Patient had an i-Smile™ bespoke on upper arch (Jaw) and an i-Smile™ same day on the lower arch.

Jennifer’s Success Story

“Jennifer’s story – Jennifer came to us in 2010 and she had failing upper and lower teeth. She had already seen 3 other implant surgeons in another clinics and being a US resident living in the UK had also seen some USA based cosmetic dentists. After speaking to her friends about Dr Dandapat she finally choose Avik at the dental implant centre, Twyford nearing reading to embark on the journey to having a new set of fixed teeth. For anyone this is a big decision based on costs involved, commitment needed and the anxiety of having all the remaining teeth removed. Jennifer opted for our bespoke i-Smile(Same Day) option so we were able to plan her to have all her teeth removed in one day, the 12 dental implants placed and then a fixed temporary bridge placed at the same time in the upper and lower jaws. Our unique i-smile system means Jennifer did not have to experience having a set of dentures ever in her life. After an initial diagnostic appointment whereby we took photos, impressions and digital images of her smile, face and facial bones we were able to relate this information to our master ceramic technician to produce a temporary bridge prior to us embarking on surgery.

The big day came and the surgery was planned for 9.30am start – she attended the clinic at 9.00am and our support staff went through the pre op instructions , medical assessment and pre surgical checks. Jennifer opted for sedation – so she would be relaxed during the surgery. Everything went exactly as planned and Jennifer had her new fixed smile completed by 11.30am – allowing a period of 1 hour for recovery she was on her way to healing.

She healed for a total of 4 months then a further 3 appointments of 1 hour each were needed to produce her new ceramic upper and lower bridges. Jennifer can now eat, speak and function as if they were her own teeth back. The team at dentalimplantcentre.com could not be happier for her and the success story of her treatment. Its patients like jennifer whom make our work very satisfying and all our staff were excited to see her results carried out efficiently with the minimal amount of fuss or complication. ”

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Also we have opened up 2 new dental implant clinics, firstly in London’sprestigious Harley street and the second in Birmingham. We welcome any feedback on our site and new structure from all our past and new patients. Please feel free to email us your thoughts and comments. We have integrated a great deal of social networking and blogs to reflect our new contemporary feel towards dental implants.

Dr Avik Dandapat is an expert Dental Implant Advisor in ThisisDentistry.co.uk

A multitude of websites and other dentistry resources can be found online, but nothing compares to the information and convenience provided by This is Dentistry – an independent site with the latest information in the world of dentistry. This is Dentistry makes it easier for everyone to get the dental information they need and want – in the most convenient ways possible.

What sets This is Dentistry apart from other online dentistry sources?

Studies show that a significant percentage of the UK public (approximately 25-50 %!) do not visit the dentist, for various reasons. The focus of This is Dentistry is to empower the public with information that is easy to find, and easy to understand. The goal of This is Dentistry is to encourage and invite the public to share their experiences, and to discuss their fears and problems with expert UK dentists – without having to make a commitment to specific treatments. This is Dentistry aims to change the face of dentistry in the UK with the use of social media blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Disqus, and forming a mutually-beneficial dental community consisting of ordinary people and expert UK dentists.

When asked about how this website helps the UK public, a spokesperson for This is Dentistry said, “We are aware that many people fear dentists and the tools and gadgets that the dentists use. This is Dentistry aims to educate the public with information on the latest innovations and cutting-edge technology in the world of dentistry, so more people will discover that dentistry has made leaps and bounds in treating dental problems in recent years. The latest technology can now make nearly-painless dentistry possible.”

He also said, “There are now more dentists who will go out of their way to make their patients as comfortable as possible, easing their dental fears and anxieties. Dentistry as we know it now recognizes the need for a patient to feel relaxed when it comes to dental treatments, and this is the reason why we have dental hypnotist advisors onboard. We hear of countless stories about people refusing to go even for a routine dental checkup for years, because of the crippling fear that they experience with the mere thought of seeing the dentist.”

This is Dentistry provides an opportunity for patients to break through the walls of their dentist fears, so they can get the dental treatments they need and deserve without having to deal with panic attacks.

Features that set This is Dentistry apart from other online dental directories:

• Easy to use online dental directory for patients
• Completely independent and impartial directory
• Easy to understand, up-to-date information on dental treatments, common problems and brand names
• Easily find a dentist in your area
• View the profile page of featured dentists showing their patient images and practice videos
• Patients can readily contact expert dental advisors
• Patients can “Get a Quote” from a dentist listed in This is dentistry
• Continuously changing dental information to benefit both patients and dentists
• Members of the public can share their problems with others and ”Get Quick Answers”
• Latest dental blog & news topics
• Patient forum, where you can discuss dental topics with UK dentists

This is Dentistry was formed in 2010 by business owners, who have over 15 years of experience working in the field of dentistry. The goal of This is Dentistry is to have everything about dentistry in the UK in this website, bringing valuable dentistry information much closer to the public. The website has features designed to encourage and invite patients to build a community with other members of the public, and with expert UK dentists as well; these features include: FIND A DENTIST (in a local area), news topics, blogs, forums, and even an ASK A DENTIST page where members can chat directly with dentists or even Get a Quote.

www.thisisDentistry.co.uk

Avik Dandapat is the youngest dentist in the UK to gain the Dip Imp Dent RCS (Eng) – ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS – qualification at age 29.

Versha Miyanger finds out more.

VM: Can you tell me a bit about your background?

AD: My father is a medical doctor as was my grandfather so I broke the mould and became a dentist. I have one sister who has a PhD in Dermatology from Imperial College, London. I completed my A-levels in South Kensington, London and went on to read dentistry at Birmingham University. I qualified in 2001 and went on to pass my MFGDP(UK) in 2003. By 2007 I attained the Dip.Imp.Dent (RCS) qualification by examination at first sitting at the age of 29. After university I did my VT then an oral surgery job and went onto being an associate GDP followed by a Principal. I have been running my practice now for three years with my wife Nahid who is also a dentist.

VM: Are you completely restricted to implants, or do you practice other types of dentistry?

AD: 75% of all my work now is implant related. I look after only a handful of general patients whom have seen me over the last five years and do not accept new patients for general treatment.

VM: Do the implant patients come from referrals?

AD: Yes, but also from internal referrals and referrals from patients I have treated.

VM: How long have you been working in implant dentistry and what systems do you use?

AD: I have been working in this sector for six years and I use Ankylos implants from Dentsply Friadent predominately but also use Astra-tech
on occasion.

VM: Why did you decide to concentrate on implants?

AD: As I had a passion for oral surgery and liked a challenge I thought implantology suited my skill set and interests in surgery and dentistry. I believe for me it was the most fascinating area of dentistry that allowed one to think out of the box and fly out of my comfort zone. Also implants can really change a person’s quality of life which is very satisfying to have the ability to carry out such work.

VM: What training have you undertaken apart from your University education?

AD: The Membership of the FGDP(UK) examination (MFGDP(UK)) and the diploma in implant dentistry from the royal college of surgeons of England. Dip.Imp.Dent RCS (Eng).

VM: What is the most satisfying aspect of your work?

AD: Doing complex implant reconstructive surgery where the final result is achieved to a high aesthetic and functional standard.

VM: Professionally, what are you most proud of?

AD: Achieving the standards required to attain the Diploma in Implant Dentistry at first examination only six years post qualification by the age of 29.

VM: What about your practice do you think is unique?

AD: The practice as well as having installed the world’s leading technology has a fantastic working team that provides patients with exceptional service. We aim to make each patient journey unique and memorable by providing exceptional levels of comfort and customer service beyond convention. We are certainly not all about veneers!

VM: What has been your biggest challenge?

AD: The Diploma in Implantology, needless to say 20 cited essays, ten clinical cases presented and written up stage by stage to FGDP standards in implants, a practice inspection, and a one-hour viva about my cases – was enough to drive anyone around the bend!

VM: What do you think is the future of implant dentistry?

AD: Shortly there will be more regulation by the GDC for dentists practicing implant dentistry. Restriction of cases GDPs will be able to undertake without formal registered qualifications. Consideration of specialist lists in implantology but I think we are far from this at present.

VM: What are your top tips in maintaining a successful implant practice and what advice would you give to budding implant dentists?

AD: Well firstly do predictable work, be competitively priced, provide exceptional customer service, have an implant treatment co-ordinator who discusses treatment plans with your patients without you being there. It’s amazing how patients ask questions to a third party that they may hesitate asking you. Use multimedia presentations and invest in good technology and premises. Make sure you have your aseptic techniques as good as they can be. Audit and follow up your cases every year and use the data for research. For budding implant dentists, don’t consider weekend courses as your licence to practice implantology what the companies don’t teach you is what can go wrong and how to deal with the complications. Consider the correct training pathways and look at the GDC guidelines on training standards in implantology. Do things right from the start and do not take on cases you are unsure about at the beginning. Use an ADI mentor to start work and utilise their experience. The lists are being published at the end of the summer this is now a GDC requirement to practice implant dentistry in the UK.

Young and Gifted – Avik in “Implant Dentistry Today” September 2008

Removable dentures also offer solutions to missing teeth; however, as they are not fixed in place, they will have a tendency to move around inside the mouth. When dentures move unnecessarily, they can cause friction on the inner lining of the mouth – which can lead to uncomfortable episodes that can result to painful mouth sores that can become infected, especially if the friction is repeated often.

Steps in the Placement of Full Arch/Full Mouth Dental Implants

1. The patient is given all the information needed about the whole full arch/full mouth dental implants placement procedure; the initial assessment and consultation phase will also be helpful in determining the patient’s goals and expectations, which can be discussed in detail with the dentist.
2. After the initial consultation and planning stage, the dental implants can then be placed or installed. Temporary teeth restorations will be attached to allow the patient to replace the form and function of natural teeth, while waiting for the permanent dentures or bridges to be installed. With the temporary teeth restorations, the patient can enjoy eating, chewing, and smiling without having to worry about missing teeth problems.
3. The next step involves attaching the permanent, fixed dentures or bridges to the dental implants which have previously been placed. The temporary teeth restorations will first be removed, and the final dentures or dental bridges placed to replace the form and function of missing teeth.
4. After the permanent or fixed dentures/dental bridges are secured firmly in place, the patient can now start enjoying a brand-new smile, without having to worry about dentures that move around the mouth unnecessarily.

Benefits of Dentures/ or Dental Bridges Fixed with Dental Implants

Fixed dentures or dental bridges have a number of advantages or benefits over removable dentures:

• Confidence – Fixed dentures or dental bridges supported by dental implants replace the form and function of missing teeth, and are securely anchored to the jaw through the use of dental implants. As such, a person will not have to constantly worry about embarrassing episodes when the dentures move in unplanned ways – which may be the case when removable dentures are used. Fixed dentures or dental bridges with dental implants give the wearer the confidence to eat, speak or smile confidently, knowing that the teeth restorations will stay securely in place.
• Increased Comfort – Removable dentures have the tendency to move around inside the mouth, especially if they start to loosen. The constant friction caused by moving dentures can cause painful mouth sores to form, which may lead to infections. Fixed dental bridges or dentures supported by dental implants stay firmly in place, eliminating uncomfortable instances when dentures move around unnecessarily.
• Improved Facial Contours – Missing teeth can significantly alter a person’s facial contours, and can make one seem a lot older than he/she actually is. Fixed dentures or dental bridges with dental implants can help in maintaining a person’s facial contours, and can also help in preserving the jaw bone.
• Improved Eating/Chewing Ability – Chewing can be extremely difficult with dentures that are loose and constantly moving; this can make the pleasurable activity of eating seem like a never-ending chore. Fixed dental bridges or dentures are secured in place with dental implants, so they will not move around – enabling a person to experience the pleasure of eating once again, without worrying about loose dentures/dental bridges that annoyingly move around inside the mouth.

As we are specifically trained in reconstruction to a high level of competence, cosmetically improving a smile for us is a simple everyday task. We can incorporate and offer both enhancement of the smile and face after initial consultations.

The Cosmetic Dental & Facial Focus

“The quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses and is associated with such properties as harmony of form or colour, excellence of artistry, truthfulness, and originality.” –the definition of beauty

These are the fundamental concepts one must understand when creating a smile. Balance of the teeth to the facial complex is the art form required. A communication with our world leading ceramist will create the smile.

As we are dealing with a very visual area of your smile we would initially take a high definition of your smile and face and analyse the various components and discuss aims with you on what you wish to improve about yourself.

We would act as a medium to allow you to make choices about what you may want to improve. We would then using our computer programs develop a visual representation of the end result prior to doing any cosmetic dentistry so we both understand the achievable result.

Includes:

• Diagnostics
• CT scan
• Study models
• All x-rays
• All extractions
• Temporary full upper denture
• GBR (bioss augmentation)
• Final 12 unit ceramic bridge with 10 year guarantee – price is fixed per jaw

* does not include sinus grafts , bone grafts or same day temporary bridge

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1. What is a dental implant ?

A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that is threaded in design and placed into the jaw bone. An implant itself is part of 3 elements that is required to replace a missing tooth.

The three elements are the implant itself which is in the jawbone , the abutment that is used to connect the implant to the oral cavity and emerges from the gum and a crown that is cemented into the abutment. (read more in our dental implants explained page)?

 2. Does the procedure hurt ?

Generally no – all surgeons use anaesthetic that numbs the area therefore patients will not feel any pain during placement of the implant. We also as a clinic offer intravenous sedation which relaxes patients and further reduces pain and anxiety.

 3. How long does it take to place the implant(s)?

Using our unique i-Smile methods we can place a single implant within 10-15 minutes and aim to for larger cases such as full arch restoration to a maximum of 2 hours surgical time ?

 4. Do I need time to recover ?

Generally if we place our implants recovery is on the same day. Patients are often back to work the next day after treatment. Extensive grafting surgery or sinus grafting we tend to allow a period of 2-3 days of rest. But every person is different in anatomy so recovery does tend to differ from each individual. We would assess all patients medically prior to any surgery and advise on all possible recovery times.

 5. Who should I be seeing to place my implant ?

Dental implantology currently has not been awarded its own specialist list. All dentists whom have received adequate training can perform dental implant surgery and restoration.However it is our opinion that dentists whom hold specific qualifications in implant dentistry have been trained , assessed and examined and have adequate experience should be delivering the more complex implant dentistry.

 6. Why are implants so expensive ?

In terms of comparison to other dental treatments dental implants require a higher level of investment, this is because the costs involved in delivery of implant treatment to the very highest of standards is costly in terms of setup. equipment needed (3D Scanners, On site theatres, support staff) , higher level of training and skills of implant dentists. In our clinics for example for a single implant placement it takes 3 support nursing staff to set up a theatre, we have special vacuum autoclaves systems for higher levels of sterilisation, 2 surgical lighting systems and that’s just the start. We still however aim to offer very good value for money for implant treatments. Also once you have completed a dental implant there are no more fees ever for that tooth or teeth.

 7. What are the risks of dental implants – surely its not all great ?

Any medical or surgical procedure carries risks and this is no different in dental implantology. Generally risks associated with dental implants are very low in the right hands. The main risk of placement of a dental implant is failure to osseointegrate – whereby the bone does not fuse with the implant – generally an accepted failure rate is 2% (2 in every 100). Failure of an implant is not a dramatic nor painful process usually the implant is loose and mobile and can be removed using a air of tweezers. Other risks include damage to anatomical structures such as nerves, however in our clinic a majority of patients have 3D scans and we have exact measurements of volume as well and position of any sensitive structures.

 8. What happens if my implant fails ?

In our clinic our failure rate in <1%. But we have assessed contingencies if failure were to occur. We would provide all remedial treatment free of charge, furthermore we would offer after appropriate healing period a second placement of an implant and this would also be at no extra cost to our patients. We would audit all failures and assess causes as we all thrive to achieve a 100% success rate.

 9. What maintenance is required ?

Generally if you are with your general dentist and see them every 6 months then we would like to see you once a year to assess the implant. The yearly implant exam is a 10 min appointment whereby we check our implant, crowns your bite and stability. We may take an X-ray to check the bone levels. As part of our guarantee you are required to attend yearly as small problems are easily rectified if caught early such as a change in biting over time putting undue pressure on an implant. The cost of this varies by the number of implants you may have. Our unique implant protection scheme covers all aspects of recall examination costs.

 10. What is your implant protection scheme ?

In our clinic we offer an additional peace of mind implant protection insurance. For a monthly fee charged per implant placed – we would cover accidental damage , damage to crowns, bridges and dentures supported by implants and any damage by trauma, eating aspects not covered by standard guarantee. Our implant protection cover also covers any recall examination costs. It gives our patients the complete peace of mind that all aspects of the treatment are protected and they do not have to bear any possible future costs of replacement of bridges etc.

An abutment is made from either titanium or ceramic material and is a small piece that connects to the tooth Implant and emerges into the oral cavity through the gum. Abutments have to be customised to the Implant position and their angulation can be altered to give a realistic tooth appearance. The crown is then anchored or cemented to the abutment.