Bax Dental : Dental Clinic Macclesfield Cheshire

Dr James Stafford BDS MFDS RCS(Edin.) MSc(Dental Implantology)
(GDC No. 85654)
Senior Dental Officer in Oral Surgery
Practice limited to Oral Surgery and Dental Implantology

James graduated from Sheffield University in 2005 and immediately spent several years in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery positions. During this time he gained membership to the Faculty of Dental Surgeons by successfully passing a series of further exams, and worked exclusively with routine and complex oral surgery and facial trauma.

James has completed the three year Masters Degree in Dental Implantology at the University of Warwick, being awarded a distinction and also the “Practice Plan award for the Outstanding MSc Implant Dentistry Student in the University of Warwick”.

From a patients point of view he is caring and gentle, and always happy to discuss aspects of treatment which may not be immediately easy to understand. James is also highly experienced at providing treatment using sedation, which is very useful for patients who are nervous or anxious about having dental treatment.

Dental implants

Treatment with dental implants has provided patients with a proven option to replace missing teeth for many years. Developments in the materials and techniques used have now made them the gold-standard for tooth replacement, and they avoid many risks and disadvantages of alternatives such as bridges and dentures.

What are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is made from titanium and resembles a small screw. Once placed, the surface of the implant interacts with the surrounding bone to form a strong bond and a natural looking artificial tooth (the crown) can then be connected to the implant.

When can Dental Implants be used?

Losing a tooth often leads to there being a visible gap between the other teeth which can be unsightly and upsetting. Conventional dentistry such as dental bridges involves drilling into adjacent teeth that may be perfectly healthy. Implants avoid the need to drill into any other teeth, and therefore avoid possible complications such as infection, fracture, and ultimately the loss of these teeth.

Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, multiple teeth, or all teeth.

In patients who have no natural teeth left, dental implants can be particularly useful to provide extra anchorage for removable dentures. This can be of great benefit when there is not much natural bone remaining for a denture to “grip”, causing looseness, discomfort, and difficulty eating.

Treatment needs to be planned carefully however, and factors such as bone quality and quantity, tooth and jaw relationships, and general medical health may affect suitability for certain treatments.

How long does treatment take to complete?

Treatment consists of three phases - planning, surgical, and restorative. The surgical phase consists of a minor procedure to place to implant and often requires the use of a small amount of bone grafting if there is insufficient natural bone. After the implant has integrated with the bone, the new artificial teeth will be designed and constructed to fit over the implants.

Depending on the complexity of the case it may take between 5-12 months to complete treatment.