Titanium is incredible. This metal has revolutionised modern medicine and given hundreds of thousands of people back their quality of life, and all for one simple reason: the human body likes it. That’s why if you want dental implants in Oxfordshire, chances are you’ll be getting titanium implants in your jawbone.

A little of history

Just how well titanium gets on with the human body was the chance discovery of Per Ingavar-Brånemark when he used titanium chambers inserted into a rabbit bone to study blood flow in 1952. When he tried to remove the chambers, he found they had fused with the bone, in a process he then called osseointegration.

Titanium is one of few materials that the human immune system does not attack as a foreign body, just the opposite in fact. This metal encourages the body to grow new tissue around it and two mesh together to hold the implant within the tissue like a real tooth root, in the case of dental implants in Oxfordshire. Titanium is also very strong and lightweight, making it the perfect material for dental implants. They need to be strong to withstand multidirectional chewing forces, but also light so they don’t weigh down the jawbone.

Imagine if your jaw was full of iron or lead, eating and talking and even just holding your jaw shut would become a burdensome task. Not so with titanium. If it wasn’t for the fact that the implants do not contain nerve endings and so cannot mimic the subtle sensitivity of our own teeth, most people would forget that these are not actually the teeth that they were born with.

Your average dental implant in Oxfordshire at Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre is about 13 millimetres long and looks like a little post. Its surface is deliberately rough so that there is lots of area for bone tissue to bond with, to hold it in place. Inside the post is an internal screw. When the implant goes in, it’s covered with a temporary cap to protect the internal screw while the implant is fusing with the bone. The dentist removes that cap and screws in an abutment, another screw with the appropriate attachment on top, to hold the crowns in place.

Can you imagine not being able to eat what you like and having to survive on soft food? Think of all the nutritious stuff you’d miss out on? Salads, nuts, crunchy fruits, fibrous vegetables, chewy meats. The only way you could eat all the great foods we so need to stay healthy would be to live on smoothies. And while smoothies are great, they could get awfully dull.

A limited diet is the reality for many people who have lost so many teeth that they can no longer chew or bite like they used to. This may be the case even if they have dentures or a bridge. Neither has the chewing force that real teeth have, because real teeth are anchored into the jawbone. You could even argue that lost teeth can build up into a disability. That can all change now though, thankfully, with the insertion of dental implants in Oxfordshire.

A bit of background

In Oxfordshire, dental implants have been becoming increasingly popular for replacing teeth since they first came into popular use in the 1980s. Rapid advances in implant design and placement techniques have made them available to more people, including those whose bone tissue would have been previously rejected as no longer dense enough to support the implants.

At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre, we have placed implants into the jaws of over 1,000 patients. Will you be one of our next customers? We do hope so. We’ve seen how having implants can radically improve the lives of our patients. Not only do they give people back their favourite foods, they give them back their confidence. This can get terribly eroded if you have dentures that don’t fit properly and move around in the mouth just when you really need them to stay in place. Teeth shouldn’t do this. Implants stop the unpredictable wobbles, clicks and whistles that can come from wearing ill-fitting dentures. They also preserve healthy teeth, which can become unstable and even fall out if they are next to a gap.

There are so many benefits to dental implants in Oxfordshire, and we’d love to tell you about them if you want to book in for a consultation.

Our levels of self-confidence are strongly linked to the way we look. That does not change with age; we just tend to worry about different things. We are no longer so concerned with our clothes and hair, but have other worries like will our teeth fall out if we laugh as loudly as we used to before we got false ones. And, will people laugh at us if our dentures wobble around and make it hard for us to talk. These are very real concerns affecting people with missing teeth all over the country. We tend to associate false teeth with getting old, but teeth knocked out during sports, or accidents have to be replaced too. Whatever your age, dental implants in Oxfordshire can make sure your self-esteem remains at a healthy level.

In Oxfordshire, dental implants are our main focus at Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre. We have already transformed the smiles, and the lives, of over 1,000 patients. We see first hand every day the difference that using dental implants to replace teeth can make to people’s ability to live life to the full.

Your journey with us

When you come to us to find out more about dental implants in Oxfordshire, and whether you can have them inserted, we will listen very carefully to what your issues are, what you’d like to have happen and what your end goals are. We’ll do our best to make sure you get just the information you need about the procedure, the expected results, aftercare, and cost, and we will give you a written treatment plan, including projected costs.

A strong, healthy jaw is essential to the success of dental implants. Not everyone has one. If you’ve been without some teeth for a while, there’s a good chance that the bone in the areas where the teeth used to be will have deteriorated. The bone may also have been affected if you have been a smoker. If this is the case, you may need to have some preparatory procedures, such as a bone graft or a sinus lift, before implants can be inserted. If you do, this may add several weeks or months onto your implant journey time.

Are you missing one, several or all of your teeth? Dental implants are the most viable option for replacing them. Unlike other tooth replacement methods, dental implants give your teeth a superior level of functionality and a natural feel.

Dental implants are small titanium posts that act as replacement tooth roots. They can be used to support a single crown, a dental bridge or a denture. At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxford, dental implants are considered to be more predictable than other treatments and are the next best thing to your healthy natural teeth.

Replace individual teeth

Dental implants are regularly used to replace one missing tooth. Our experienced dentists will place a dental implant to replace your missing tooth root. A connecting piece known as an abutment is placed on top of the dental implant and acts as the support for the replacement crown. Implant-supported crowns feel, look and function exactly like your natural teeth and can be brushed and flossed exactly like them too.

Replace several teeth

If you are missing several teeth in a row, our dentists can place dental implants to support a dental bridge. Implant-supported bridges have nearly the same biting and chewing power as your natural teeth and provide the necessary pressure needed to stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone loss.

Replace all your teeth

Patients with most or all of their teeth missing, often opt for traditional dentures as they are more cost-effective compared to individual dental implants. Luckily, modern dentistry has advanced and you can now have your dentures stabilised with dental implants. Implant-supported dentures do not need adhesives to stay in place, are very stable and restore your chewing and biting power, sparing you from the discomfort sometimes caused by regular dentures.

Benefits of dental implants in Oxfordshire

Dental implants are long-lasting and convenient – they can last a lifetime if you take good care of them. Since they fuse with the jawbone they act and feel like regular teeth, while preventing the deterioration of the jawbone that so often occurs after tooth loss. Finally, unlike dental bridges that require grinding down of other healthy teeth, dental implants protect your natural teeth by keeping them strong and healthy.

Missing teeth can cause oral health problems including bone loss, tooth alignment problems and even deterioration of your healthy teeth. While there are quite a few options available for replacing your missing teeth, dental implants offer many benefits over traditional dentures and bridges.

At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxford, dental implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth. Not only do they look natural, but they can also prevent oral health problems and improve your overall quality of life.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are small titanium posts, surgically fixed into the jawbone in order to replace a missing tooth root. Once healing has occurred, they are used to support a crown, bridge or dentures. Dental implants are made of pure titanium, a material that is very compatible with the human body and actually integrates with the surrounding bone, becoming a part of the body. Unlike conventional bridges, dental implants do not require grinding down of healthy teeth for their stabilisation. Once in place, they look, feel and function exactly like natural teeth, protecting the rest of your teeth and the jawbone.

Am I a good candidate for dental implants?

Generally, most patients are eligible for dental implants as long as they are healthy and they have enough bone tissue left in their jawbone. There are some health conditions that warrant special consideration such as diabetes and heart disease, but if they are controlled prior to the procedure, there is no reason not to proceed with dental implants. Your dentist will evaluate your health history and alert you to any factors that may compromise your treatment.

Benefits of dental implants in Oxford

Unlike other tooth restoration methods that merely sit on the gums, dental implants actually replace the root of your teeth and restore your biting and chewing power. Stimulation to the jawbone is also restored preventing bone loss from occurring. Dental implants also prevent healthy teeth from moving and becoming loose, which can happen when a tooth is missing. Finally, since dental implants function just like your natural teeth, you can eat your favourite foods, and brush and floss your teeth as you normally would.

If you have missing teeth then you may feel self-conscious about your smile, or have noticed that your face is starting to sag because it is not getting the support it used to from a full set of teeth. People lose their teeth for different reasons. Age, accidents or underlying health issues can all result in gaps in your mouth which can be unsightly as well as causing problems with everyday activities, such as eating and speaking. You may have dismissed the idea of having dentures but there are alternatives. For patients at Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire, dental implants are a stable, permanent solution that fits into their lifestyle.

How do they work?

The implants are small metal screws that are fitted into the jaw during a minor surgical procedure. During the healing process, the bones and blood vessels mesh around them to hold them in place. When they are stable, they can be used as a secure base for a single replacement tooth, several teeth or a whole set of dentures. In some cases, we can fit your new teeth in the same day so you can walk out with a totally new smile. Having dental implants in Oxfordshire can be an effective, long-term restoration as, with the correct care, they can last for several decades.

What are the advantages?

Your new teeth are carefully made to match the tone and shape of existing teeth so your improved appearance will be very natural. The first thing that other people will see is a great smile but, because implants replace natural teeth roots, you will find that you hardly notice that you have them. Your replacement teeth will be secure, so you can talk, bite and chew as normal. Having dental implants in Oxfordshire also improves the strength of your jaw, as they stimulate the bone in the same way as a natural tooth root. This prevents the shrinkage that can occur in people who wear dentures.

For many of our patients in Oxfordshire, dental implants have allowed them to experience a new lease of life. We look forward to talking to you to find out how we can help.

There are many things to consider when assessing your immediate suitability for dental implants in Oxfordshire. Sometimes there are procedures that must be performed before we can go ahead with your implants. These are to ensure you get the longest possible life from your dental implants in Oxfordshire. One possible procedure some of our patients here at Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre may need before the implant process is a ridge expansion.

What is a ridge expansion?

Ridge expansion is a technique used to restore the lost bone if the jaw ridge gets too thin to place conventional dental implants. It is a common dental procedure often performed following a tooth extraction to help recreate the natural contour of the gums and jaw that may have been lost because of a tooth extraction, or for another reason.

When a tooth is removed, an empty socket is left in the jawbone. Usually this empty socket will heal on its own, filling with bone and tissue. Sometimes when a tooth is removed, the bone surrounding the socket breaks and won’t heal on its own.

The previous height and width of the socket can continue to deteriorate. Rebuilding the original height and width of the jawbone is not medically necessary, but is required for dental implants placement. Dental implants in Oxfordshire require bone to support their structure and a ridge expansion will help rebuild this bone to accommodate your implants.

How is the procedure performed?

A ridge expansion is accomplished by placing bone graft material in the empty tooth socket. This can be done immediately after the tooth is removed, to avoid the need for a second procedure later. Next, the gum tissue is placed over the socket and secured.

Your dentist will use a space-maintaining product over the top of the graft to restore the height and width of the space created by the tooth and bone loss and into which new bone should grow. Once the socket has healed, the jawbone can be prepared for dental implant placement.

At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Clinic, we can normally place the implant simultaneously with the ridge expansion to make your dental implants in Oxfordshire as quick and easy as possible.

It’s not uncommon for your teeth to start failing in middle age, especially if you grind your teeth at night and have not worn a mouth guard. If your dentist says you must have one of your back teeth extracted, you may be wondering how that is going to affect you.

The good news is that it need hardly affect you at all, if you have dental implants in Oxfordshire fitted to replace that lost tooth. In Oxfordshire, dental implants are increasingly popular as a tooth replacement system because they do more than replace the crown, they replace the root as well.

At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire, having a replacement root can make a huge difference to your other teeth, your diet, and the future of your jaw and facial structure.

What missing teeth do to your jawbone

The roots of our teeth play a vital role in maintaining the size and density of our jawbones. Their presence in the jawbone stimulates its renewal. Without tooth roots there, trembling slightly in their sockets signalling to the bone that it is still needed, the jawbone does not bother to make new bone to replace old worn out bone. And so, your jawbone shrinks back.

The area around the lost tooth becomes less dense. Not only that but the roots of each of our teeth act as a support to the other teeth around them, and when one goes missing its neighbours can become loose and start to tip into the gap, perhaps even fall out of the jawbone altogether.

The unpleasantness of a soft food diet

Losing one tooth might not particularly affect your diet, but if its neighbours become loose and fall out too, you may not be able to eat food that you need to chew. This means that nutritious raw fruit and vegetables, nuts and meat, can go out the window. You’ll be left with a soft food diet and may find it harder to get enough nutrients into your body.

Have an ask around and you may soon discover that quite a few of your friends in their 40s have already had dental implants in Oxfordshire. They may seem like a big investment, but they can last a lifetime.

At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre, we can offer you a way to replace one or two missing teeth, without having to sacrifice more healthy teeth to being ground down to support artificial teeth on bridges.

Most people would rather keep their natural teeth intact, which is why our dentists recommend dental implants in Oxfordshire, rather than normal dentures and bridges.

The advantages of dental implants

In Oxfordshire, dental implants are often the best solution if you have one or more missing teeth. This is because the teeth on dental implants are supported directly by the jawbone rather than the teeth adjacent to the gap, which have to be ground down for bridges to be fitted. With dental implants, you get to keep all your healthy teeth. Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, or a few, or even both sets of teeth on the upper and lower jaw.

In Oxfordshire, dental implants also keep your jaw healthy. When you lose a tooth, the jawbone around where the root used to be starts to lose density, and the gums recede. This is why dentures become loose over time. Dental implants prevent this loss of bone and gum tissue.

How do they work?

Implants are tiny titanium posts that are screwed into the jawbone along carefully constructed channels created during minor oral surgery. Over the next few months, the titanium causes the jawbone to create new bone tissue, which meshes with the titanium implant, holding it securely in place, just like a natural tooth root.

This process takes several weeks, during which time you can continue to wear artificial teeth. Meanwhile, as you heal, your new teeth are being custom-made in a laboratory by experienced technicians, who will make sure that they blend with your own natural teeth in size, shape and colour. These will be fitted onto your implants via another component called an abutment once the gums and jaw are healed.

Once in place, your dental implants in Oxfordshire will be indistinguishable from the natural teeth they have replaced. You will be able to eat, drink, brush and floss as normal. After a while you may even more or less forget that these implants are not the teeth you were born with.

Losing your teeth can knock your confidence and make everyday activities, such as eating and speaking, difficult. If you are tired of worrying about how you look and having to think about what food you can eat, then you may like to consider dental implants. Oxfordshire is home to Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre where we provide a range of options from single tooth to full mouth restorations. We ask you only to pay for each session as it takes place, so there is no large fee to find in advance.

How do they work?

Dental implants are small metal screws that are placed into the jaw during a minor operation. As the blood vessels and tissues in your jaw mesh around them, they become stable and provide a secure base for replacement teeth, bridges or dentures. Often we can carry out necessary extractions, install the implants and fit your new teeth in the same day. Sometimes your existing bone is not deep or strong enough to support the implants, but we are experienced in fitting dental implants in Oxfordshire and can offer techniques such as bone regeneration, soft tissue grafting, block bone grafting and sinus lift.

What are the benefits?

For our patients in Oxfordshire, dental implants have given them a new lease of life. Your smile will immediately look better and you will be able to bite, chew and talk as normal without worrying about discomfort or whether dentures will come loose. Imagine the freedom to choose the foods you like, rather than what you think you can manage. This gives you better nutrition and overall health as well as significantly improving your quality of life. In addition, since dental implants work in the same way as the roots of natural teeth, they strengthen the jaw. The pressure exerted during eating stimulates the bone tissue which prevents it from shrinking back as can happen when you are wearing dentures. With the correct care, your implants can last for decades.

Invest in a healthier, brighter future and get in touch with us today to find out how having dental implants in Oxfordshire could give you a new start.