Dental implants are durable and designed and constructed to last decades or even lifetimes – in fact, the very first ‘modern dental implant lasted a lifetime.
At My Local Dentists Northmead, we are specialists in dental implants.
We have an experienced dental staff who can help you take advantage of this dental technology, which may come second to only anaesthesia as the most significant advance in dental technology in the 20th Century.
My Local Dentists Northmead can repair your smile and bite, to ensure continued oral and general health.
Dental implants are typically constructed from porcelain and titanium, to closely mimic the look, feel, and function of a natural tooth.
But, like your natural teeth, implants are not impervious to damage or destruction.
Just like natural teeth, implants can chip, break, or fall out if they are damaged by trauma or inadequate care. What happens then?
Let’s take a look!
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are among the most popular tooth replacement options offered at My Local Dentists Northmead.
In a dental implant procedure, your dentist drills a hole into your jaw and places a titanium implant into the bone tissue.
Over time, the implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration.
Once the implant is fused to the bone, your Northmead dentist places an abutment on the tooth, upon which we put a crown, typically constructed of porcelain or ceramic.
Completing a dental implant can take some time – often several months – and multiple appointments are usually needed.
While dental implants are usually a safe, long-lasting tooth replacement, in a minimal number of cases, problems do occur.
In some cases, the titanium root does not entirely bond to the jawbone, leading to a loose implant. This may call for a bone graft and a replacement implant.
Let’s take a closer look at what can go wrong and what to do.
What to do?
If a dental implant is knocked loose, out, broken, or chipped, secure the pieces in a safe container and call My Local Dentists Northmead immediately.
We might be able to reset the implant and/or created a new crown. If the implant root is broken or knocked out, a new implant may be needed.
Causes of Broken Implants
Implants can break with extreme pressure. General wear and tear can cause the abutment, which connects the implant to the crown, to break.
In some cases, the screw in the abutment can break. Finally, the crown itself, like natural teeth or other crowns, can break, crack, or chip.
This is usually due to eating hard foods, chewing ice, chewing on hard objects (e.g. pens), or using teeth as a tool (e.g. to open containers).
How are implants fixed?
If the post is broken, it must be removed and replaced. Bone grafts may be required before a replacement implant.
A bone graft will make the reimplantation process several months longer.
If an abutment or crown breaks, My Local Dentists Northmead replaces the broken parts of the implant, not the implant (post) itself.
Can you replace loose dental implants?
Yes, but the implant will generally need to be removed.
What is the replacement process?
Your implant will be surgically removed, and the surrounding area will be cleaned.
If necessary, bone will be grafted onto the jaw. Anaesthesia will ensure that you feel little pain or discomfort during this process.
There may be some post-operative discomfort, swelling, and soreness. If you received a bone graft, you should not apply pressure to the area, likely meaning some food restrictions.
If one implant is loose or damaged, are my other implants threatened?
In almost all cases, they are not. Dental implants have a success rate nearing 98% when properly placed.
It is unusual for a single implant to break or fail, and the risk of multiple failures is minuscule.
If injury or impact, caused an implant to fail, you should have My Local Dentists Northmead take a look at all your teeth and implants, to be completely certain that the trauma did not affect them.
The most certain way to be sure your implants stay healthy and that any damage is caught before it becomes serious is to visit us regularly at My Local Dentists Northmead!
Dental Care in Northmead
At My Local Dentists Northmead your oral health and a stunning smile is our top priority. We care for patients of all ages, from infancy to the Golden Years.
Our highly trained staff can treat any dental issue in patients with deep grooves and fissures in their teeth, or any other dental circumstance.
Our commitment to our patients is dental health and an attractive smile for the holidays and a lifetime!
We make life a little bit easier for our patients with busy schedules by offering longer hours on weekdays and weekend appointments.
GAP FREE CHECK UP AND CLEAN
We offer all patients gap-free check-ups, cleans and all preventative treatments if you are in a private health fund ($180 for patients not in a private health fund).
Call us on (02) 9630 9996 or book your appointment online.
We are located at 19/5-7 Kleins Rd in Northmead.