Experience built over nearly four decades
I first became interested in dental implants in 1985 and began placing them in 1988. Since then, I have placed more than 7,000 dental implants and treated patients with a wide range of implant needs.
Implant dentistry has changed enormously during that time, but experience has reinforced my belief that careful assessment and treatment planning are just as important as the procedure itself.
My experience ranges from replacing a single missing tooth to more complex cases involving multiple implants, bone loss and extensive reconstruction.
That experience helps me assess not only whether an implant can be placed, but whether it is the right treatment, where it should be positioned and how the final result can be maintained over the long term.
Recognised experience in implant dentistry
My interest in implant dentistry has extended beyond clinical practice.
I served on the committee of the Association of Dental Implantology (ADI), was subsequently elected President and later became its Director of Education. I have also lectured on implant dentistry in the UK and internationally.
In 2009, I became the UK’s first European Expert in Implantology, an accreditation awarded by the European Dental Association.
Planning the implant and the tooth together
Dental implant treatment is about more than placing an implant into bone. The implant needs to be positioned with the final replacement tooth or teeth in mind.
I consider the available bone, the surrounding teeth and gums, your bite, appearance, function and how the finished restoration will be cleaned and maintained.
Where there is more than one possible approach, I will explain the options and why I recommend a particular treatment.
Surgical and restorative experience
I have spent my career working with both the surgical and restorative aspects of implant dentistry. This means I consider the implant itself and the tooth, bridge or other restoration it will eventually support as part of the same treatment plan.
For more complex cases, this can be particularly important because decisions made during the planning and surgical stages can directly affect the final restoration.
An individual approach
Not everyone who comes to see me needs an implant, and not every patient needs the same type of implant treatment.
My role is to assess your individual situation, explain what I find and discuss the options available. If I believe another approach would be more appropriate, I will tell you.
I see patients for dental implant treatment at Taunton Dental Practice, working with an experienced clinical team in a private setting.
If you are considering dental implants and would like to understand what may be possible in your particular situation, the first step is a consultation and assessment.