Missing teeth often has a profound impact on a person’s self-confidence and can be associated with a negative self-image. Losing teeth is associated with ageing and general health decline as well as thoughts of guilt for neglecting one’s teeth. Dental implants are the most natural-looking and natural-feeling replacement for missing teeth. Unlike many other tooth replacement options, dental implants do not slip or click when talking, laughing or eating, making for greater confidence. A dental implant also enables a false tooth or teeth to be constructed without damaging adjacent teeth. They are very easy to keep clean. They have a very high success rate and offer a very predictable treatment.

A dental implant is a titanium screw that replaces a tooth root that is placed into the jaw bones. During the initial 6 to 12 weeks after placement of the implant, the surrounding bone grows against the surface of the implant. This creates a biological connection between your body and the dental implant. The implant houses a screw hole that can accept a false tooth which is screwed into the implant. The combined implant and false crown can look and feel like a natural tooth. When multiple implants are placed at the same time, false teeth can be supported immediately. A well-known example of this is the “All on 4” for patients who have all their teeth missing in one or both arches.

Dr Leinkram, who is a dental implant expert, will place the implant into the jawbone. Usually, As you heal, your implant will fuse with your natural jawbone. Once the implant bonds with the jawbone, a small connector is placed on top of the dental implant to connect the implant to the replacement tooth or teeth. The crown will be completed by either your dentist or dental specialist.

It is legal for general dentists to place dental implants after he/she has had adequate training. For aesthetic cases and in patients where there is limited bone, it is prudent to be treated by someone who has the full scope of hard and soft tissue skills for predictable high quality results. Dr Leinkram is a qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He has extensive training in bone grafting and soft tissue augmentation procedures. He can offer an uncompromised, state of the art, service. This means that virtually everyone will be able to be treated with dental implants should that be the most appropriate and sort after treatment option.

This is an important question to ask yourself. Whilst dental implants are an excellent option to replace missing teeth, there are other alternatives that need to be considered. Further back in the mouth, in the regions of the second and third molars, teeth usually do not need replacement. Further to the front of the mouth, you may prefer treatment with a bridge or a denture. These different options need to be clearly understood before choosing to proceed with a dental implant. Dr Leinkram will discuss these options and will also liaise with your dentist so that you make the choice that is right for you.

Many procedures can be performed safely under local anaesthesia, with patients fully awake. Also, Dr Leinkram works regularly in hospitals and can readily offer treatment whilst asleep. He will discuss this option with you during your consultation as well as the pros and cons of each.

This is a complex question. The answer is – it depends. There are a group of medications called antiresorptive agents, commonly used in patients, that can affect the way the bone heals. Specifically, in the jaws, it can be associated with non-healing bone that subsequently, becomes infected. These infections can be very serious and require aggressive surgical treatment. When the risk for this serious complication is extremely low, you may decide that you would like to proceed and Dr Leinkram would be very comfortable to perform the implant surgery. For patients at high risk for developing a severe infection, Dr Leinkram will recommend alternative treatments. For some of these medications, especially Prolia™, Dr Leinkram will discuss with your doctor, the option of delaying your next dose to allow for healing after the implant surgery. Dr Leinkram, who is a fully qualified medical and dental practitioner, has extensive training and experience in the treatment of patients who are taking antiresorptive agents.

Implant treatment can be divided into a surgical phase that Dr Leinkram will perform and the restorative phase that is performed by your dentist. Dr Leinkram’s fees are only for the surgical phase. Following your consultation, Dr Leinkram will provide you with a quote and item numbers. You can contact your health fund to find out how much you will be refunded. Treatment in a private hospital will incur additional fees that will be explained to you. You will also need to ask your referring dentist for a quote for the restorative phase.

You can be referred to Dr Leinkram by your GP or another medical specialist if you do not have a regular dentist. Dr Leinkram works closely with many dentists and prosthodontists and he will refer you for the restorative phase prior to your surgery. A treatment plan will be presented before you commence your implant surgery.