Dental ServicesDental Implants

Implants are covered by major dental health cover in Australia. Basic health insurance extras generally do not cover implants and will typically only cover general dental, including check-ups and small fillings.

Dental implants are a reliable way to replace your missing teeth for life, providing you with a permanent solution for missing teeth due to injury, tooth decay, gum disease, or loose dentures replacement. If you have a reasonably strong jaw bone, do not suffer from gum disease, and you’re a non-smoker, you will most likely be eligible for a dental implant. If you currently smoke or have a specific lifestyle that requires you to work remotely, we recommend booking a personalised consultation with Dr Saurabh Rai at Tandara Dental Centre to discuss what’s best for you.

Depending on how many implants need to be placed, the procedure will last approximately 1.5 – 3 hours.

Immediately after surgery, it will take around two weeks for the incision in your gums to heal. Next, we allow for three to six months for the implant to heal and integrate with the bone in a process called Osseointegration. Once healed, an abutment will be placed and can take approximately two to six weeks to heal.

Dental implants are a permanent solution for those who are suffering from a missing tooth or several teeth due to injury, tooth decay, and gum disease. However, there are many other treatments available should you choose not to get dental implants, including dentures and dental bridges.

• Bridges are a fixed option for replacing a single tooth or several teeth. Natural teeth on either side of the gap are trimmed to a smaller size and crowns are placed on top. The crown attached to these is to mimic the missing teeth. This invasive procedure carries the risk of reducing the lifespan of the natural teeth cut in the process.
• Dentures are a cost-effective dental solution that is cheaper than dental implants and provide immediate satisfaction of filling in the gaps of missing teeth. They are completely removable and are made to match existing teeth colour to blend in with your natural smile. However, partial and full dentures can cause gum and bone loss, resulting in jaw bone deterioration. A bone graft may be required to help repair and stabilize bone tissue in the jaw before dental implants can be inserted.

Maintaining good oral health and hygiene will ensure your dental implants last a lifetime. Here are 6 simple steps to prevent infection around your dental implant.

•  Brush after every meal.
•  Use fluoride toothpaste to reduce the risk of decay in your natural teeth.
•  Use a toothbrush with a small head and soft bristles.
•  A toothbrush cannot reach between the teeth or gum line so make sure to floss your teeth at least once a day.
•  Try to avoid smoking at all costs. Smoking impairs the healing process and increases the risk of infection and implant failure.
•  Limit your intake of sweet foods and sugary drinks. We recommend brushing your teeth afterwards if possible.

After the surgery is where you will be most at risk of infection and other complications, so it’s important to pay close attention to post-op care instructions that are provided by your dentist.

• Making sure to take medication on time will ensure a swift, painless and infection-free recovery without any setbacks.
• Avoid hard foods during the healing process. Your dentist may advise a soft-food diet for the first few weeks.
• Staying hydrated will speed up recovery with fewer complications.
• Sleeping is the fastest way to recover. Get plenty of rest and avoid any strenuous exercise or activities.
• Attend to bleeding immediately. If you notice any bleeding, bite down on some gauze and apply a little pressure for 20 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop after 30 minutes, apply a cold pack to the surrounding jaw area. If bleeding still persists for more than 24 hours, contact your dentist straight away.
• Apply an ice pack to the surrounding jaw area for 3 minutes on and 5 minutes off for about an hour
• Rinse with warm salt water a few times a day to prevent infection, unless instructed otherwise by your dentist.
• Avoid smoking. Smoking can slow down the healing process, cause discolouration to your new dental implants, damage the gum, and increase the risk of infection. It can also increase the risk of implant failure.

It seems like a good idea to get dental implants overseas purely because of the price, but you may be getting more than what you bargained for. Getting the procedure done in countries that do not follow strict regulations or monitor infection control can increase the risk to your health.

• Varying dental standards. Poor quality materials that do not follow Australia’s strict regulatory requirements can increase the risk of implant failure.
• Poor infection control can lead to teeth and jaw infections and can result in bone loss and implant failure.
• Incorrect placement of implants will result in problems with chewing, eating, aesthetics and lifespan of your implant. The only solution is to remove the implant and start the whole process again, providing there is enough bone left.

If you’re considering going overseas for because of the price, get in touch with us to discuss our flexible implant payment plans. Having your dental implants done at Tandara Dental Centre guarantees you are protected by organisations such as the Australian Dental Association, which ensures all our dentists are qualified and registered.