1. How long do dental implants last?

There are many anatomical, clinical, and technical factors that contribute to implant success. Dr Hugh Fleming has been placing and restoring dental implants for over 25 years, and his philosophy is that time and care in the treatment planning phase equates to excellent final outcomes and enhanced implant longevity. With rigorous investigation and analysis prior to the commencement of treatment, the longevity of implant-supported restorations is enhanced, giving them the potential to last for decades.

2. Do implants ever fail?

In truth, all dental treatment has a risk of failure both in the short and long term. This risk of failure can be greatly diminished if the case at hand is adequately assessed and the proposed treatment is carefully planned and executed. In dental implant treatment, the risk of failure is greatly reduced when treatment planning is thorough and accurate, the implant is correctly placed and restored, and correct functional loading of the implant is achieved.

Dr Fleming believes that the treatment planning phase is the most crucial step in the implant process. He dedicates hours to planning your treatment, beginning with 3D imaging of the jaw to assess implant feasibility, accuracy and safety of placement. That image is then used to construct a precision surgical guide to enable pinpoint accuracy in the implant placement phase. The combination of careful planning and Dr Fleming’s 25 years of clinical experience in placing and restoring dental implants ensures that the success rate of implant treatment is extremely high.

3. Do I need to maintain my implant?

A key factor in the long term success of the treatment is how well you look after your implants. Effective brushing and flossing at home is an essential part of your maintenance programme. Dr Fleming and his university-trained dental hygienists will institute a long term maintenance dental hygiene program to support you in maintaining your implants. Part of this program will be regular dental reviews of both your overall dental and implant health, in conjunction with professionally cleaning your teeth and implants.

4. Do I need to see any other dental professionals?

Unlike many implant dentists, Dr Hugh Fleming is very experienced in all facets of implant treatment, and will look after you from the initial planning stage right through until the implant treatment has been completed. The continuity of care offered by a single practitioner often ensures not only the best treatment outcome, but a high level of convenience and cost-effectiveness.

In some instances, where a case requires extensive bone grafting from other regions of the body, Dr Fleming will utilise the expertise of a specialist oral surgeon working within a hospital theatre facility to perform the bone grafting procedure and simultaneous implant placement. However, the initial implant planning and final implant restoration of all such cases are performed by Dr Fleming.

The vast majority of implant cases are performed in their entirety by Dr Fleming at Dental Implants Sydney.

5. Does it hurt when the implant is placed?

Dr Fleming will administer local anaesthetic at the time of surgery so that you are comfortable throughout the procedure. However, for those patients who feel anxious in the dental environment, we are pleased to be able to offer intravenous “twilight” sedation, which is administered by an experienced medical sedationist, Dr Bree Belford. Twilight sedation greatly reduces anxiety and eliminates the awareness of sounds, smells, taste and discomfort often encountered in many dental surgical procedures, so you can enjoy the outcome of dental implant therapy without apprehension.

Post-operatively, it is normal to experience some minor discomfort. Dr Fleming’s extensive treatment planning means that the procedure is minimally invasive, often involving only keyhole surgery. This helps to reduce discomfort and encourage rapid healing.

6. Are implants expensive?

Implants typically have far greater longevity than other treatment options, so most of our patients find that they represent the best value for money in the long term. Other treatment alternatives can be subject to replacement and alteration more frequently, which is not only inconvenient, but means that their cumulative cost is greater at the end of the day.

Dr Fleming will discuss all the treatment options available to you and the costs involved, and can help you to determine which of these best suits your health and lifestyle needs.