What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants have revolutionised the replacement of missing teeth and can improve oral health. Depending on your personal needs, this dental implant procedure could be for a single tooth, multiple teeth, or all your teeth.
Gum set ceramic bridges, supported by dental implants, represent a significant advancement in dental prosthetics. They offer a superior alternative to acrylic bridges, providing enhanced aesthetics, functionality, and oral health benefits. This advancement underscores the importance of choosing the right material and technology in dental restorations to improve your lifestyle, confidence, and overall health.
Do I Need Dental Implants?
Dental implants could be the right treatment option if you are experiencing any of the following:
- I have lost one or more of my original teeth.
- I suffer from advanced gum disease that is affecting my dental health.
- I find wearing my dentures uncomfortable.
- My facial appearance has started to change.
- I can’t eat what I want anymore – forget steak or chewy foods.
- My teeth have started to move around and my bite doesn’t line up.
- My missing teeth affect how I talk and sound.
- I’m unhappy with my smile, and I feel self-conscious.
Patient Smiles: Dental Implant Transformations
Our Process
1Obtaining Information
At your free missing teeth consultation, we will review your medical history and ask about your desired teeth replacement outcomes. You will undergo a detailed oral examination, including all digital impressions, X-rays, 3D bone scans, and photos needed to prepare your detailed treatment plan. Your Aria Dentist will present and discuss your personalised treatment plan, the different options available for you, and the costs, and answer any other questions you have.
After your initial dentist consultation, your Aria Treatment Coordinator is available to answer general questions, discuss sedation options and provide information on treatment financing. They will be your main point of contact upon accepting your treatment plan and booking your surgical appointment when you’re ready to proceed.
2Dental Implant Placement
Once you have accepted your treatment plan, completed your medical consent forms and paid your deposit, you will receive a surgical date with either our Specialist Prosthodontist or highly skilled implant dentists.
This is the initial surgical phase of the implant therapy, where the implant fixture will be placed into your jawbone. This stage may also include the removal of damaged teeth, bone grafting, or other dental services in order for the fixture placement to be completed. Your dental implant fixture/s is placed under local anaesthetic so that you won’t feel a thing, or you may have alternatively decided to have a sedation option, where you will be unaware or asleep. A temporary tooth or healing cap will be placed over the surgical sites to protect them during the healing period
3Healing Period
Once the dental implant has been placed at our Perth dental implant centre, we will need to check and monitor it to ensure that it is healing correctly. You will be made for a post-operative appointment 12 weeks after the surgical procedure. The actual number of assessment appointments will depend on the complexity of your procedure and whether you have any personal risk factors that could compromise the integration or healing of the implant.
4Second Stage Surgery (if required)
Depending on the complexity of your treatment and how the implant has been placed, your dentist will advise if you need any additional surgical visits and undergo the associated healing periods. This would have been in your initial treatment plan, and you will be fully aware of your treatment journey before you start.
5The Crown
A digital impression of the implant site inside your mouth will be taken to design and fabricate your new tooth crown. The correct colour shade will be assessed, and usually, a ‘try-in’ appointment is required so we can ensure the perfect fit, shape, and natural colour match of the implant crown.
If you have been referred to Aria Dental, you will return to your local dentist to complete your treatment at this stage. Otherwise, your new dental implant crown placement will be scheduled at Aria Dental and conducted by one of our highly skilled restorative dentists.
6Maintenance
Dental hygiene, regular maintenance and assessment are critical to the long-term success of your implant. A review of the dental implants and healing of the gums is essential to ensure no minor issues affect its long-term longevity. We recommend regular initial check-ups and always following the directions of your dentist or oral health therapist. Dental implants are an investment and you need to look after your dental implants!
Implant Pricing & Treatment Plans
The cost of dental implants, surgically placed by a dental implant expert, starts from $6,500* for a single tooth fixed implant. However, how much treatment will cost you will depend on various issues, as no two dental implant treatments are the same. You can choose to be treated by our Specialist Prosthodontist or one of our experienced implant dentists in Perth.
We don’t offer treatment plans or quote online without physically seeing the patient – which is why we offer our patients a complimentary dental implant consultation so you can understand your teeth replacement options.
FAQ: Dental Implants
We’ve put together some of the most common dental implant questions to help you make an informed decision.
Am I a suitable candidate for dental implants?
Any adult missing one or more teeth due to injury, disease or tooth decay can have dental implants. Patients also need healthy gum tissue, free of disease. Appropriate jaw bone mass is required to support the implant fixture. If you have been missing teeth for a time, the bone may have resorbed, requiring bone grafting before the procedure.
Some medical conditions, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, or lifestyle choices, such as smoking, may need to be addressed before dental implant treatment.
You need to be assessed by a dedicated implant dentist to determine your eligibility at one of Aria Dental’s dental implant clinics in the Perth metro area. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.
Are all dental implant dentists the same?
Not all dentists are trained in dental implants in Perth dentistry. It is important to understand that there is significant variation in the cost and quality of your treatment. The factors that influence the quality and outcome of your dental implant treatment include the following:
- formal qualifications, experience and expertise of the dental surgeon
- type of implant used; not all implants are the same
- equipment and facilities used to perform the procedure
- the skill of the dental technician when fabricating the crown/bridge/prosthesis
- dental laboratory and materials used to manufacture the crown/bridge/prosthesis
There should be little or no compromise regarding the materials’ quality, and you should be proud to say, ‘Aria is my implant dentist’.
How do I take care of my dental implants?
The dental hygiene of your dental implants needs to be a priority, and adequately cleaned and maintained, just like your other teeth. Learn how here!
Dental Implants don’t get cavities, but brushing and flossing around your dental implants is extremely important.
Along with your daily at-home care, it is essential to have regular visits to your implant dentist, who will be able to ensure a long life for your dental implants.
What are the complications that can occur with dental implants?
Dental implants are safe and effective and have a very high success rate. However, as with all surgical or invasive procedures, there are risks involved when placing dental implants. Before proceeding, you should seek an opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner, like a specialist Prosthodontist registered with the Australian Dental Association.
These may include:
- Infection at the dental implant site.
- Injury or damage to surrounding structures, such as neighbouring teeth or blood vessels.
- Nerve damage can cause pain, numbness or tingling in your teeth, gums, lips or chin.
- Sinus problems can occur when dental implants are placed in the upper jaw and protrude into one of your sinus cavities.
Several risk factors may also increase the risk of dental implants’ failure, such as smoking and periodontal disease. It is essential to discuss any general medical conditions such as diabetes and osteoporosis before commencing dental implant treatment. Ensuring you see an experienced and qualified dental professional will minimise complications and ensure you have the best dental implants.
Optimal home care and professional maintenance will also reduce the risk of any future complications or infection, so your dental implants can last you a lifetime.
Why are dental implants better than dentures?
Dentures are often ill-fitting and uncomfortable to wear, making it difficult to speak clearly and eat a wide variety of foods. Many conventional denture wearers have a restricted nutritional intake – even when dining alone – as they find it difficult to chew their food. This restricted nutritional intake can have a detrimental effect on their health and emotional well-being. With dental implants, your new replacement teeth are far more stable, allowing you to function as you would with regular teeth.
Additionally, as dentures sit on top of the gums and are not anchored to the jaw bone, they don’t stimulate the bone, resulting in increased jaw bone loss. Conversely, dental implants keep the bone stimulated, healthy and strong. Dental implants are the preferred long term solution for missing teeth. Also read about dental bridges.
Read more on our analysis of dentures versus implants.
Where are your Dental Implant Clinics?
Looking for dental implants near me? We have several locations across the Perth metro area. Looking for dental implants Midland? You can visit our Aria Dental Implant Centre Midland. If you need assistance in Maddington, Aria Dental Maddington is your closest location. We also have locations in North Perth, Scarborough and our flagship Perth dental implant centre in the Perth CBD.
What is the recovery time for dental implants?
Each individual’s dental treatment and circumstances are unique to them. However, as a guide, depending on the type of surgical procedure/s, you can estimate that the recovery periods will take anywhere between five to 20 days, depending on each patient’s circumstances.
