A dental implant is a small post, usually made from titanium, carefully positioned within your jawbone. As it heals, the surrounding bone bonds with the implant, creating a stable foundation for a custom-made replacement tooth.

That new tooth is typically a beautifully crafted ceramic crown, designed to match the colour, shape and proportions of your natural teeth.

Dental implants can help:

• Restore a strong, comfortable bite.

• Replace missing teeth without reshaping healthy neighbouring teeth.

• Help preserve the jawbone around the missing tooth.

• Reduce the likelihood of neighbouring teeth drifting into the gap.

• Restore a natural-looking smile and confidence.

Whether you've lost one tooth or several, dental implants can provide a long-term solution that looks and functions much like your own teeth.

For Ponsonby residents looking for a dental implant solution for missing teeth, our approach is about more than simply filling a gap. It's about restoring the strength, comfort and natural appearance of your smile while protecting the healthy teeth around it.

And unlike a Ponsonby renovation, there's no need to spend your weekends debating tapware finishes or whether you've chosen the right shade of white. We'll help you work through the important decisions together.

At Accent Dentists, right here in Ponsonby, Dr Matt Sumner has been practising dentistry for more than 30 years, with extensive experience in cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry.

As a Founding Member of the New Zealand Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Dental Implant Network Group, Dr Matt combines careful clinical planning with the craftsmanship needed to create naturally beautiful restorations.

Alongside Dr Celina Sim, an Otago-trained cosmetic and restorative dentist with over eight years of experience, our team takes a comprehensive approach to dental implant treatment.

We look beyond just the missing tooth, carefully considering:

• Your bite - ensuring your new tooth works comfortably with your existing teeth.

• Your gums - assessing the health of the surrounding tissue.

• Your surrounding teeth - creating a restoration that blends naturally with your smile.

• Your jawbone - ensuring there is a strong foundation to support your dental implant.

Over the years, we've helped many Ponsonby patients replace missing teeth with dental implants, combining experienced clinical planning with attention to detail to create restorations that look natural and feel comfortable.

Much like a well-restored Ponsonby villa, the best results are built on strong foundations, with careful attention to the finishing details.

And while we can't promise your next home renovation will run to schedule, we can promise to clearly explain:

• The stages involved in your dental implant treatment.

• The expected timeframe from consultation to completion.

• The costs involved, so you know what to expect before proceeding.

That way, you can make an informed decision about your dental implant treatment with confidence.

Anyone who's renovated a Ponsonby villa knows that a beautiful finished result usually begins with some careful planning behind the scenes.

Before you choose the tiles, the cabinetry or that rather expensive kitchen tap, you need to know what's happening with the foundations.

Dental implant treatment is much the same.

At Accent Dentists, we begin by understanding the whole picture, not simply the gap where your tooth used to be.

We'll examine:

• Your remaining teeth

• Gums

• Bite

• The jawbone that would support your dental implant

This may involve digital imaging to help us understand the available bone and plan the most appropriate position for your replacement tooth.

We'll also talk about what matters to you. Perhaps:

• You're finding it difficult to chew comfortably

• You're self-conscious about a missing front tooth

• You've been managing with a gap for years and are wondering whether it's finally time to do something about it

If a dental implant is suitable, treatment generally involves placing a small titanium implant into the jawbone, where it gradually bonds with the surrounding bone as healing takes place.

Once the implant is ready, we can attach a carefully crafted replacement tooth, usually a ceramic crown designed to complement the:

• Colour

• Shape

• Proportions of your natural teeth

For some patients, additional preparation may be necessary. If the jawbone has reduced significantly since the tooth was lost, bone grafting may be recommended to create a suitable foundation.

The treatment timeframe varies depending on your individual circumstances, and we'll explain the expected stages before you decide to proceed.

Unlike our same-day ceramic crowns for suitable natural teeth, dental implants usually involve a period of healing. It's an important part of establishing the stable foundation your new tooth needs.

And while that might sound rather less exciting than choosing the finishing touches for your Ponsonby renovation, it's the careful work beneath the surface that helps make the finished result worthwhile.

Because a beautifully restored smile, much like a beautifully restored home, deserves to be built properly from the beginning.

Ponsonby has never been particularly shy about appreciating beautiful things.

From thoughtfully renovated character villas and beautifully designed interiors to the independent boutiques, cafés and restaurants along Ponsonby Road, there's a genuine appreciation for good design and attention to detail.

And naturally, we think your smile deserves the same consideration.

But just as the most beautiful home needs to function comfortably for the people living in it, a beautiful smile needs to do more than look good in photographs.

Your teeth work together. Each tooth contributes to:

• The balance of your bite

• The spacing between neighbouring teeth

• The way you chew, speak and smile

When one tooth is missing, the effects can extend beyond its appearance.

You might begin:

• Favouring one side when eating

• Neighbouring teeth may gradually drift towards the gap

• Or the loss of supporting bone may make replacing the tooth more complicated over time

A carefully planned dental implant can help restore that missing support.

And when it comes to the visible restoration, the details matter enormously.

• The shape of the implant crown.

• Its proportions.

• The way it meets the teeth beside it.

• The subtle variations in colour and texture that help natural teeth look like natural teeth.

Having helped many Ponsonby patients with dental implant solutions for missing teeth, we know that a successful restoration is about more than simply filling a gap. It's about restoring comfortable chewing, creating a tooth that looks naturally at home alongside its neighbours, and helping you enjoy life without giving your teeth a second thought.

At Accent Dentists, we believe the best restorative dentistry should complement what you already have, rather than look like something that's been added afterwards.

Dr Matt Sumner and Dr Celina Sim bring together:

• Restorative experience

• Careful clinical planning

• An artistic appreciation for the details that make a smile feel balanced and naturally beautiful

Whether we're replacing a front tooth that's visible every time you laugh or a back molar that's quietly doing the hard work behind the scenes, we consider how the restoration will function with your existing teeth.

Because even when a tooth isn't particularly visible, it still has an important relationship with the rest of your smile.

Rather like the beautifully restored villas around Ponsonby, the most successful additions are often the ones that look and feel as though they've always belonged.