Dental implants

Implants can replace a single tooth or support several. Whether they are suitable depends on your general health, the bone and gums in the area, and factors such as smoking.

In some cases, additional procedures such as bone grafting are needed before an implant can be placed. Your dentist will tell you if this may apply to you.

Implants are often considered by adults who have lost a tooth through decay, gum disease or an injury, or who find a denture loose or uncomfortable. They are not usually suitable for children or young people, whose jaws are still growing. For adults, general health matters more than age.

Some things can make treatment less predictable, or mean that other care is needed first. Your dentist will ask about them at your consultation:

• Smoking, as it slows healing
• Gum disease, which usually needs to be treated and under control first
• Diabetes that is not well controlled
• Some medicines, including certain treatments for osteoporosis, and past radiotherapy to the head or neck
• Clenching or grinding, which puts extra strain on an implant and its crown

Your dentist will examine the area, discuss your medical history and take X-rays or other imaging to assess the bone. They will explain the alternatives, such as a bridge or a denture, alongside implants, so you can compare them.

Before treatment, your dentist will confirm exactly what the implant fee includes.

An implant is one way to replace a missing tooth, but not the only one. Each option has advantages and drawbacks, and your dentist will explain how each would work for you and what it costs. The main options are:

• Leaving the gap: some gaps cause few problems, especially towards the back of the mouth, although nearby teeth can drift or tilt into the space over time
• A bridge: a replacement tooth fixed to one or both neighbouring teeth. It avoids surgery, but some types involve shaping healthy teeth to support it
• A denture: a removable replacement for one or several teeth. It needs no surgery and is usually the simplest option, although some people find it less secure than fixed teeth

Placing an implant is a minor surgical procedure. Some soreness, swelling or bruising for a few days afterwards is normal, and everyday painkillers usually help. Your dentist will give you aftercare advice for your own situation, which usually includes:

• Eating soft food and chewing on the other side for the first few days
• Avoiding very hot food and drink, alcohol and strenuous exercise at first
• Not smoking while the area heals
• Keeping the area clean as your dentist advises, often with gentle warm salt-water rinses from the next day
• Calling us if anything doesn’t feel right, such as soreness that gets worse after the first few days, bleeding that doesn’t settle, or numbness that lasts once the anaesthetic should have worn off

Implants need the same daily care as natural teeth, along with regular check-ups and hygiene visits. Looked after well, an implant can last for many years, and your dentist will talk you through everything involved before you decide.

Dental implants are a well-established way to replace missing teeth. At your consultation, your dentist will look at your gums, bone and general health, talk you through everything involved for you and answer your questions, so you can decide with confidence.

Things that help an implant stay healthy for many years:

• Cleaning around it every day, as you would your natural teeth
• Regular check-ups and hygiene visits, so the gum around it stays healthy
• Not smoking, as smoking slows healing
• A night guard if you grind your teeth, to protect the crown