial cost over your lifetime.

Now modern dentistry, in combination with modern techniques of specialist maxillofacial surgery, offers real & comprehensive tooth replacement through dental titanium implants.

Titanium Dental Implants

An implant placed by an Oral & Maxillofacial surgical specialist, (with due life time care by the patient) can be expected to last a life time. By being implanted in bone, implants are self supporting structures, which are independent of adjacent teeth. The implant platform serves as a secure "root" for a new dental crown, or to attach wider types of dental restorations, such as implant-supported bridges or dentures. Like any strong partner, implants are also protective, and take an increased share of occlusal loading away from their natural neighbours.

Structure

The dental implant itself consists of two surfaces; an inner and an outer.

The outer surface is made of a special form of titanium oxide, and has a complex shape; which somewhat resembles a screw. Implants come in all shapes and sizes, and by many different manufacturers. Only certain types of shapes are able to both mechanically lock with surrounding jaw bone, as well as stimulate micro-forces, which enhance atomic and cellular bone mineralisation & osseointegration with the specially treated implant surface.

The inner surface, usually made of pure titanium, utilises screw threads and internal locking devices, which can secure a permananlty attached tooth, or denture appliance. As the implant needs to function in a hostile environment, with extreme repeat forces (and over a lifetime), design of these retention elements are extremely important.

Ocean surgical only uses higher-grade specialist-only implant products; with manufacturer life-time material & osseo-integration warranties.

We use AstraTech and 3I implants, each of which have multiple designs & surface types; only one of which will be ideal for you. As part of your consultation & treatment planning, the specialist maxillofacial surgeon importantly selects specific implant types that will preferentially suit your personal jaw bone & restorative situation.

For more detailed information on the following topics, simply click on the area of interest.

Anterior implants are an effective replacement for lost front teeth, and can last a life time. When coordinated and planned with your general dentist, a specialist can remove the affected tooth, and mould your gum line in a way that makes the final implant supported crown natural and lasting.

POSTERIOR IMPLANTS (Back teeth)

Posterior implants offer the best replacement for lost side or back teeth, both for looks and function. Modern implants use pure titanium supports which “fuse” to and maintain your natural living bone, with a zirconium abutment which in turn supports your gums in a healthy and sustained way.

DENTURE SUPPORTING IMPLANTS

When someone has been edentulous (without their own teeth) for a lengthy period of time, the jaw bone resorbs away.  This compromises the retention of the denture (especially the lower full-denture).  Excessive bone resoprtion eventually forces a person into being unable to wear their denture(s).  Implants can be placed in jaw bone to help retain or fix dentures, and which maximise chewing ability.

FULL ARCH RECONSTRUCTION

When all teeth in an arch are lost (a total of 16 teeth), full dentures have been the traditional means of replacing the ability to chew and smile. Implant s can now be used to fix a permanenlty secured full arch of teet, for maximal function, chewing ability and comfort.

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