Treatment and Aftercare

First step

The first step towards your new permanent teeth is a detailed examination by your dentist. Then you and your dentist can determine which solution works best for you. As part of your examination, impressions, X-rays and a CT scan of your jaw will be recorded in order to plan your entire dental procedure before it begins. The CT scan may be taken during an appointment with your dentist or at a separate appointment with our radiographer.

At this stage we will also discuss the appearance of your final restorations and our laboratory team will begin making the teeth that will be fitted onto your implants on the day of implant placement.

On the day

The procedure starts in the morning when the dental implants are placed under local anaesthesia, often with sedation delivered by a consultant anaethetist. The surgery takes two or three hours. Once the implants have been placed, impressions are recorded so that your new teeth can be adjusted to exactly fit onto the implants. You will then be able to rest in our private relaxation room where our team will continue to look after you in comfort. Later on in the afternoon, your new teeth will be attached to the implants and you will be provided with specific aftercare instructions before leaving the practice. A relative or friend will need to accompany you on the day in order to drive you to and from the practice, and if you have been sedated, to look after you overnight.

Healing and final bridge fitting

With the implants in place and the initial bridge secured to them, healing can commence. Usually, we ask that you stick to a soft diet, only gradually building up to normal chewing. During the four to six month healing period, the shape of your jaw and your gum will subtly change as the tissues heal and the bone bonds to the implants. At the end of that time we will make a new set of teeth for you that fit the new contours in your mouth. Our specially created recipe book is full of suitable suggestions and provides a wide range of choices for smile in a day patients.

Is the treatment painful?

As with any surgery, there can be some discomfort. Local anaesthesia is used and sedation is also available during the dental implant process. You will also receive medications and mouth washes to reduce swelling and discomfort over the subsequent days. Most patients tell us that they were much more comfortable following the procedure than they had anticipated, reporting only minimal discomfort afterwards. Ask your Devonshire House dentist if you can speak with another patient who has already had such tooth replacement therapy to hear their personal experience.  

Aftercare

How will I care for my dental implants?

• Your new teeth must be cared for and checked regularly, just like your natural teeth.
• Brushing twice a day with an electric tooth brush and cleaning under the bridge, as recommended by your dentist and dental hygienist is imperative to maintain the health of the gums around the implants.
• Wearing your supplied mouthguard at night will help protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear.
• You will need regular check-ups and hygiene visits every three to four months to begin with. All appointments included in your treatment cost will be detailed in your written treatment plan. Please click on the button below for further information about what is and is not included in your treatment cost.

What happens if one or more implants fail?

Occasionally, an implant can fail to bond to your bone and has to be removed. Initially, we would simply replace the loose implant with a new one and leave it to bond again. This recovery treatment would not incur any extra charge.

Should we be very unlucky and have to abandon the implant treatment, then Devonshire House would reimburse you with 50% of the fees up to the point of failure. We would then plan an alternative treatment for you.