Dental Implants at Bondi Dental
Bondi Dental is home to an elite team of dental implant experts who perform advance implant procedures at their Sydney dental implant centre.
Dr. Andrew Sih, principal dentist at Bondi Dental in Sydney, is a recognised expert in the field of restorative dentistry, including dental implants. During his 30 year career as a dentist, Dr. Sih has worked with the full range of dental conditions and dental health challenges. No matter what degree of difficulty your dental problems might present, Dr. Andrew Sih has the right experience and expertise to overcome them.
Dr. Terry Yuen works with Dr. Sih at Bondi Dental in Sydney as a partner for special cases that require Dr. Yuen’s unique expertise in dental implants. When needed, Dr. Yuen travels to Sydney from his reputable practice in Adelaide to work with Dr. Sih to help patients who require the combined powers of this elite dental implant partnership. If you need dental implants, you are unlikely to find a more capable, professional, well-respected pair of dentists in all of Australia than Dr. Andrew Sih and Dr. Terry Yuen – they truly are among the best of the best.
What is the dental implant story?
Dental implants are a form of dental treatment used to help replace missing teeth. Back in the “old days” of dentistry, many people lost all their natural teeth by the time they reached old age, and the only way to replace people’s missing teeth was to use dentures. Obviously, dentistry has come a long way since then. Bondi Dental are the modern world dental implant leaders in Sydney, Australia.
Although it has become increasingly common in Australia for people to go their whole lives without losing any teeth, sometimes teeth do fall out or need to be removed – whether due to advanced tooth decay, gum disease, biking or sporting accidents, or to reduce crowding in the mouth as part of orthodontic treatment. Dental implants offer a strong, stable and natural-feeling method to help replace missing teeth.
Dental implants are used to replace the missing tooth’s roots in the jaw so that the artificial tooth/teeth or other dental prosthesis (such as bridge work) can be secured in place and reproduce the natural feel and functionality of the person’s full set of teeth.
Dental implant procedures allow dentists to provide a lot of new treatment options for patients to deal with some of the dental problems related to missing teeth that used to be difficult to manage.
Dental implants for replacing teeth
The missing tooth/teeth in a variety of situations can now be replaced by using dental implants instead of the traditional options of dentures or bridges.
Placing dental implants
The procedure for placing dental implants involves providing some form of mechanical system that is surgically placed into the jaw bone where the tooth/teeth are missing. Typically, titanium implants are used, and after surgery the patient’s jaw bone will actually ‘grow’ over time and ‘hold’ the dental implant in place within the jaw. When this is achieved, the new dental prosthesis (a clinical term for “artificial tooth” – this can consist of either a dental crown or bridge work) can be placed to replace the missing tooth or teeth.
Placing a dental implant works the same way as placing a picture frame by hooking the frame to a screw inserted into the wall; in the case of a dental implant, the dentist surgically places a titanium screw into the patient’s jaw to provide an anchor to sustain the dental prosthetics that will serve as the patient’s replacement teeth.
Dental implants vs. other treatments
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using dental implants compared to other treatment options? How do I know if dental implants are right for me?
Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges
Dental bridges are a type of dental prosthesis used to replace one or more missing teeth. The dental bridge literally “bridges” the gap in a person’s mouth by fusing artificial replacement teeth into place alongside the person’s other natural teeth. One disadvantage of using dental bridges to replace missing teeth is that the bridge procedure may sometimes require the dentist to trim and remove parts of the adjacent healthy teeth. Dental bridges that affect multiple teeth in this way can present a higher risk of future failure and need to be maintained properly.
The advantage of dental implants over bridge work is that the dental implants allow the dentist to take a much more precise approach to replacing missing teeth. Instead of having to remove healthy tooth material, the dentist can often work only in the immediate areas where the original teeth are missing.
Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Dentures are no longer made of materials such as bones as in the olden days. Modern dentures are meant to look just like natural teeth, while providing a more comfortable and well-functioning fit and feel in the mouth. However, dentures are often less appealing to most patients than dental implants. Even for the best constructed dentures, there are always plenty of challenges for the denture wearer to endure. Most noticeable is the loss of chewing power – it’s hard to bite and chew as well as you can with natural teeth.
Another drawback of dentures is that they tend not to stay in place. Dentures make unavoidable movements while speaking and chewing and can be a constant irritation to a lot of patients. Many other denture wearers experience loss of some sense of taste and occasional mouth ulcers. Nonetheless, millions of people around the world have learned to cope and get along the best they can with dentures – but dental implants are a better, more comfortable, more natural feeling solution for most patients.
The Case for Dental Implants
With the availability of dental implant technology, people with missing teeth now have the chance to regain the look, comfort and chewing efficiency of their natural teeth. In the past thirty years, dental implants have revolutionised dental treatment concepts to the extent that some of the traditional/conventional treatments like dentures and bridges are no longer considered as the only solution to the problem. Cosmetic, crowding, orthodontic and some periodontal problems can sometimes be treated or corrected by a planned dental implant procedure.
Bondi Dental in Sydney offers one of Australia’s most experienced dental implant centres. See examples of dental implants from Bondi Dental in Sydney.
What do dental implant procedures involve?
If you think you might benefit from receiving dental implants, the first step in the process is to schedule an appointment at Bondi Dental with Dr. Andrew Sih. He can meet with you for a relaxed discussion of your needs and goals for dental implant treatment. Dr. Sih is well known in Bondi and throughout Sydney for his excellent skills and knowledge in modern dentistry and his good-humoured personality, and he can answer any questions and address any concerns that you might have about dental implants.
If you decide that dental implants are the best way forward for your dental needs, Dr. Sih will work with you to develop a detailed plan regarding you and your specific requirements for dental implants.
The dental implant treatment plan will consider the overall aesthetics of your mouth and smile, while also keeping in mind any medical restrictions or possible complications. Dental implants are an ideal solution for many patients, while some people who have medical issues or sensitivities may require a slightly modified approach.
Dental implant treatment
Once a treatment plan is finalised, the treatment will involve two major parts:
a) Dental implant surgery and
b) Placing the dental implant prosthetic.
Dental implant procedures involve with three separate appointments with the dentist. The first appointment is where the dental implant surgery takes place. This is when the dentist places the dental implant (artificial tooth roots) into the patient’s jaw bone. The healing process will take about 4-6 months for the jaw bone to integrate with the dental implant – this healing process will allow the dental implant to be strongly fixed in place, just like the roots of a natural permanent tooth.
After the dental implant has fused in place, in the second dental appointment the dentist will expose the implant screws, molds will be taken and one week later, the dental prosthesis – a crown or a bridge, depending on the number of missing tooth/teeth will be placed.
Why consider dental implants?
In the past, the only answer for patients with a missing tooth or teeth was either to provide the option of dental bridges or simply to use dentures, allowing patients to chew functionally and with an acceptable appearance. Both of these traditional types of tooth replacements have various drawbacks that can be avoided by using dental implants.
Dental implants provide a solution for single tooth replacement and multiple teeth replacements.
Other advantages of dental implants are:
• Permanent solution for missing teeth. Dental implants last for many years – with proper care, they can last for a lifetime.
• Natural fit and feel. Dental implants feel almost exactly like natural teeth. They allow people to chew, talk and smile normally.
• Better appearance. Dental implants look so much like real teeth that even your friends and family probably will not be able to tell the difference. In fact with good planning and skills, dental implants will improve your appearance.
• Convenience. Unlike removable dentures, dental implants do not have to be washed, rinsed or held in place with adhesives. Unlike bridgework, dental implants do not require any sensitive maintenance other than regular brushing and flossing as for natural teeth.
• Better oral health. Dental bridge work requires healthy teeth to be filed down in order to secure the artificial tooth in place. This can lead to potential problems in the future and also requires the patient to be extra cautious in maintaining the dental bridge. With dental implants, these concerns do not apply. Healthy teeth do not need to be filed down in order to add dental implants; each missing tooth is replaced separately, without having to involve neighbouring teeth. The ease and convenience of dental implants creates immediate benefits for the patient and long-term advantages for better oral health.
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