Implant Retained Bridgework

Often more than one tooth is lost in an area of the mouth and the distance between the two closest teeth is too far to consider placing a conventional fixed bridge for fear of overloading the remaining teeth. In these circumstances two dental implants can be placed to carry a bridge. In some cases one implant and a sound healthy tooth can be used in the same manner.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are questions that we are often asked and indeed that you as a patient should be asking of the dentist you chose to carry out your implant treatment. The experience and training of the dentist is of course an essential question to be asked.

How long have you been placing and restoring implants?
Simon has been placing implants since 1995 and restoring them since 1997.

How much training have you had?
Simon completed two different year long part time diplomas in implant dentistry in 1995 and 1998. Since then he has attended every congress of the Association of Dental Implantology and attends regular study clubs to stay abreast of developments in the field of implant dentistry.

How often do you work with dental implants?
Simon sees patients every working day that he has placed implants for. He places approximately 100 implants per year and restores all of his own implants. He takes referrals from other dental practices for this service.

Can you carry out bone grafting surgery?
Simon is a General Dental Council recognised Oral Surgeon and is therefore appropriately qualified for these procedures. However, in cases of extreme bone loss that he feels are outside of his ability he will refer the patient to a colleague who is a dually qualified dentist and medical doctor.

Do implants fail?
Yes they do but thankfully very rarely. It is fair to say that 1 to 2% of dental implants will be rejected by the body as a foreign body and this will be apparent when the implant is uncovered. Implant restorations require thorough comprehensive ongoing maintenance and failure to do so will possibly cause peri-implantitis which is a similar process to gum disease and which can cause the implant to be lost. Early diagnosis of peri-implantitis can allow the condition to be treated so regular check-ups are mandatory.

What system do you use?
Simon is trained and fully conversant with both Astra and Straumann implants and these are the ones that he places as they have excellent and proven track records. He has also inherited implant cases that have been placed all over the world and is equiped to deal with virtually every system that presents itself!

Dr Simon Dunn has been both placing and restoring implants longer than anybody else in Bristol and has lectured to colleagues on the use of implants in general dental practice. He has placed over 1200 implants and is also experienced in complex cases that involve bone grafting and sinus surgery.

When considering having implant treatment it is important to be sure that you are in a safe pair of hands. Simon with his wealth of experience is well placed to advise you on any treatment that may have been proposed by another dentist. He is happy to answer queries regarding treatment personally through this website on the contact page.

Implant treatment costs are related to the number of implants used and the final restoration placed. Each case is different and all treatment plans are individually priced, however as a rule of thumb one implant carrying a single crown is approximately £2450. Two implants supporting three replacement teeth as a fixed bridge is approximately £5500 and a full denture on two implants is £3750.