Dental Implants

Curran Dental is now part of the Next Smile Australia network

Dedicated to All-on-4® Dental Implants procedures

What are dental implants?

A Dental implants is a titanium post that replaces the root portion of a missing tooth. An artificial crown is placed on top of the metal implant, giving you the look and function of a real tooth. They offer excellent aesthetics and function and are the closes replacement to a missing tooth that we have.

Benefits of a dental implant

Dental implants offer the best aesthetics, functionality and durability of any of the options we have to restore missing teeth. The two main alternatives to a dental implant are either a denture or a bridge. A denture may rock, it can trap food underneath it, compromises your speech and often has metal clasps which are visible when you smile. A Bridge is a fixed option that is glued permanently to the teeth either side, it offers good aesthetics but often involves the destruction of healthy teeth either side of the space, leading to an increase risk of root canal treatment to the abutment teeth and can fail catastrophically resulting in the loss of further teeth.

A dental implant will look just like a natural tooth, you will be able to chew on a implant just like any natural tooth and should last the longest of all the restorative options.

Our Procedure at Curran Dental

  1. An initial examination is performed to ensure you are a suitable candidate. Your medical and dental history is assessed. An intraoral scan and a 3D xray is taken to ensure there is adequate bone and sufficient space to place the implant and final restoration.

  2. After this appointment the 3D X-ray and intraoral scan data and married up to allow us to design the ideal position of the implant in relation to where the tooth needs to be. A 3D guide is then designed and manufactured to fit over your teeth and ensure the implant is inserted into the ideal position.

    Generally allow 3 weeks between the initial records being taken and the surgery taking place, this is to ensure sufficient time for the implant guide to be manufactured and all components delivered.

  3. At your next appointment the surgery is performed. The guide is inserted temporary onto your teeth and a very accurate hole made for the implant. The implant is inserted and a small cap placed on top of the implant while it integrates into the bone. This procedure is generally performed under local anaesthesia, takes approximately 30 minutes and is generally less involved than having a tooth extracted. You will be given antibiotics, any discomfort is usually mild and managed with over the counter medication. If you are particularly apprehensive you may wish to consider one of the following additional options - oral sedation tablets, RA (nitrous oxide/happy gas), IV sedation (Twilight sedation).

    Generally, a period of 12 weeks is set aside to allow the implant to fully integrate into the bone.

  4. At the third visit a gentle test is undertaken to ensure the implant has fully integrated into the bone, a scan is taken to design the crown and the healing cap reinserted. This is performed without local anaesthesia and is usually a 30 minute appointment.

    Two weeks is allowed to design and manufacture the final crown.

  5. At the next appointment the final crown is inserted onto the implant. The bite is checked to ensure it is not overloaded and an x-ray taken to ensure everything is in its right place. This is usually a 30-minute appointment and we may give you some very light anaesthesia to help while the crown is being inserted into place. After this you should be able to eat, chew and function of the implant like it is a normal tooth.

Possible Complications

  • If there is not enough bone you may need an additional procedure to add (graft) bone so there is sufficient space for the implant. This may add an additional 3 -6 months to the procedure.

  • If the implant isn’t as stable as we would like when it is placed we may elect to bury the implant under the gum to allow it to fully integrated into the jaw. This means you may need one small additional surgery to be performed.

Who are good candidates for dental implants?

As part of your initial exam, we will assess your suitability and readiness for the procedure.

The best candidates are:

  • People with good oral health. Patients need to have healthy gums and be free from gum disease.

  • People that are committed to oral hygiene. Maintenance of the implant requires flossing and brushing.

  • People with enough bone for the implant. As the implant is placed in the jawbone it is important there is enough space to avoid failure.

  • People willing to undergo surgery. Dental implants have a very high success rate, but there is always a risk of complications due to the surgical risk of the procedure.

Who is not a good candidate for dental implants

Some health conditions can make someone a less ideal candidate for dental implants because it affects how the body heals. This can include:

  • Diabetes: the healing process for diabetics is slowed which increase the risk of post operative infections. Additionally diabetic are more prone to bone loss and gum disease which can affect implants.

  • People with osteoporosis- Implants are placed directly into the jaw bone. Osteoporosis causes the bone to become weak and fragile which can lead to failure. Additionally, some of the medication used to control osteoporosis slows the bone integration process and may prevent it completely.

  • People who smoke increase the risk of failure because it slows down the healing process. If you are a heavy smoker you may need to consider quitting before dental implant surgery. 

  • People with active gum disease. Just as gum disease affects the bone support around teeth, it can also affect how the implant integrates into the bone. You will need to have it controlled before you are considered a candidate for dental implants.

How much do implants cost?

The average cost of a single tooth implant replacement is around $5500 per tooth. An implant supported removable denture will generally cost between $12- 15000 per arch. A fixed full solution commonly referred to as All-on-X may be had for around $30000 per arch. The most common cause of additional expense is if there is insufficient bone, and a bone graft is required. These costs are before any health fund rebates. A detailed treatment plan with itemised quote will be given to you as part of the treatment planning process. We can check onsite to see your out-of-pocket expenses through our HICAPS terminal. Payment plans can be organised through Humm finance.

Dental Implant FAQs

  • With out fully guided procedure the process is generally very straightforward and performed under local anaesthesia. It is reasonable to expect some mild discomfort after the procedure which is generally managed with the same medication you would take for a headache (Panadol or ibuprofen). We may prescribe pain relief in certain situations.

  • You’ll likely experience at least some mild pain and tingling in the first 24 hours, with soreness, bruising, swelling, and minor bleeding also possible. Symptoms should improve each day, if they feel like they are getting worse you should contact the clinic.

    It is important to take it easy after surgery. Those patients with physically demanding jobs may need to take off one or two days. You should rest and avoid strenuous activity like sports and workouts for three full days or until you are no longer taking pain medication.

  • Ideally we aim for four appointments. An initial appointment for consultation, record taking, informed consent and explanation of fees. A second appointment to place the implant. A third appointment to check the implant has integrated into the bone and take a scan for the final restoration. A final appointment to insert the crown. But every case is not the same and that is why it is difficult to say exactly how many appointments are required.

    Appointment: One
    Procedure: Initial consult, required xrays and intraoral scan
    Length: 60 minutes
    Gap between next appointment: 3 weeks for implant guide to be fabricated

    Appointment: Two
    Procedure: Implant Placement surgery
    Length: 60 minutes
    Gap between next appointment: Allow 12 weeks for implant to fully integrate

    Appointment: Three
    Procedure: Check Implant integration and take scan to make final crown
    Length: 30 minutes
    Gap between next appointment: Allow 2 weeks for crown to be fabricated.

    Appointment: Four
    Procedure: Insert final crown on implant
    Length: 30 minutes

  • Dental implants are designed to be a long term solution, potentially lasting a lifetime with proper care. However it is important to consider the lifespan of different parts of the implant system:

    - The implant itself: the titanium implant post surgically placed in your jawbone is incredibly durable and can last a lifetime if maintained properly.

    - The restoration: the crown, bridge or denture attached to the implant typically needs replacing every 15-20 years due to wear and tear from regular use. 

  • Yes, once fully healed, dental implants allow you to eat normally! Here's a breakdown of the timeline:

    - Initial Healing: Right after implant surgery, your mouth will be tender, and you'll need to stick to a soft diet for the first few days to a week. This allows the implant site to heal properly.

    - 12 week healing phase.For the first 12 weeks after the implant is placed it is not loaded and a healing cap is placed at gum level. During this time you can eat normally as long as you are not putting any additional load on the healing implant.

    - Normal eating. After the final restoration is placed you should be able to resume normal function on the implant. Dental implants function just like natural teeth and allow you to enjoy all types of food with confidence.

  • Dental implant failure, while uncommon with proper care, can occur. Here's what might happen:

    Signs of Failure: Indicators of implant failure can include pain, swelling around the implant site,  pus or bleeding, loosening of the implant, or difficulty chewing.

    Causes of Failure:  Several factors can contribute to implant failure, including:

    - Infection: Peri-implantitis, an infection around the implant, is a leading cause. Poor oral hygiene and certain health conditions can increase the risk.

    - Insufficient Jawbone: If the jawbone isn't strong enough to support the implant, it can loosen or fail.

    - Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions like diabetes can affect healing and bone health, increasing the risk of failure.

    - Sinus Issues: In upper jaw implants, problems with the sinus cavity can arise.

    - Overloading: Excessive force or grinding habits can put undue stress on the implant.

    Treatment of Failure: If an implant fails, we will first assess the situation.  Sometimes, removing the implant and allowing the area to heal might be necessary.  In some cases, if bone is sufficient, the implant can be replaced after healing.  Other times, bone grafting may be needed to rebuild bone for a new implant. Complications are rare with implant surgery having a greater than 95% success rate in most patients. 

  • Yes implants are generally covered by most private health insurance dental extras packages. We can give you an estimate of your level of coverage through our HICAPS terminal at the time of your consultation.

    Dr Curran is a general dentist who has undergone additional training in dental implant placement, having graduated from the 12 month Fundaments of Implant Dentistry run by Adelaide based specialist Periodontist Dr Steve Soukoulis. In 2024 Dr Curran travelled to Cambodia to undertake further hands on training with Trinion Collegium. Dr Curran works closely alongside Periodontist and Oral Surgeon and is happy to arrange referral to these specialists for all or part of your treatment should you prefer.