Well, it very much depends on what we need to do for you. It is an invasive procedure and there will be some discomfort which is normally controlled well with paracetamol or ibuprofen. A key to success with dental implants which surgeons learn with experience is being GENTLE gives the best results by a wide margin. The gentler we are, the less discomfort you will have after the procedure. In fact, many of my patients have no discomfort at all. Please do understand there is a BIG difference between placing a single implant versus having a full mouth of them. And everyone responds differently to treatment. You can rest assured through my training in my masters degree and my full time commitment to implants (I don’t do any other treatment), I have lots of specialised instruments and techniques to make the procedure as gentle as possible. In fact, it’s common for me to hear ‘is that it?!’ once I tell you the implant is placed!

No they don’t.  Just as a brand new car, a new fridge, a new phone or anything else in life won’t last you forever.  So how long DO they last? Well, it depends on a number of factors.  Depending on the complexity of the treatment and YOUR biology the average timeframe is around 12-15 years.  That said, if you look after the implants well, are generally fit and healthy and a good quality implant and lab process has been used, the implants MAY last you a lifetime.  I regularly see implants which are sound and healthy which have been placed 25 years ago.  If you become unwell in the future or become stressed this may impact the health and longevity of your implant.  So it’s important to look after yourself! Eat well, sleep well and exercise regularly. Just as the doctors recommend! I suggest all of my patients take 4000iu vitamin D transdermal patches for 6 months when having implants placed and take a potent probiotic such as VSL3 in order to optimise your healing capacity.  Home care is also CRITICAL to the health of your implant! Brushing, using interdental brushes and floss around implants is critically important.  The most common problem around implants is infection which in 80% of cases is down to home care.

Implants are not natural teeth and have slight differences.  In the vast majority of cases it will feel natural. Especially if you have one or two implants.  Implants start to feel more different when you have all of your teeth missing.  Again this is something most patients adapt to in a matter of weeks.  And ALL patients prefer them to chunky, plastic dentures! Most importantly, you will be able to chew with normal function and maintain appropriate function for the ability to eat a full range of foods.

Yes. Next question! Seriously though, implants have been around for 60 years and have excellent data behind them. Implants have been refined over the years to be safe and effective. There are certain nuances to the implant themselves which alters their quality. You can rest assured Pav uses an implant system which is a grade IV pure titanium and not a titanium alloy. The reason this is important is because pure titanium corrodes significantly less than titanium alloys. Corrosion has been linked to implant infection. Most companies use titanium alloys as they are stronger, Southern implants are the ONLY company to use grade IV titanium with a cold machining process and have sole access to the best titanium. What does this mean? Stronger and purer implants from a company dedicated to the very best standards. Beyond the implant itself, skill of the surgeon is important as is the laboratory process to fabricate your crowns. It would be easy for me to reduce my fees by reusing certain components (which can be sterilised and reused safely). The problem is that the scientific evidence shows us using brand new components for every case gives significantly better results. This is one of the reasons my fees are higher than average. I order new components to ensure the highest level of precision and optimised biological response. I always say if you’re looking for the cheapest option, I guarantee you’ll find that elsewhere. I have no interest in being ‘competitive’ with my fees. My focus is purely on giving best outcomes.

You’ve already read how losing a tooth can significantly impact your chewing power. Reduced chewing power means increased likelihood of other teeth developing problems due to overload or when you lose enough teeth, for your nutrition levels to drop and your lifespan expected to subsequently reduce.  Studies have shown people with adequate chewing function live around 9 years longer than those with significantly reduced chewing power or those with dentures.  So, to me at least, dental implants are definitely worth it.