Dental implant placement
A missing tooth is not only a gap. The bone that held it begins to change the moment it goes, and an implant is the one replacement that takes that job on.
What a dental implant is
An implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone, where the root of the missing tooth used to be. Bone grows against titanium and holds it — a process called osseointegration — so the post becomes a foundation rather than something resting on the gum.
Once it has integrated, your restorative dentist fits the part you actually see: a crown, or the attachment that carries a bridge. The implant is the root; the crown is the tooth.
That division of labour is why an implant behaves differently from a bridge or a denture. It is anchored in bone, so it is cleaned, chewed on and lived with the way a natural tooth is.
Who it is for
One missing tooth is the clearest case. An implant replaces it without touching the teeth either side, which a conventional bridge cannot do — a bridge is carried by the neighbours, and preparing them means removing healthy tooth structure.
Several missing teeth can be carried by several implants, either as individual replacements or as the anchors for a bridge. A full arch is its own approach, and has its own page.
Whether an implant is possible depends on what the bone underneath will support. Where there is not enough, it can often be rebuilt first — that is what site development is for, and it is planned before anything is placed rather than discovered partway.
What happens, step by step
Assessment and planning
The site, the bone around it and the teeth either side, with imaging to see what an examination cannot. This is where it is decided whether bone needs building first, and where the plan is agreed with your restorative dentist — so the implant is placed for the tooth that will eventually sit on it.
Placing the implant
A surgical appointment under local anaesthetic. The post is positioned in the bone, and the site is closed and left to integrate.
Healing
The bone takes hold of the implant. It is not a quick stage and it is not one to rush — the strength of the result is what happens during it.
The crown
Once it has integrated you return to your restorative dentist, who makes and fits the tooth itself. From that point it is brushed, flossed and checked like any other.
Recovery
Expect some soreness and swelling around the site afterwards, and to be on softer food for a while. You will be given specific aftercare on the day — how to clean around the site, what to eat, and what to do if anything is not settling as it should.
The practical thing to plan for is not pain but timing: an implant is a sequence of appointments over months rather than one visit, and knowing that in advance makes it a much easier process.
Cost and insurance
Cost depends on what the case needs — a single implant into good bone is not the same as one that needs the site rebuilt first. You will be given the figure for your own plan before anything is booked, not an estimate off a list.
Our insurance coordinator works through what your plan covers, and payment plans are available through Cherry if you would rather spread it.
An implant is the only replacement that puts something back into the bone, rather than sitting on top of what is left.
Questions we are asked
Open any of them. If yours is not here, the front desk will answer it on the phone.
01Does getting a dental implant hurt?
Placement is done under local anaesthetic, so the appointment itself should not be painful. Afterwards there is usually soreness and swelling around the site, and you will be given aftercare instructions and told what to expect before you leave.
02How long does the whole process take?
It is a sequence rather than a single visit: assessment, placement, a healing period while the bone integrates with the implant, then the crown fitted by your restorative dentist. The healing stage is the longest part and is not one to hurry. You will be given the timeline for your own case at the assessment.
03What if there is not enough bone?
That is common where a tooth has been missing for a while, and it is usually solvable. Ridge augmentation or a sinus lift rebuilds the bone volume first, and the implant is placed once the site will support it. It is assessed before anything is scheduled, so it is part of the plan rather than a surprise.
04Is an implant better than a bridge?
They solve the problem differently. An implant stands on its own in the bone and leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched; a bridge is carried by those teeth, which have to be prepared to hold it. Which is right depends on your teeth, your bone and what you want to look after long term — it is a conversation at the consultation.
05Do I still need my regular dentist?
Yes. The implant is placed here and the crown that sits on it is made and fitted by your restorative dentist. The two are planned together from the start, which is why the plan is agreed with them before placement rather than after.
Not sure this is what you need?
Most people are not, on the first call. Book a comprehensive evaluation and we will tell you what we find, and what it would take to put right.