DENTAL IMPLANTS

It is perfectly normal to consider carefully the cost of any serious investment. It may seem like a lot to spend on your mouth, and it is down to each patient to decide if the improvements to the quality of life, function, confidence, and appearance are worthwhile. We only prescribe the necessary treatment. If you are searching for a bargain, please keep in mind that we regularly have to repair many cases from other clinics or overseas that have gone wrong due to inadequate planning, skills, or materials. Being preferred providers for Medibank, BUPA and HCF, you can rest assured that you will receive the highest possible rebate on your implant treatment, and we have flexible payment plans available through AfterPay and ZIP Money.

 This is one of the most common concerns for people thinking about having an implant. When carried out by an experienced dental surgeon such as Dr Alex Maer, most dental implants are very straightforward to place, taking only about ten to fifteen minutes to complete the surgical part of the treatment. However, more complex cases may take longer.

The majority of implants are placed under a normal dental local anaesthetic. Though the local anaesthetic injections can sting a little, and most of us have experienced dental injections in our mouth at some time, once you are numb, you will not feel anything sharp or painful throughout your treatment. You will feel some pressing and pushing during the procedure as well as some vibration during the first stage, but this will not be sharp or painful in any way, and your dentist will check to ensure you are completely numb before starting the surgery.

For bigger procedures, such as multiple implants or complex cases, Intravenous sedation can be provided. Sedation is not a general anaesthetic but makes patients feel very comfortable and relaxed, and they rarely remember much about the procedure afterwards, which is an advantage for many nervous patients.

Obviously, the more training and experience the clinician carrying out your dental implant treatment has, the quicker it will be, and the more comfortable you are going to be, so make sure you check out your implant surgeon thoroughly before starting treatment.

 Firstly, the great news is that innovative techniques mean that many patients can avoid any kind of bone grafting altogether – even if you have been told you need this by others. These include CT-guided implant stents and 3D imaging.

When it is necessary, we use many different materials for bone grafting, which are chosen on a case-by-case basis as the best material for each patient.  However, we now use synthetic, laboratory-made materials more and more, replacing the need for cow-derived products almost completely. These synthetic products are rapidly replaced by the body’s own bone, meaning that they disappear completely from the body within a few months.

If the treatment is straightforward, it can last as little as ten weeks from the placement of the implant to fit the final crown. However, sometimes treatment can take longer depending on the level of complexity of your case, with some patients not finishing for up to a year. The exact time frame will be ascertained from your assessment at DentalCare Carnegie and the results of any necessary scans.

Any surgical procedure can have complications, and dental implants are no exception. When an implant is placed, your bone then needs to grow onto and fuse to the implant, in a process known as ‘osseointegration’, if it is to become a firm foundation for a crown. The risks of failure are increased in smokers, poorly controlled diabetics, and patients with a history of gum disease and poor oral health. In the unlikely event that your bone fails to grow onto an implant and integrate, we replace the implant completely free of charge with a different design. We have usually found that patients wish to try again and that a second failure is exceptionally rare.

We are very careful to continuously audit our results and assess our performance, and we always strive to excel. Our audited implant integration rates are over 98%, and we will be happy and proud to show you our figures at any time. This is an exceptional figure, and it is down to both the skill and experience of our team, and the quality of the equipment and implants that we use.

Normally yes – we have worked with many exceptional cases where other dentists have said there is inadequate bone. We will do a thorough assessment of course, including detailed x-rays and the latest in 3D imaging to assess the bone available.

Very rarely we will explain that there is not enough bone to safely work with dental implants, and then we have to consider alternative dental options in Carnegie.

Absolutely. Dentures are most patients’ nightmare due to the difficulty in wearing and the effect on all aspects of life. Small dentures can be replaced with just a few implants, or complete (full) dentures can either be held in position with implants or replaced with implants altogether – surely the most amazing dental transformation available.