Consultation 

Firstly you would meet with Dr Mallorie for a full assessment of your mouth and the site where the two broken/loose teeth are to be replaced.

Tooth removal

The broken/loose teeth would then be removed and replaced temporarily with an acrylic plate (aka denture), or you could have gaps until the implant work is completed. We then leave the sites to heal for three months for incisors/canines and premolars, and four months for molar sites. During which time your bone fills the sockets and the gum seals across.

3D X-ray (CBCT Scan)

Three to four months after the teeth have been removed we would then perform a 3D x-ray using our state of the art cone beam CT scanner. This allows us to assess the volume of bone present for implant placements. If there is a good volume of bone present then we would progress to implant surgery. But if there was not enough bone volume present then we would discuss the option of a bone augmentation procedure to regenerate the bone prior to implant placement.

Implant surgery

We would then perform the surgery in one of  our comfortable treatment suites to place the dental implant in to the site. This is usually performed with local anaesthetic only, but we do also offer sedation if you wish to consider this to chemically relax you during the surgery. Two teeth are usually replaced using two dental implants, but in some scenarios only one implant is necessary to support a bridge of two teeth. Either way surgery is usually a straightforward process if there was sufficient bone volume available on your 3D scan. It normally takes 7-10 days to recover from the procedure.

Implant restoration

We usually then wait three months for the site to heal and for your bone to fuse on to the implant surfaces via a process called "osseointegration". After that is completed we then take impressions of the implant positions to allow for the crowns to be made. These are sometimes connected together for strength. We work with a dental laboratory in South Wales to deliver the highest quality result for you from their award-winning dental technicians. Once fabricated the crowns are attached to the implant(s) and the restoration of the two teeth is complete.

Maintenance

We then usually review the completed restoration six months after the inital fit to check all is stable and that your cleaning routine is appropriate for the site. It is very important to look after your dental implants the same as you would your natural teeth and regular follow-ups of the site would be planned in order to try and help ensure it has a long lifespan in your mouth.