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| Teeth for Life | ||
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| A Whiter Smile | ||
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| Cosmetic Dentistry | ||
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| Implant Dentistry | ||
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| Patients Letters | ||
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| Contact Us | ||
| Telephone: 020 7935 7511 |
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| IMPLANTS | ||
| What are dental implants? | ||
| A dental implant is a titanium metal root which is carefully and painlessly placed into the jawbone. It is used to support one or more false teeth. In practice, both the false teeth and their supporting root are known as 'implants'. | ||
| Why should you replace missing teeth? | ||
| 1) Without teeth the jaw bone shrinks away(resorbs) so the cheek and lip support is lostcausing the face to look tired,haggard and older. | ||
| 2) Teeth move,shift and change positions,if there are missing teeth,due to loss of biting stability(occlusion)-which can lead to a collapse of the bite. | ||
| 3) Loss of support at the back of the mouth INCREASES pressure on the front teeth-endangering them and can lead to problems with the jaw joint(TMJ). | ||
| 4) Ability to chew is vital for good health and can be affected by missing teeth or poor dentures. | ||
| 5) Your teeth are your smile!!! Since implants are so much like your natural teeth your health, confidence and self esteem will be greatly improved. | ||
| Are implants safe and how long will they last? | ||
| Implants are a well-established, tried-and-tested treatment. Over 95 per cent of modern implants should last for many years with the right care. Our oral surgeon Dr Lance Kruger is very experienced. | ||
| Can implants always be used to replace missing teeth? | ||
| It depends on the state of the bone in your jaw. Philip and Lance will arrange for a number of special tests, including modern low dose CT scans to find out the amount of bone still there. If there is not enough, or if it isn't healthy enough, it may not be possible to place implants without adding bone into the area first, usually a relatively simple procedure. | ||
| Do implants hurt? | ||
| Placing the implants needs a small procedure to lift the gum. This can be done using a simple local anaesthetic,(and sometimes with sedation if you are very nervous). You will not feel any pain at the time, but you may feel some slight discomfort during the week after the procedure. This is usually due to the normal healing process. | ||
| How long does treatment take? | ||
| Your dentist will be able to give you a rough timetable before the treatment starts. Usually the permanent teeth are fitted 4 to 5 months after the implants are put in, but many implant systems now allow the time to be as short as 3 months. Some teeth can now even be fitted at the same time as the implants (known as immediate implants) but you should check with your dentist to see whether these are suitable for you. | ||
| What happens next? | ||
| The implants need to bond (integrate) with the bone after they have been put in. This takes around 3 months in the lower jaw and 4 months in the upper jaw. | ||
| Sometimes the implants may be stable enough when they are fitted for the artificial teeth to be attached much sooner than this. | ||
| If you are having one, two or three teeth replaced, you may have a temporary restoration in the meantime. If you have complete dentures, then you can keep wearing these throughout the healing period once they have been modified after the procedure. A healing cap will usually be placed into the implant site to protect the area during healing .At NO time will you be without your teeth. | ||
| Are the teeth difficult to clean? | ||
| No. But after care is important if you are going to have a long-lasting, successful implant. Phil and Mhari will work together to give you detailed advice on how to look after your implants. Cleaning around the teeth attached to the implants is no more difficult than cleaning natural teeth. However, there may be areas that are difficult to reach and you'll be shown methods to help you. You may need to visit your hygienist more often but your dentist will be able to talk to you about this. | ||
| If I had gum disease when I had my own teeth, will I get it with the teeth attached to the implants? | ||
| Yes, if you don't care for them well enough. If you do keep them clean, then you should not have any problems at all. | ||
| Do the implants show? | ||
| Your dentist will make sure that the implants won't show during all normal movements of the mouth and lips. You will need to be able to see them, so that you can clean them properly. | ||
| What happens if the implant does not bond with the bone? | ||
| This happens very rarely. If the implant becomes loose during the healing period or just after, then it is easily removed and healing takes place in the normal way. Once the jaw has healed, another implant can be placed there. Or we can make a bridge, using the implants that have 'taken' | ||
| Dr Lance Kruger | ||
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| BChd(Pret), MSc.Dent(Wits),MDent(Wits), FCMFOS(SA)(Dental) | ||
Dr Lance Kruger is an experienced and practiced Oral Surgeon, and is registered as a Specialist Oral Surgeon with the General Dental Council in the UK. He has spent many years doing Implant Surgery and the related areas of gum and bone repair procedures that are sometimes needed for successful implants and pleasing results. For many years Dr Kruger has lectured to his colleagues in all aspects of Oral Surgery, Implants and Dental Scanning.With over 10 years Specialist experience and well over four thousand successful implants, he has the confidence to offer patients the highest level of treatment and expert care. His extensive experience in the field of Dental C/T scanning and 3-D software allows him to more accurately plan the implant placement.The latest Piezo Electric and Radio Technology fascilitates painless insertion of implants safely in our patients,with as little discomfort as possible. Dr Lance Kruger comes to the familiar surroundings of our practice at 2 Devonshire Place and works closely with Dr Phil Stemmer and his team in both the planning and placement of the implants. |
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| Testimonials | ||
| Dear Dr Stemmer I am writing to thank you for refering me to Dr lance Kruger under whose care I had extraction and implant procedures carried out in one appointment. I found Dr Kruger to be very meticulous and caring. I first was required to answer a list of medical questions after which he reviewed them with me. Before going home I was given an aftercare list of do's and don'ts. I would Certainly recommend dr Kruger to other patients In Need of this treatment F.R | ||
| Dear Dr Stemmer I write to record my satisfaction with your associate, Lance Kruger,in connection with my recent tooth extraction.I found his explanations and "chairside manner" throughout most reassuring. Apart from the slight discomfort of the first injection I felt no pain during the whole procedure. Please give him my complements. Yours sincerely E.V | ||