Dental implants.

How an implant replaces a tooth

An implant has three parts. A titanium post, shaped a little like a screw, is placed in the jawbone where the tooth root used to be. Over the next few months the bone usually knits tightly against its surface, a process called osseointegration, which is what lets it carry biting forces.

Once that has happened, a small connector called an abutment is fitted to the post, and a custom-made crown is attached to it. The crown is shaped and shaded to sit alongside your own teeth. This page is about replacing one tooth at a time. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, our page on implant-retained dentures is the better place to start.

Signs an implant may be worth considering

People often ask about implants when a tooth has been lost to an accident, a crack or decay, or when a tooth is about to be removed and they want to plan ahead. It can also suit someone who has a gap with healthy, unfilled teeth either side and would rather not have those teeth shaped for a bridge.

Timing matters. Bone tends to shrink after a tooth is removed, so it is worth asking about an implant before or soon after an extraction, even if you aren’t ready to go ahead straight away.

Bone, gums and general health

An implant needs enough healthy bone to hold it and healthy gums to seal around it. Gum disease is usually treated and settled first, because the same bacteria can affect the tissue around an implant. If the bone is too thin or low, extra steps such as bone grafting may be needed, and some of these cases are referred to a registered specialist in periodontics or oral surgery.

Research links smoking with a noticeably higher chance of an implant failing, and it slows healing, so we will talk it through with you if you smoke. Poorly controlled diabetes, some bone-strengthening medicines, past radiotherapy to the head or neck, and heavy grinding can also affect suitability. None of these automatically rules you out, but they change the risks. Implant surgery is usually postponed during pregnancy.

Assessment and imaging

We start with an examination and an OPG x‑ray at the surgery, which shows the height of the bone and nearby structures such as the nerve in the lower jaw and the sinus above the upper back teeth. Small digital x‑rays add detail around the neighbouring teeth.

For many implants, a 3D scan is needed to measure the width of the bone accurately. We don’t have 3D imaging at the surgery, so we refer you to an imaging provider and use the scan to plan the implant’s position.

We also look at your bite, the space between the neighbouring teeth and the thickness of the gum at the site, since these affect how the final crown looks and works. If an implant isn’t a good fit for you, we will say so and explain why.

Healing time and what it involves

After the post is placed under local anaesthetic, it is common to have some tenderness, swelling or bruising for a few days. The gum usually settles within a week or two, but the bone needs a few months to bond with the implant before the crown can be fitted.

If the gap is visible, a temporary option such as a small removable denture can usually be worn in the meantime. Extra steps, like grafting or waiting for an extraction site to heal, can make the overall timeline longer. While the implant heals, avoid chewing directly on the area, keep it clean as instructed, and avoid smoking.

Risks and how they are managed

Implant placement is surgery, so there are real risks. In the short term these include pain, swelling, bleeding and infection. Less commonly, the nerve in the lower jaw can be irritated, causing numbness or tingling in the lip or chin, or an upper implant can involve the sinus. Careful imaging and planning are how we reduce these risks.

Some implants don’t bond with the bone and need to be removed, sometimes with the option of trying again after healing. Years later, the gum and bone around an implant can become inflamed, a condition called peri-implantitis, which is more likely in people who smoke or have a history of gum disease.

Other ways to fill a gap

An implant isn’t the only option. A bridge or a partial denture may suit you better, depending on the teeth either side, your bone and gums, your health and your budget. Our bridges page sets the three options side by side, and your dentist will go through them with you at the consultation.

Looking after an implant, and costs

An implant can’t decay, but the gum around it can still become inflamed. Brush twice a day, clean around the crown with floss or interdental brushes, and keep up regular check‑ups and cleans so we can check the gum and bite. The crown itself may need replacing at some stage through wear. Cost depends on imaging, any grafting, the type of crown and whether a specialist is involved, and implants usually fall under major dental, where cover and waiting periods vary between policies.