Dental Implants

Implants have been specially designed to be a permanent tooth replacement.

As such, with proper care, maintenance and good oral hygiene, they typically last for more than 25 years on average.

Besides traditional dental implants, you may also consider mini dental implants.

Mini dental implants provide an implant option if you want a less invasive procedure than regular dental implants. And if you don’t have enough bone in your jaw to take a standard implant, mini implants do away with the need for a bone graft.

Mini implants may also be your best choice if you have a smaller mouth or smaller teeth. Click here to find out more on the differences between mini implant and standard implant.

If you're looking for alternatives to dental implants for your tooth replacement needs, you can take a look at non-surgical options such as dentures or dental bridges.

We've got an in-depth analysis of dental implants, dentures and dental bridges that you can read.

Dental implant surgery is a safe procedure when done executed by an experienced dental surgeon.

However, as with any form of surgery, it is not without its risks and patients should know about the potential risks involved with implant surgery. 

Problems are rare, though, and when they do occur they’re usually minor and easily treated/remedied.

Some of the potential risks of dental implant surgery include:

• Peri-Implantitis – infection of the dental implant site
• Damage to surrounding teeth or blood vessels.
• Nerve damage
• Puncturing of sinus when implants placed in the upper jaw causing the implate to protrude into one of your sinus cavities.
• Failure to osseointegrate - Dental implant is unable to properly fuse to the jawbone.

90% – 95% of dental implants are successful, however, there is a possibility that bone tissue may fail to fuse sufficiently to the titanium dental implant fixtures.

In cases that implants fail to fuse to the bone, the implants must be removed and the bone matter is cleaned up.

After which, patients may choose to try the procedure again in 3 – 6 months.

Smoking, for example, may contribute to implant failure and complications.

The cost of $2,500 - $6,000 for a single implanted tooth does seem like an awfully large sum of money to pay for a screw-like device (even after a Medisave claim).

However, it should be noted that this cost takes into account the entire process of placing a single dental implant which can be quite complex and generally requires multiple procedures spread over a period of multiple months to complete.

Patients who are considering dental implant surgery can breakdown the cost into 2 separate stages; the surgical stage and the restorative stage.

Yes! of course, you can use Medisave for dental implants.

Medisave can be used to partially offset the cost of each dental implant (about $1,250 per dental implant), subject to the final approval by the CPF Board and provided you have enough funds in your Medisave account.

Here's an example of the payment process; assuming the agreed fee for a single dental implant is $3,500 and that you only require one dental implant.

• Claimable amount from Medisave: $1,250
• Out-of-pocket amount: $3,500 - $1,250 = $2,250
• The remaining amount of $2,250 will be split into 2 payments
  • Upon implant placement
  • Upon placement of the final crown

Yes of course you can! Dental implants are generally considered to be a great replacement for front teeth. When done by an experienced provider, dental implants can provide patients with a highly aesthetic outcome that's almost indistinguishable from a natural tooth.

If you'd like to learn more about this topic, feel free to read our dedicated article on dental implants for front teeth.

Generally speaking, you should not feel any pain during your dental implant surgery as local anaesthesia will be used.

However, dental surgeons cannot fully guarantee with 100% certainty that the implant surgery will be pain-free for all their patients.

They will do their best to make sure you are comfortable before starting the procedure.

At any point, you feel discomfort do not hesitate to let your dentist know and they can top you up with more local anaesthetic if needed.

We have a detailed article that discusses the topic of pain during dental implant surgery that you can read.

When it comes to tooth replacement solutions, a common question typically pops up; dental implants or dentures? Which is better?

There isn't a definitive answer to this question - but we've written a detailed article that discusses the pros and cons of both tooth replacement solutions.

Despite the effectiveness of implants, not everyone can undergo a dental implant surgery. Before undergoing implant surgery, a patient must be healthy or have clearance from a dental surgeon.

Additionally one needs to have sufficient bone structure to provide support to the implant. If bone structure is inadequate, then such a patient requires bone build-up which can be accomplished through bone grafting or sinus lift surgery.

Patients with chronic diseases like leukemia or diabetes are discouraged from undergoing implant surgery since such diseases slow down the healing process after surgery.

Substances such as tobacco may slow healing as well and so patients using tobacco should talk to their dentists to be advised on ways to quit using tobacco.

In case your dentist recommends implant treatment, you need to pay particular attention to your oral hygiene since it determines whether or not the implant treatment will be successful.

You need to ensure that the area near the implant is clean because failure to do so makes you more prone to gum disease. Gum disease damages bone structure and gum tissues which are essentially when it comes to providing support to the implant.

It is important that you talk to your dentist about your concerns and worries regarding implant treatment.

Dental implant treatments usually run for a longer duration of time and may be more costly compared to other teeth replacement alternatives.

However since you might never need to change dental implants for the rest of your life, they are worth the cost and time.

Regularly visit your dentist to ensure that your implants are always in good condition. Your dentist may schedule appointments to monitor your dental health to ensure that the implant and teeth are healthy and well taken care of.

Your dentist will also recommend that you practice routine dental care at home including flossing once and brushing twice daily. To protect your teeth from cavity and gum from disease, your dentist may recommend a special mouthwash or toothbrush.

You can always ask for your dentist’s opinion on the suitability of dental implants based on your dental needs. With proper treatment and oral hygiene, dental implants are the best and can guarantee you a lifetime of healthy smiles.

In the initial stage, only the implant fixture (the screw) is placed in the jaw bone, stitched up and left alone to heal over the course of four to five months. This healing process allows the dental implant fixture to integrate with bone. Permanently locking it in place.

In the second stage of the procedure, x-rays are taken to ensure the implant fixture is stable and has been fully integrated with bone.

After your dentist has deemed the implant fixture to be stable and properly fused to bone, the dental implant fixture is then exposed and fitted with a healing abutment.

At this stage, your dentist will also proceed to take a mold or intraoral scan of your mouth to fabricate the final restorative crown that will be fitted onto the implant fixture.

Once we've received your dental crown from the dental lab, we'll schedule you in for placement of the crown.

At NoFrills Dental, we use 4 different brands of dental implants; Osstem, Dentium, Bicon and Straumann.

Depending on the clinical and budgetary needs of every patient. Our dentists will recommend the best dental implant for their particular needs.

Same-day dental implants, also known as immediate dental implants is a method of placing dental implants and loading the dental implants with a dental prosthesis on the same day. This reduces the entire treatments time significantly.

This method of placing a dental implant is only suitable for certain types of cases and not every is a suitable candidate.

We have a seperate article that discusses immediate dental implants

Bone grafts are typically required for patients who suffer from a thin or weak jawbone, as the success of any dental implant is highly reliant on the implants' ability to osseointegrate with the surrounding jawbone.

Bone grafts help to create a stronger foundation within the jaw for the dental implants as the chewing action of the mouth is able to exert high amounts of pressure on the jawbone which could result in an implant failure if the bone supporting the implants is not strong enough.

The recovery process after a bone graft can take several months to grow enough new bone to effectively support a dental implant.