Dental implants overview

If you’ve lost a tooth or teeth and you want a long-term solution, you may be a candidate for a dental implant. Before your health care practitioner can recommend implants, there are several questions that need to be answered:

• Do you have adequate bone volume and density in your jawbone?
• Has your jaw has stopped growing? It usually stops growing in your 20s, but until this happens you would not be able to have an implant.
• Do you have good general health? Certain chronic diseases including diabetes, haemophilia, connective tissue disease, immune deficiencies, cancer and some heart conditions can affect the outcome of your implant surgery.
• Are you taking medicines? Some medicines — such as steroids — supress your immune system and can affect whether or not an implant can be placed.
• Do you have good oral health?
• Do you chain smoke? Implants are not recommended if you chain smoke. Some other lifestyle factors can mean that implants are not recommended.

Because Dr van Mourik is both a dentist and a medical doctor he can assess your overall health as well as your dental health so that you get the best possible implant outcome.

More and more people are choosing implant supported dentures over regular dentures (false teeth) because they look better, are more comfortable to talk and eat with, and they’re easier to maintain. All on 4® dental implants  are permanent implants that can support a denture immediately after implant placement.

Day surgery: If you’ve general anaesthetic or IV sedation you will require someone to assist you get home. If done under local anaesthetic, you can drive home yourself.

Pain management: Most people are surprise to find that pain is minimal. Normal painkillers are usually all you’ll need. An icepack can help reduce any swelling or pain.

Work/School: Most people return to work one day after their implant surgery, while a few have to take more than a day or two off.

Stitches: Disolving stitches are used in most cases. They gradually dissolve over 1-2 weeks.

Diet: Soft food diet for 1-2 days after surgery. By 1-2 weeks after surgery you’ll most likely be eating and drinking normally.

Follow up: Review appointments are part of our service to ensure you are healing well.

Dr Van Mourik will give you detailed post-operative instructions during your initial consultation. To maximise your chance of making a quick recovery without complications, please pay careful attention to these instructions. General information can be found on the Post-op and Patient Care page.

It’s unusual to have complications if you get a skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeon to perform  your implant surgery.

However, all surgeries have some potential risks and complications. The risks are higher if your general health is poor, if you smoke, have diabetes, have poor oral hygiene or if you’ve had radiotherapy to your jaw. Certain medications can also increase the risk of complications.

For dental implants the most frequently-encountered complications are:

• Infection
• A loose screw – If the implant screw doesn’t fuse with your jawbone properly, you will need to have the procedure redone after the bone has healed.
• A loose post (abutment) – Sometimes the metal post that fits into the screw comes loose. If this happens it can be tightened or replaced.
• Facial and oral numbness caused by nerve injury

Medicare will reimburse you for part of your initial consultation.

Dr van Mourik will give you a written quote for the cost of your dental implant surgery at the initial consultation. We’ll help you make applicable Medicare and private health insurance claims so that you’ll know how much of the cost will be covered.

If an anaesthetist is involved, we’ll give you contact details for the anaesthetist so you can obtain their fee schedule. Medicare and private health insurance will cover part of the anaesthetist’s costs.

Widest scope of treatment options

Only specialist oral and maxillofacial surgeons can provide the full scope and widest options of both in-rooms and hospital-based dental implant procedures.

Surgery is performed to highest technical standard

They have the highest level of training and skills for oral surgery, this leads to better quality surgery. They can confidently perform more complicated surgeries such as those involving bone grafts.

Appropriately manage your medical conditions with a decreased chance of complications

Because oral and maxillofacial surgeons have medical training, they can manage your other medical conditions and medications to decrease risk. If a complication does occur, they have the skills to manage it.

Safest

Because Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons are medically trained, they only operate under hospital grade sterilisation protocol (carried out in accordance with AS/NZS 4815:2006 standard).

Only use specialist anaesthetists

When intravenous sedation or general anaesthetic is required, they always use specialist anaesthetists.

Dr van Mourik is a highly experienced Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon. He explains things clearly and he’s a good listener, so do ask him questions about your dental implant surgery and tell him about any concerns you have — he’ll take the time to answer and manage your concerns sensitively.