Dental Implants
Replacing several teeth in a row.
Where more than one tooth is missing, implants can be used in two ways: an implant and crown for each missing tooth, or fewer implants supporting a bridge across the span.
Which approach suits depends on how many teeth are missing, where they are, how much bone is available, your bite and your budget. Two implants supporting a three-unit bridge, for example, can replace three teeth without needing a third implant, provided the bone and the loading are right.
Assessment and planning
Multi-implant cases require more planning than a single implant, because implant position, spacing and angulation all have to work together and with the finished restoration.
Planning starts with an examination of the remaining teeth, gums and bite, followed by 3D CBCT imaging to map bone volume and the position of nerves and sinuses across the whole area. From that, Dr Meg works out how many implants are needed, where they should sit and what the finished restoration should look like — before anything is placed.
Where bone volume is insufficient, grafting may be required first, and that is factored into the plan and the timeline from the beginning.
Staged treatment and staged cost
Treatment of this kind runs over months, and the cost is significant. You will be given a written plan setting out the stages, the timeline and the cost of each stage before anything begins, so there are no surprises partway through.
Dr Meg places and restores implants herself, so the same clinician sees the case from planning through to the final restoration.
What we do not offer
All-on-4 and full-arch implant treatment is not provided at Lava Street Dental. Where that is what you need, we will discuss alternatives or refer you.
Alternatives worth considering
Implants are not always the right answer, and cost is a legitimate factor. A partial denture replaces multiple missing teeth without surgery at considerably lower cost, and a conventional bridge may suit where the neighbouring teeth need crowning anyway. Dr Meg will lay out the realistic options rather than presenting implants as the only one.
Maintenance
Implant-supported restorations need daily cleaning underneath and around, and regular professional maintenance. The gum and bone around an implant can become inflamed and recede — peri-implantitis — and it is the main reason implant restorations fail over time. We will show you the cleaning technique and check it at every visit.
Frequently asked questions
Not necessarily. Fewer implants can sometimes support a bridge across a span. It depends on the number of teeth, the bone available and how the bite loads the area.
Generally several months, and longer where grafting is required. A staged timeline is provided at your planning appointment.
No. Placement, healing and restoration are separate stages. Where several implants are being placed, placement itself may be split across more than one visit depending on the case.
It depends entirely on the number of implants, whether grafting is needed and the type of restoration. You will receive a written, itemised plan before treatment begins.
No. Full-arch implant treatment is not currently offered here.
It can happen, and how it is managed depends on the design of the restoration and the reason for the failure. This is discussed as part of your planning so you understand the risks before committing.