Implants have been used in dentistry for well over 40 years and have evolved as the science and the technology has developed. Before dental implants, the options we had for missing teeth were bridges, which rely on other teeth, or dentures, which are removable.

Bridges work well as long as there are enough other teeth which are strong enough to fit them to. The problem comes when there is more than one tooth missing and there aren’t enough other teeth left. And of course, if all the teeth in one jaw are missing then a full denture used to be the only option.

Many people over the years have coped with dentures, and a few have coped well. Most people, if given the option, would prefer not to have something that is removable.

Some of the problems with dentures can be :

• They can move causing embarrassment in social situations
• Food can get under them which is very painful
• Taste can be diminished especially if they cover the palate as that covers up many taste buds
• Sensitivity to temperature is diminished
• They can move when chewing causing ulcers
• Fear of loss – often the fear of dentures being lost in hospital or on holiday causes anxiety 

All of these problems can be overcome with dental implants.

Dental implants can be used to replace single teeth, to replace teeth as a fixed in solution or to stabilise dentures meaning they ‘click’ into place and although the dentures can still be removed for cleaning, they are much more stable for chewing. There are all sorts of ways that dental implants can be used.

One of our patients who had her upper and lower false teeth replaced with implant bridges said this :

‘Corn on the cob and scuba diving. Two things in life that I thought I’d never be able to do again for fear of my dentures coming loose. Since having my implants placed I’ve done both! I should have done it years ago…’

At Cherrybank Dental Spa in Perth, the first step to see if you are suitable for dental implants is a consultation – and this can even be done virtually.