Dental Implants
Missing teeth do not have to mean compromising on comfort, stability or confidence. At Cramond House, implant treatment can be used to replace a single missing tooth, secure a removable full-arch overdenture or support fixed full-arch teeth. For patients with severe upper-jaw bone loss, we can also assess advanced implant options where standard implants may no longer be suitable.
Solution For Replacing Missing Teeth
Every implant case starts with a detailed assessment. We examine the teeth, gums and bite, assess the available bone with suitable X-rays or three-dimensional imaging where required, and consider factors such as your general health, medicines, smoking and the type of replacement you would prefer.
From there, we can explain which options are possible, whether grafting may be needed, and provide a personalised treatment plan covering the likely stages, timing and costs before you decide how you would like to proceed.
Replacing a Single Missing Tooth
A dental implant replaces more than the visible tooth — it also replaces the missing root. A titanium implant is placed into the jawbone and, once healed, a custom crown is fitted to create a fixed replacement that looks, feels and functions more like a natural tooth.
Unlike a conventional bridge, an implant will usually avoid the need to drill healthy neighbouring teeth. It also helps slow bone loss in the area of the missing tooth, while keeping the replacement independent from the teeth beside it.
Multiple teeth replacement
When several teeth are missing, dental implants can support either a fixed bridge or a removable implant-retained denture, allowing us to tailor your treatment around how you want your new teeth to look, feel and fit into everyday life.
For patients who would prefer their replacement teeth to remain fixed in place, a fixed implant bridge provides a secure solution for several missing teeth, staying firmly in place when you eat, speak and smile.
For patients who are already comfortable with removable dentures, or simply prefer the convenience of taking them out for cleaning, a removable implant-retained denture offers greater stability through dental implant support while remaining easy to remove and care for.
Full Jaw Rehabilitation with Dental Implants
If you have lost all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw, dental implants can offer a much more secure alternative to a conventional full denture, with both removable and fixed solutions available.
Implant-Retained Overdentures: If you are comfortable with a removable denture but would like greater stability, we can use four implants to hold an overdenture securely in place while still allowing you to remove it for cleaning.
Fixed Full-Arch Bridge: If you would prefer teeth that remain fixed in place, we can use four to six implants to support a full-arch bridge. In the upper jaw, this also avoids covering the palate.
Bone Grafting, Sinus Lift & Alternative Implant Designs: If there is not enough suitable bone for standard implants, we can rebuild the area with bone grafting or a sinus lift, either before implant placement or, in selected cases, at the same time. Where bone loss at the back of the upper jaw or the position of the sinus makes standard implants more difficult, alternative implant designs may also be considered.
Severe Bone Loss in the Upper Jaw
Severe bone loss in the upper jaw does not necessarily mean that you have to settle for a loose or unstable denture, or that implant treatment is no longer possible. If you have too little bone for standard implants, particularly towards the back of the upper jaw, at Cramond House Dental Practice we can offer advanced zygomatic and pterygoid implants, which may provide another route to fixed full-arch teeth.
Zygomatic implants gain support from your cheekbone rather than relying only on the reduced upper-jaw ridge. In selected patients, they can be used alone or alongside conventional or pterygoid implants, sometimes allowing us to avoid the need for major bone grafting at the back of the jaw.
We use detailed 3D CBCT imaging to carefully plan your treatment and discuss the implant options available to you. Together, we can choose the approach that best suits your needs and helps restore confidence in your smile, even where there is very limited bone available for conventional implants.
