Dental implants are the most advanced tooth replacement solution available, designed to replicate both the structure and function of your natural teeth. Surgically placed into the jawbone, each implant undergoes osseointegration — fusing directly with the bone to form a stable, permanent root.
This foundation supports a single crown, a fixed bridge, or a full denture, depending on your needs. Unlike surface-level restorations, implants actively prevent jawbone deterioration, preserve the alignment of adjacent teeth, and restore full chewing capability — making them a long-term investment in your oral health and overall wellbeing.
Tooth loss affects far more than appearance. Missing teeth can compromise chewing function, alter speech, and accelerate bone loss that gradually changes your facial structure. At GWH Dental in Cleveland, we use dental implants to address both the cosmetic and functional consequences of tooth loss, restoring your comfort, confidence, and long-term oral stability.
Each implant acts as an artificial tooth root. Once fused with the bone, it can support a single crown, anchor a fixed bridge, or help secure a full or partial denture — making implants a highly flexible system, fully customised to your clinical situation.
Dental implants have become the gold standard in tooth replacement for good reason. Unlike removable dentures or a bridge that relies on neighbouring teeth for support, an implant replaces the entire tooth from the root up — and that distinction matters in ways that go well beyond appearance.
They look, feel, and function like your natural teeth
Each implant is custom-made to match the shape, size, and colour of your surrounding teeth. Most patients find that once the restoration is in place, it’s genuinely indistinguishable from the teeth either side of it. More importantly, implants feel like your own teeth allowing you to chew, speak, and smile without thinking about them.
They protect your jawbone
This is the benefit that’s easy to overlook. When a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it begins to shrink because it’s no longer receiving the stimulation of a tooth root. Over time, this bone loss can change the shape of your face, causing neighbouring teeth to shift out of alignment, and make future dental work more complicated.
They don’t compromise neighbouring teeth
A traditional bridge requires the teeth either side of the gap to be filed down to serve as anchors. Implants are entirely self-supporting, so the healthy teeth around them are left completely intact.
They restore confidence
Tooth loss affects more than oral health. It can change the way you eat, the way you speak, and the way you feel about smiling. Patients frequently tell us the decision to get implants was one of the best they made for their quality of life.
The most common type. A single titanium post is placed in the jawbone and topped with a custom-made crown. It’s ideal when one tooth is missing and the surrounding teeth are healthy — replacing the tooth completely, from root to crown, without affecting anything around it.
When several teeth in different areas of the mouth are missing, individual implants can be placed at each site. This preserves more bone than a partial denture and avoids compromising the remaining natural teeth.
When multiple adjacent teeth are missing, two implants can anchor a bridge across the gap — rather than drilling down healthy teeth to support it. This combines the stability of implants with an efficient approach to replacing several consecutive teeth.
Getting dental implants is a staged process that unfolds over several months. Every stage has a clear purpose, and our team will guide you through each one with enough time for proper healing along the way.
The healing process after implant surgery is typically straightforward, and most patients are back to normal daily activity within a day or two. That said, how you look after your implant in the weeks following placement directly affects how well it integrates so it’s worth taking the aftercare instructions seriously.
In the first 24–48 hours Some swelling, tenderness, and minor bleeding around the site is entirely normal and will settle quickly. Applying a cold pack to the outside of your cheek for the first day helps manage swelling. Rest where you can, avoid strenuous exercise, and stick to soft foods that don’t put pressure on the implant site.
The first two weeks Continue avoiding hard, crunchy, or chewy foods at the implant site while the initial healing takes place. Rinse gently with warm salt water after meals. Avoid smoking during this period as it significantly impairs healing and increases the risk of implant failure. Take any prescribed medications as directed.
Through osseointegration The bone integration process takes place largely without you feeling it happening. Continue your normal brushing and flossing routine around the site, attend your scheduled review appointments, and let us know promptly if you notice any unusual pain, movement, or swelling.
Long-term care Dental implants don’t decay, but the gum tissue and bone around them still need to be maintained. Brush twice daily, floss or use interdental brushes around the implant, and attend regular professional cleans. With consistent care, your implant can remain stable and functional for many years to come.
Over 50 years serving the Redlands community GWH Dental has been caring for families in Cleveland and across the Redlands for more than half a century.
Accredited to the highest safety standards GWH Dental holds full accreditation with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. It means every system, process, and procedure in our practice has been independently assessed and meets the national benchmark for quality and patient safety.
An experienced team you’ll see every time Our team of dentists including Dr Michael Harris, Dr Valentina, Dr Alex Belonogoff, Dr Charlie Sung, and hygienist Michelle Burnett brings a broad depth of clinical expertise under one roof.
