Dental Implants Newcastle, Wickham, Swansea, Belmont NSW

Types of Implant-Retained Restorations

Based on your functional needs and the number of teeth that you’re missing, we may recommend the following:

A single implant with a crown that fills in open spaces where a tooth has been extracted, instead of having to anchor a traditional bridge on the adjacent teeth.
Two implants with a bridge to fill in larger gaps where multiple missing teeth are a concern.
Multiple implants with a long bridge that spans the entire arch.
Fewer implants with a supported denture that’s more comfortable to wear and less bulky than a conventional prosthesis.

Single Dental Implants

For patients missing just one tooth, a single dental implant is often the ideal choice. The titanium implant integrates with the jawbone, creating a stable foundation for a custom-made crown. Unlike traditional bridges, single implants don’t rely on adjacent teeth for support, preserving their natural structure. Once restored, it will look, feel and function like a real tooth—helping you chew, speak, and smile with ease.

Ideal for:

Replacing a single missing tooth
Preserving neighbouring teeth
Long-term stability with natural aesthetics

Implant-Supported Bridges

When two or more teeth are missing in a row, an implant-supported bridge can be an effective and cost-efficient solution. Instead of placing an implant for every missing tooth, two or more implants are used to anchor a bridge, which spans the gap. This option offers more strength than a traditional bridge and eliminates the need to alter healthy teeth.
Ideal for:

Multiple missing teeth in a row
Avoiding removable partial dentures
Providing strong chewing ability

All-on-X Implant Bridges

If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, our All-on-X implant solution may be right for you. This method involves placing 4 to 6 strategically positioned implants per arch to support a full-arch bridge. All-on-X offers a streamlined and stable solution that feels more like natural teeth and typically requires fewer implants than traditional full-arch methods.

Benefits include:

Fixed (non-removable) full-arch solution
Improved speech and chewing function
Immediate smile transformation in some cases
Reduced healing time compared to individual implants for each tooth

Implant-Supported Dentures

For those seeking a secure, comfortable alternative to traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures offer a stable solution. A few implants support a custom denture, which can be removable or fixed. These dentures ‘snap’ into place or stay fixed, reducing slippage and discomfort while improving bite strength and confidence.

Benefits include:

Better fit and retention than traditional dentures
No need for messy adhesives
Improved bone stimulation, reducing jawbone shrinkage
Comfortable and natural-feeling

Evaluation

Implants are only recommended in instances where there are good bone quality and a healthy oral environment to support them. For some people to be eligible for treatment, a bone graft may be needed to ensure there is adequate support. After having a CT scan taken, we can proceed with the specific recommendations surrounding the placement method and the number of implants required to make your case a success.

Treatment Process

Getting dental implants is a process that spans several weeks or a few months, due to the time necessary as your body responds and heals between treatments. For instance, we will want to ensure that the implant integrates with your bone and that the soft tissues are shaped appropriately before a permanent crown, bridge or denture is affixed to them. We can provide you with an estimated timeline during your initial evaluation.

Advantages of Getting Dental Implants

Today, implants are the preferred treatment of choice for our patients with missing teeth. Because the integrity and longevity of an implant design allow it to mimic natural teeth more closely than any other type of dental restoration, it’s hugely beneficial in many ways.

Implants are structurally sound and capable of withstanding an extreme amount of force. As such, we’re able to use them in pairs to support multi-tooth restorations like bridges. Plus, their support of bone and gum structures over them minimises the “sunken in” or shallow facial appearances often seen with tooth loss. Being that implants add depth and volume to your bite, they help to fill out your cheeks and lips.

Choosing to invest in dental implants is a decision that will affect your smile for the rest of your life. Only you can decide if the investment is worth it or not.

The Process of Dental Implant Restorations

Single Tooth Replacement

Where there is a single tooth missing, we would use a single dental implant to replace the missing tooth. For this procedure, the titanium dental implant undergoes the process of osseointegration whereby over a period of a few months, the implant will effectively fuse with your jawbone as it heals. This forms a strong and durable tooth root alternative which stimulates the jawbone and gum line to keep them alive and healthy. On top of the dental implant, an abutment is placed, which is then covered with a strong prosthetic tooth, such as a dental crown.

Step 1: Complimentary consultation (30min)

At this appointment, we will review your treatment goals and discuss the process involved in dental implant treatment, providing both the costs and the time estimates. If you have any previous X-rays or 3D-scans they would be helpful at this visit, otherwise they will be required at your next visit. If you know what you need and want, we can skip forward and go straight to Step 2.

Step 2: Implant records appointment (30min)

If you are a suitable dental implant candidate, you will be scheduled for a record-taking appointment, which allows us to plan your treatment from start to finish. The most common records required are a CBCT or Cone beam X-ray (3D Jaw scan), a scan/impression of your teeth and gums. Health fund rebate may apply for the following codes: 026, 071×2, and 678.

Step 3: Final consult and treatment plan (15-30min)

No charge or Health Fund Rebate Only

We then proceed to schedule a final consult where we will go through all of the most pertinent details and factors regarding your specific case and circumstance, and we may be able to present varying options and prices when more than one suitable option exists. By the end of the visit, you will be presented with a fully itemised treatment plan with all costs, including time frames for the treatments proposed. When you are ready to proceed, we will take a $500 deposit and order the necessary surgical equipment for your case.

Step 4: Implant surgery (60-120min)

This appointment is unique to each case and can range from 60-120min depending on the complexity of your case.

Step 5: Implant restoration (30-45min x2 visits)

Your final restoration is usually delivered around 3-4 months after your initial surgery. If you require a temporary restoration until this time, many options exist and will be discussed with you in your planning appointment.

Step 6: After care

A well-placed and restored dental implant should provide years, and ideally decades, of function. However, it is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene and have regular dental checkup and hygiene appointments, not just to monitor and maintain your dental implant, but your whole mouth. This way, if any issues arise, we can address them promptly and prevent them from becoming more serious problems.

Temporary Teeth

Bonded to adjacent teeth (not removable)
Immediate temporary, attached to implant (not suitable for all cases)

Grafting

Unfortunately, we commonly encounter implant sites that are deficient in soft tissue (gum) and/or hard tissue (bone) volume. In these cases, additional augmentation procedures are either essential for implant treatment or beneficial for treatment. At your consultation, any specific extra requirements or optional extra treatments will be discussed. In some cases, grafts can be avoided but may result in a less aesthetic outcome.

Soft tissue grafts to repair deficient gums:

Health fund codes: 234, 236, 243

Hard tissue grafting or GBR (Guided Bone Regeneration) to repair minor deficiencies in bone volume

Health fund codes: 234, 236, 243

*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. Each smile is unique and individual results may vary.

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Dental Implants in Newcastle and Wickham, Belmont