Smile in a Day
Smile in a Day A whole new smile in just one day If you have decayed, broken or missing teeth, or loose dentures, you may be concerned about the first impression you make and perhaps avoid smiling in public or having your photo taken. The dental team at Devonshire House want you to enjoy each and every reason to smile and can now offer a unique dental implant technique that is simple, reliable and long lasting. Best of all, your initial treatment can be completed in just one day. We can quite literally give you a brand new “Smile in a Day” with dental implants. Thanks to advances in surgical technology and the development of a range of innovative techniques, dental implants are easier to place, less invasive and have a more successful outcome than ever before. The technique simply requires the fitting of four implants per jaw, resulting in a fully functional set of upper or lower teeth that look and feel completely natural.
Benefits over traditional treatment What are the advantages of ‘Smile in a Day’ over dentures or a dental bridge? • Improved appearance: When you lose the entire tooth - crown and root - shrinkage of the jawbone may cause your face to look older. Dental implants can help to prevent this happening. A traditional denture or dental bridge doesn’t provide this benefit. • Improved function: With implant supported teeth you will be able to eat what you like and enjoy your food again, comfortably and confidently. • Permanent solution: The dental implant bridge is stable and comfortable. Unlike a denture it will cause no discomfort or embarrassment. No adjustment is needed after placement, normally an implant will serve you for life.
How will ‘Smile in a Day’ affect my life? Dental implant-supported teeth look, feel and function like natural teeth. This means that you can eat and drink whatever you choose. It is beyond doubt that implant supported bridges improve quality of life. People who have felt embarrassed and worried because of their tooth problems are often overwhelmed by the improvements in how they look and feel with their new teeth. Many patients describe a new found confidence and increased self-esteem following completion of their treatment.
Will my new teeth look natural? When dental implants are used in combination with modern restorative dentistry their appearance, comfort and function are very likely to exceed your expectations. Often they are hard to tell apart from your natural teeth.
Will I be able to chew with the same force and pressure I use with my natural teeth? Following a brief adaptation period, chewing capacity is comparable to that of natural teeth.
Who is a candidate for ‘Smile in a Day’? Will dental implants work for me? Anyone who is missing teeth due to injury, disease or tooth decay may be a candidate for dental implants. Whatever your age, if you are medically fit to undergo a general oral surgical procedure, for example a tooth extraction, dental implants are a possibility for you.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants? Your general health is an important factor in achieving a successful outcome for implant treatment; your dentist will discuss this at your first appointment. Using a dental CT scan, your dentist will determine your suitability by assessing the breadth, depth and density of your bone at the positions in your mouth where the implants will be placed. If you have a condition that may interfere with the healing process of either bone or soft tissue (e.g. connective tissue disorder, steroid therapy, bone infection) you will be particularly carefully assessed for suitability, and fully informed of the implications.
Is age a barrier? Occasionally, older patients express concern that their age may prevent them from enjoying the benefits of dental implants. However, health is more of a determining factor than age.
Potential issues that can cause complications During the course of implant treatment it is important that you keep us informed of any changes to your general medical condition, as this may affect or delay your treatment. You must always tell us about any change of medication and of any other additional treatment you may be receiving from a doctor or dentist, as specific medication can increase the likelihood of complications and implant failure. Dental implants do not react well to teeth grinding or clenching and can cause your implants to fail. If you do grind or clench your teeth on a regular basis, speak to your dentist who can advise on ways to manage this. Smoking and dental implants are not compatible and if you smoke, complications and implant failure are more likely. We can assist you with smoking cessation in order to increase your suitability for implant treatment.
Implants and ‘Smile in a Day’ explained What is a dental implant? A dental implant is a small titanium screw which is placed in the jaw bone, under the gum, to serve as a replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. Your bone bonds to the implant which becomes the anchor for replacement teeth, either in the form of a removable denture or a fixed implant bridge, which you cannot remove.
Are dental implants successful? With more than five decades of clinical experience and over a million patients treated, statistics confirm a success rate of nearly 96% for dental implants, and close to 100% success for the bridges they support.
‘Smile in a Day’ This technique simply requires the fitting of four implants on which the bridge of teeth is placed. The treatment results in a fully functional set of upper or lower teeth that look and feel completely natural.
Treatment First step The first step towards your new permanent teeth is a detailed examination by your dentist. Then you and your dentist can determine which solution works best for you. As part of your examination, impressions, X-rays and a CT scan of your jaw will be recorded in order to plan your entire dental procedure before it begins. At this stage we will also discuss the appearance of your final restorations and our laboratory team will begin making the teeth that will be fitted onto your implants on the day of implant placement.
On the day The procedure starts with the removal of remaining teeth, if required, and the placement of dental implants under local anaesthesia, often with sedation delivered by a consultant anaethetist. The surgery takes two or three hours. Once the implants have been placed, impressions are recorded so that your new temporary bridge (usually consisting of 10 or more upper or lower teeth) can be adjusted to exactly fit onto the implants. You will then be able to rest in our private relaxation room where our team will continue to look after you in comfort. Your treatment will then continue back in the surgery, where your temporary bridge will be attached to the implants and you will be provided with specific aftercare instructions together with medicines and mouthwash to help with the healing process. A relative or friend will need to accompany or collect you on the day in order to drive you to and from the practice, and if you have been sedated, to look after you overnight.
Healing and final bridge fitting With the implants in place and the temporary bridge secured to them, healing can commence. Usually, we ask that you stick to a soft diet, only gradually building up to normal chewing. During the four to six month healing period, the shape of your jaw and your gum will subtly change as the tissues heal and the bone bonds to the implants. At the end of that time we will make a new permanent bridge (usually 10 or 12 upper or lower teeth) that fits the new contours in your mouth. We will also have the opportunity to make any changes to the shape, position and colour of the teeth before finalising the bridge.
Is the treatment painful? As with any surgery, there can be some discomfort. Local anaesthesia is used and sedation is also available during the dental implant process. You will also receive medications and mouth washes to reduce swelling and discomfort over the subsequent days. Most patients tell us that they were much more comfortable following the procedure than they had anticipated, reporting only minimal discomfort afterwards.
Aftercare How will I care for my dental implants? • Your new teeth must be cared for and checked regularly, just like your natural teeth. • Brushing twice a day with an electric tooth brush and cleaning under the bridge, as recommended by your dentist and dental hygienist, is imperative to maintain the health of the gums around the implants. • Wearing your supplied mouthguard at night will help protect your teeth from excessive wear and tear. • You will need regular check-ups and hygiene visits every three to four months to begin with. All appointments included in your treatment cost will be detailed in your written treatment plan. Please refer to the next page for further information about what is and is not included in your treatment cost.
What happens if one or more implants fail? Occasionally, an implant can fail to bond to your bone and has to be removed. Initially, we would simply replace the loose implant with a new one and leave it to bond again. This recovery treatment would not incur any extra charge. Should we be very unlucky and have to abandon the implant treatment, then Devonshire House would reimburse you with 50% of the fees up to the point of failure. We would then plan an alternative treatment for you.
How much does ‘Smile in a Day’ cost? The fee for smile in a day implant treatment is charged per jaw and varies according to the number of implants used. Occasionally some additional procedures may be required to ensure the long-term health of your dental implants. To obtain a specific estimate of the cost, it is necessary to have a Devonshire House dentist examine your mouth. After a thorough diagnostic examination, we will recommend the treatment that is best for you. In some instances, more than the standard four implants are required to ensure that the bridge is adequately supported. This may be applicable if there is reduced bone height or width. If more than four implants are required, your treatment cost will include an additional fee per implant.
Included in the cost of your treatment It is important to know that the fee for your implant treatment covers everything to complete the treatment to the final bridge of 10 or 12 teeth and includes: • All dental appointments relating to this treatment • Hygiene appointments during the treatment period • Mouthwashes and oral hygiene sundries that your specialist feels are necessary and appropriate to your needs on the day of surgery • A protective mouthguard to prevent tooth breakages, if necessary • Our specially created recipe book which is full of suitable suggestions, offering a wide range of choices for ‘Smile in a Day’ patients.
Appointments and additional costs after your treatment is finished The success of your dental implant treatment in the long-term is very dependent on your maintaining a high standard of oral hygiene and continuing as a non-smoker if you have had a history of smoking in the past. Therefore, once your treatment has finished and the final bridge has been fitted, you will still need to visit Devonshire House for: • Three or four oral hygiene visits per year • At least one review per year with your specialist, plus x-rays • Tooth whitening, if required These appointments will be charged at the standard rates and are not included in the initial treatment cost. If you are given a mouthguard, it will need to be replaced periodically due to wear and tear and will be charged at our standard rate. In addition, the 10 or 12 teeth of your final bridge may need to be refurbished every three to seven years, depending on how hard you bite and the type of foods you consume. The replacement of a set of teeth on one jaw can be completed in two or three short appointments and your dentist will advise you of the cost before treatment commences.
How to find out more Chat to a ‘Smile in a Day’ patient who has finished treatment Our Treatment Co-ordinator will be happy to arrange an informal chat with a ‘Smile in a Day’ patient who has finished their treatment so that you can speak to them about the procedure. Hearing another patient’s experience first-hand will illustrate just how life changing this treatment can be and will also help put you at ease about the surgical procedure itself. It is an ideal time to ask any questions, however small, and will enable you to confidently decide whether this is the right treatment for you. To arrange an informal chat with a patient who has finished their treatment, contact our Treatment Co-ordinator on 01223 402621 or email tc@dh-dental.co.uk
Online patient video stories Video stories from some of our former patients are available to view on our website. Visit the ‘Smile in a Day’ pages of our website: www.devonshirehousedental.co.uk/smile-in-a-day-testimonials
Devonshire House expertise
Devonshire House Implant Team of Specialist Prosthodontists
Experienced Specialist Dentists With a combined dental experience of over 120 years, our team of eight Specialist Dentists have routinely provided thousands of patients with more than 10,000 dental implants over the last 30 years. Together, they have performed over 1,000 ‘Smile in a Day’ procedures at Devonshire House transforming the lives of patients who had just about given up on their teeth. Their combined breadth of experience allows them to treat complex cases and share their knowledge.
Implantology mentors Having devised an education programme of implant courses, our Specialists regularly provide implant mentoring to fellow dental professionals throughout the country. Our Education Director, Wail Girgis, lectures at implant conferences world-wide and all our Specialists consult on patient implant cases on behalf of the industry’s leading dental planning software supplier.
What our patients say
Before the surgery, I had made every effort not to smile or laugh because my teeth were such an embarrassment but I walked out that day on top of the world - more confident than I had been in years.
Thank you Devonshire House, you gave me my smile back.
To be able to smile and laugh without worrying about anything else is worth everything. My life has opened up again.
The result has been a miracle. I can smile and eat and enjoy life. With the treatment, I only needed to take two days off work before I was back. It’s fantastic.
The treatment has literally changed my life. My confidence and my smiles have returned in abundance.
You have given me a new lease of life which is beyond my most vivid imagination. I cannot quite take in how my life has changed for the better.
www.devonshirehousedental.co.uk
2 Queen Edith’s Way Cambridge CB1 7PN T: 01223 245266 E: enquiries@dh-dental.co.uk www.devonshirehousedental.co.uk Riverdale Tradeco Ltd, 13 Roseberry Court, Ellerbeck Way, Stokesley, Middlesbrough TS9 5QT. Co no: 11506562