The Oral Health Foundation found in 2016 that 48% of UK citizens were unhappy with their smile.Are you happy with yours?If not, perhaps it is about time you looked at a way to restore your smile, and restore your confidence?

Missing teeth can be the root of many problems -from not being able to speak clearly, to problems biting and chewing some of your favourite foods.If you have dentures, you are probably familiar with issues with slippage and clicking, or the soreness of your mouth that can be caused by rubbing dentures. Overall, the confidence to smile is affected by missing teeth. All these problems can be a thing of the past with dental implants in Oxfordshire.

Here at Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire, dental implants are our central focus.From the second you walk through the door of our luxurious and modern clinic, you will realise how special you are to us.We understand that needs of our patients are completely individual – so we make sure we understand your medical and social history thoroughly.Our dental professionals are constantly challenged academically at a post-graduate level, and we are always undertaking research to ensure that we are at the forefront of our game.

So, how does it work?

Our dental professionals undertake comprehensive one to one assessments, utilising the state of the art digital imagery technology we have in-house.

Your treatment will begin by our Implantologist creating a map of your mouth using digital imagery, so that we can pinpoint the exact right place for your new teeth.Then, we carefully implant tiny titanium screws into your jawbone.A natural biological phenomenon known as osseointegration means that the bone tissue of your jaw will fuse over time to create a root just as strong as your natural tooth.As soon as the healing process is finished, we will fit replacement teeth or bridges that are stronger feeling, more natural looking and higher functioning than ever before.

So, if you are considering dental implants in Oxfordshire, contact Chipping Norton Dental Centre, where you can be assured of quality, relaxation and comfort.

Dental implants are a fantastic way of improving your smile and self-esteem, and having a full set of natural-looking teeth that nobody need know are not necessarily all your own. At our practice in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, dental implants are strong, durable, and matched to the colour of your existing teeth so that they look as natural as possible. Dental implants are the best choice for anyone missing teeth due to injury or poor hygiene, as they act in many cases as a permanent replacement.

The implant is usually made from titanium (super strong) and is fixed directly into the jaw bone. It is sometimes possible to have multiple implants put in at the same time.

Placing dental implants in Oxfordshire is a procedure we do on a regular basis, so there is no need to be nervous – you are in safe hands. If you do suffer from nerves or anxiety about the dentist then it might be possible for us to give you a mild sedative to calm your nerves – please speak to us if you have any worries.

There are different options to choose from when it comes to replacing a tooth, and dental implants are simply one of those options. You may also wish to look into having a bridge, or possibly even dentures. A bridge is a way of anchoring a new tooth in place, by using the existing teeth on either side of the missing one. Two or more crowns are made from metal or porcelain, and placed over existing teeth, with the false on in the middle. The bridge is cemented in place so that you will not need to remove it. The procedure is usually carried out under a local anaesthetic whereby you remain awake but pain-free.

Dentures are often associated with the elderly, but for people of any age with multiple teeth missing this is also an option. Dentures are a removable palate made from plastic or metal, and they carry false teeth.

For more information about our dental implants in Oxfordshire, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we will be able to give advice or book you in for a consultation.

So by now you may have heard of the revolution in dentistry that is dental implants. Whilst the earliest implants were made from shell and stone by more primitive cultures centuries ago, dental implants have only become widely available to patients, in the form we know them today, for less than a century.

So what is a dental implant?

At our practice in Oxfordshire, dental implants are a popular solution for the problem of a missing tooth or missing teeth. Many patients also come and see us to stabilise their dentures with an implant procedure, or do away with dentures altogether in favour of a full mouth restoration involving multiple implants. Providing there is sufficient bone, any tooth in your mouth (or missing from your mouth) can be replaced (or filled) with dental implants. Oxfordshire is a beautiful county and we are proud to have served patients here for many years with a range of general and cosmetic dental treatments. We have transformed over 1,000 smiles and you can see some of the results and testimonials from our patients on our website.

A dental implant is a hollow titanium tube, which has been lathed to create external threads. These threads then fuse with the bone once implanted into the jawbone. This creates a stable base on which to place the new dental crown. The first step is to measure the mouth using a cast and/or X-ray in order to create accurate replica dimensions of the mouth. This helps the dental team or dental lab to create your replacement crown. Your dental crown can also be colour coordinated to match the colour of the existing teeth within your mouth, creating the perfect smile and giving you the confidence that few people, if any, will notice that you have had a dental implant procedure. Once the crown has been created, it can be placed into the jaw by an implant dentist. Usually an abutment is placed into the hollow titanium tube to further stabilise the base for the crown. The dental crown is then placed onto the abutment and bonded with a strong bonding agent to make sure that your new tooth becomes a permanent fixture.

These days, dental implants are one of the most popular ways to replace missing teeth. Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire offers a number of implant-based solutions to tooth loss, designed to give you permanent new teeth.

Of course, choosing dental implants is a big decision, but we believe that it is an investment in your future as well as in the way that your smile looks. We have gathered some common questions about dental implants below. If there’s anything else you want to know, please get in touch with a member of our Oxfordshire dental implants team.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants replace the roots of one or more lost natural teeth. Your Oxfordshire dentist will place them directly in your jaw bone during minor oral surgery, and they will immediately start to integrate with your jaw bone. Once this period of integration is complete, your dentist can attach a permanent bridge, crown, or denture on top.

Oral surgery? That sounds painful. . .

Minor discomfort is to be expected after any type of surgery. However, the placement of dental implants itself won’t be painful. You can have treatment under either local anaesthetic or conscious sedation at our Oxfordshire dental practice. Any post-operative discomfort will last just a few days and can be adequately managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Ice packs or bags of frozen peas wrapped in a towel and held against the cheek over the affected area can help with any swelling or bruising.

My dentures used to fit but now they’re loose – will the same thing happen with my dental implants?

No. As well as holding your new teeth in place, dental implants keep your jaw bone healthy and dense. It is a shrinking jaw bone that leads to a change in the fit of your dentures, so if the bone remains healthy there will be no loose teeth to worry about.

What if I’ve already lost bone density?

Our Oxfordshire dental practice offers both bone grafting and ridge expansion procedures for patients with low bone density.

Dental implants are changing the lives of denture wearers for the better. At Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire we can use implants to stabilise your dentures, as well as to replace several teeth or even one single tooth with new teeth that are realistic in terms of both action and appearance.

How dental implants stop denture problems

If you currently wear traditional dentures or know someone who does, you may already be well aware of the problems many people can experience with them as time passes. These issues are caused by the jaw bone shrinking back in the absence of tooth roots, and can include:

• A severely restricted diet that is limited to soft foods, even liquids in some cases. This can make it very hard to obtain adequate nutrition, and can have potentially serious impacts for your general health and wellbeing.
• Changes to speech, or difficulty speaking with clarity. Our teeth help us to form words and when they are loose this becomes trickier.
• Denture sore mouth, which is caused by loose dentures continuously rubbing on your gums, making them irritated and even painful.
• Negative effects on your body confidence and on your social life. If your teeth make it difficult to enjoy a meal with family and friends, or if you fear they may fall out of your mouth in public, your social life can be severely curtailed. This can lead to loneliness and isolation.

By choosing to have dental implants fitted at our Oxfordshire dental practice, you can alleviate these problems, and even prevent them happening in the first place.

Denture stabilisation is a popular choice at our Oxfordshire clinic. It involves the placement of two to four dental implants per jaw, with a 12-14 tooth overdenture attached on top.

Our Oxfordshire dental practice also offers the option of having a 12-14 tooth fixed bridge attached to your dental implants, giving the greatest degree of natural action.

Whichever option you choose, by coming for a dental implants consultation at our Oxfordshire dental clinic, you can soon regain control of your teeth – and your life.

Choosing dental implants is an investment in your smile, your health, and your future. Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire offers a wide range of implant procedures, all of which provide a permanent solution to tooth loss.

We believe that dental implants are, in most circumstances, the best way to replace missing teeth. However, we understand that they are a big investment, and opting to have elective oral surgery is a complex decision. Therefore, we have collected some common implant-related questions and answers below. Please get in touch with our Oxfordshire dental clinic should you have any additional questions.

What are dental implants?

Implants are bionic tooth roots. They are made out of titanium and placed in direct contact with your jaw bone during minor oral surgery. Once in position, they integrate with the bone, helping to keep your new teeth in place and also ensuring your jaw bone remains dense and healthy.

How many teeth can implants replace?

As many as you need. A single dental implant and a crown can replace one lost tooth, whilst several implants combined with a bridge or denture can replace several or even all of your natural teeth.

Oral surgery. . . That’s got to hurt

No, it doesn’t. At our Oxfordshire dental clinic we can place dental implants under either local anaesthetic or conscious sedation, so you will experience no pain. Sedation helps to ensure your procedure is stress-free, too.

As with any type of surgery, there is likely to be some post-operative discomfort. This can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers and ice packs. You must also follow your dentist’s aftercare advice.

My dentures used to fit, but now they’re loose. Will the same happen with my implants?

Absolutely not. A shrinking jaw bone contributes to loose dentures. Dental implants are made from titanium, stimulating bone growth and keeping your teeth secure.

How do I look after my new teeth?

Your Oxfordshire implant dentist will provide you with full aftercare instructions. You should also visit the hygienist for tips on cleaning. It is very important to brush your teeth and clean between teeth and implants at least twice a day.

Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss. Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire offers a wide range of implant-based treatments, which can be used to replace anything from one to all of your natural teeth.

Thanks to the skill of the implant team at our Oxfordshire dental centre, we can treat both simple and complex implant cases, including offering treatment for those who have already experienced bone loss, perhaps being turned away for dental implants by their own dentist for this reason.

How dental implants work

Unlike a standard dental bridge or set of dentures, which only replace the crown parts of your teeth, dental implants replace the roots. They are small titanium posts or screws that are put in direct contact with your jaw bone, and instantly begin to bond with the bone in a process known as osseointegration.

This takes a few months to complete, after which your permanent new teeth will be attached to abutments on top of your implants. They will have all the functionality of natural teeth, and will be aesthetically appealing, too.

Because they replace the tooth roots, dental implants help to prevent bone loss. Losing jaw bone density contributes to making traditional dentures loose, and can also change the entire appearance of your face.

Oxfordshire dental implants

We offer several implant treatment options at our Oxfordshire clinic. Your journey begins with a consultation with an implant dentist, who will use CT scans to determine your current level of bone density.

If you have good bone density, you can be booked in for your dental implants straight away. If you are lacking in bone density, you will need an additional procedure first.

Bone regeneration

At our Oxfordshire dental centre we use a number of techniques to rebuild your levels of bone density prior to the placement of dental implants. A bone graft or sinus lift involves using donor bone from elsewhere in your body to build up your jaw bone, whilst ridge expansion involves making the area of available bone wider.

Once your bone is dense enough, your implants will be placed, and restored with permanent teeth a few months later.

Traditionally, dental implants have not been available to patients with a low jaw bone density. However, at Oxfordshire clinic Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre, we are able to offer hope and treatment to patients who have already experienced bone loss.

Shrinkage of the jaw bone is a common side-effect of losing several or all of your natural teeth, and is caused by missing tooth roots. Because dental implants are the only way a dentist can replace the roots of natural teeth, they offer the perfect solution.

Low bone density is commonly seen in patients who have worn traditional dentures for several years. As the bone starts to shrink, the fit of the dentures changes, which can cause problems with eating, speaking, and confidence.

At our Oxfordshire dental practice we offer the option of stabilising your dentures using dental implants. This will involve the placement of two to four dental implants per jaw, on to which dentures (sometimes called implant overdentures) are then attached. This will restore much of the functionality of natural teeth, meaning that you can eat a healthy diet once more.

If you have been turned away for implant treatment by your own dentist because of a lack of bone density, you should contact our Oxfordshire clinic for a second option. In most cases, our skilled implant surgeons will be able to rebuild the levels of your jaw bone using either a bone graft or a sinus lift, restoring it to suitable levels to support dental implants.

At our Oxfordshire dental clinic we usually use donor bone from elsewhere in your body for bone grafting procedures. Sinus lifts are suitable for some patients with low bone density in the upper jaw bone, and involves packing the sinus cavity with bone graft material.

Once your bone graft has healed, you can have dental implants as normal. An alternative to dentures for full-arch restoration is to have a fixed bridge, which will stay in your mouth at all times and offer the best stability.

Between four and eight implants are placed at our Oxfordshire clinic, and a 12-14 tooth bridge is attached.

Dental implants provide a permanent solution to tooth loss. Chipping Norton Dental Implant Centre in Oxfordshire offers a wide range of implant-based treatments, designed to replace anything from one to all of your natural teeth.

The advantages of dental implants

There are numerous advantages to dental implants when compared with other tooth restoration options, such as traditional bridges or dentures. As well as their permanence, there is the fact that they are the only way a dentist can replace the root parts of your teeth.

Tooth roots are vital both to keeping your teeth in place and to keeping your jaw bone strong and healthy. The jaw bone begins to resorb or shrink when the many or all of the tooth roots are missing, and when the jaw bone shrinks both the fit of any dentures and the structure of your face will change.

By using dental implants, our Oxfordshire dental practice can prevent or alleviate all of these problems. Made from titanium, dental implants are placed in direct contact with your jaw bone during minor oral surgery, which most patients at our Oxfordshire clinic only require local anaesthetic for.

As soon as your implants are in place, they begin to bond with your jaw bone in a process called osseointegration. This takes a few months to complete, during which time your Oxfordshire dentist may attach temporary teeth, so you don’t have to worry about being left toothless for months.

Some people who require full arch restoration are suitable for All-on-4/TeethXpress treatment, which sees the placement of four dental implants and the attachment of functional new teeth in a single appointment. This isn’t suitable in every case, and your Oxfordshire dentist will discuss your suitability when you come in for your consultation.

Once they have healed and been restored with permanent new teeth, your dental implants will both look and act just like the real thing.

This mean you will be able to:

• Eat whatever you want, including chewy food such as potato skins
• Speak clearly and confidently
• Enjoy an active social life without the worry of loose dentures getting in the way.