A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone where a tooth root used to be. Once the bone has healed around it, a crown, bridge or denture is fixed on top. It is the only way to replace a missing tooth without resting on the neighbouring teeth or on the gum, and it is a staged process measured in months rather than days.

Who it is for, and when it is considered

Implants are considered for one missing tooth, several, or a whole arch, in adults whose jaw growth is complete. What decides suitability is not age but the amount and quality of bone, the health of the gums, and general health factors that affect healing: uncontrolled diabetes, smoking and some medications all change the plan or the timing. A person with active gum disease is treated for that first; an implant placed next to infection does not last.

What the assessment decides

The first visit is an examination and a conversation. X-rays, and, where the case calls for it, a three-dimensional (CBCT) scan, show how much bone there is, where the nerve and sinus sit, and whether grafting would be needed. From that, the dentist can say which of these applies: a straightforward single implant; an implant after a bone graft; a full-arch design where four to six implants support a fixed bridge; or that an implant is not the right answer and a bridge or denture would serve better. You leave with a written plan and an estimate before anything is decided.

What happens, stage by stage

Stage	What is done	Typical interval
Assessment	Examination, X-rays or scan, written plan	First visit
Preparation	Gum treatment, extraction or bone graft if needed	Weeks to months before placement
Placement	Implant placed under local anaesthetic; a temporary tooth may be fitted	One appointment
Healing	Bone integrates with the implant	Usually 3–6 months, longer after grafting
Restoration	Impression, then the final crown or bridge fitted	Two to three visits
Review	Checks of the implant and surrounding gum	At set intervals, then yearly

Typical ranges; your own plan carries your own timeline.

What it involves for you

Placement is done under local anaesthetic and most people describe the surgery as less eventful than an extraction. Expect some swelling and tenderness for a few days, a soft diet for a short period, and careful cleaning around the site. Smoking during healing is the single most common reason an implant fails to integrate.

The alternatives

A bridge replaces a tooth faster and costs less, but the teeth either side are shaped to carry it. A removable denture is the least invasive and least expensive, and some people are entirely happy with one. Doing nothing is a legitimate choice for a single back tooth that is not affecting chewing, although the teeth around a gap tend to drift over the years, which can make later treatment more involved.

Equipment and technique

Planning is done on X-rays and, where needed, a three-dimensional scan, so that the implant is placed where the bone is and away from the nerve and sinus. The implant system chosen for your case, and the reason for it, is stated in your written plan.

Questions people ask

How long do implants last? With healthy gums and regular reviews, many years; the crown on top may need replacing sooner than the implant itself. No dentist can promise a figure for an individual.

Is it painful? The placement is done under local anaesthetic. The days afterwards are usually managed with ordinary painkillers.

What if I don’t have enough bone? Bone grafting can rebuild it; the page on bone loss before an implant explains the options and the time they add.

Cost

Implant cost depends on the number of implants, whether grafting is needed, the type of restoration, and the implant system. Your written estimate follows the assessment.

Dental implants