Has lockdown resulted in an unexpected opportunity?

As we have mentioned in a number of our previous blogs, lockdown has been hard for a lot of people. It will have had negative effects which, for some, will unfortunately include financial problems.

For those who have managed to keep working during this time though, there have been fewer opportunities to spend our money, with shops, pubs and restaurants all closed. Many of you may have also had your holidays cancelled and may have decided to wait until next year before rebooking.

If you are in this situation, you might find yourself better off financially than you had expected to be. If you have been thinking about replacing the gap in your teeth, or a denture, with a Dental implant, now might be a good time to contact our Chelmsford dental suite to discuss this.

Why not just have dentures?

A common response when a patient loses a tooth is to presume that if they want to replace the missing tooth, Dentures are the option that most people choose. Whilst this was certainly once the case, although they are still widely used, many of you are now looking at the alternatives. It is true that modern dentures are much more natural looking and practical than older style ones. Some also offer a degree of flexibility of movement in the mouth which allows them to move as you talk and eat.

Dentures are certainly the most affordable option initially, and, in most cases, will not require any dental surgery. For many people though, they do not offer a level of comfort and ease of use that they would like. Even with the best dentures in the world, it is possible that they will move in the mouth, probably just at the time when you don’t want them to. Dentures are not ‘rooted’ in the mouth and simply ‘sit’ on top of the gums. Even with denture adhesive, their stability is not guaranteed, and eating, and sometimes even speaking, can lead to problems with their stability.

It is worth noting that, in addition to a ‘fiddly’ cleaning regime if you have dentures, they often require maintenance or even replacement and, although the initial outlay might be the cheapest option, this is not necessarily the case over the longer term.

Why dental implants?

As we noted above, one of the key reasons why dentures can never be 100% secure is that they have no ‘roots’ to hold them securely in place. This is the key reason why dental implants have such an advantage.

An implant is an artificial root which is placed into the jawbone. It is then allowed to bond with the bone, a process which takes approximately 3 months and is known as ‘osseointegration’. Once the artificial root, or implant, is firmly bonded, a tooth crown is then added to it via an abutment. Providing that you look after the new artificial tooth well, it will remain strong and stable for at least 20 years, with many patients reporting significantly longer periods than that.

We are aware that some of you are deterred from having implants placed because of the thought of the procedure itself. The reality is that it really isn’t as ‘scary’ as it might sound. Our Chelmsford practice is equipped with the latest technology which allows our experienced implant team to perform this, and other, procedures with accuracy and safety. We will take scans of the area to determine there is sufficient bone before we start. These scans are also used to avoid any nerves in that area and to make sure that the implant alignment is correct.

The procedure will, of course, be done with a strong local anaesthetic that will minimise any discomfort and, whilst you might feel a few sensations as we place the implant, you should not feel any actual pain.

We strongly recommend that if you have considered dental implants in the past, but have been put off by the thought of the procedure, you contact us to arrange an initial consultation. This initial non clinical consultation is free and is an excellent opportunity to discuss this procedure, and any concerns that you may have, with one of our experienced local implant dentists. There is no obligation to go ahead with the treatment and you are free to choose another option. You have nothing to lose and much to gain!

Finance options

Not everybody will find themselves in the position to pay for this treatment with money saved through lack of spending and holiday cancellations etc. This doesn’t mean that you are excluded though. Blue Sky Dental offers a number of finance plans which can help you to spread the cost of the treatment over a period of time. Please discuss this with us to discover the options available to you.

If you have a gap in your teeth or are frustrated with your dentures, we firmly believe that titanium tooth implants offer an excellent solution. To arrange your initial non clinical consultation with us, you can call our Chelmsford dental practice on 01245 211070. We look forward to discussing your options for this revolutionary procedure.