These are the questions people ask us most often at an implant consultation, answered the way we answer them in the chair.
What exactly is an implant?
A small titanium post placed in the jawbone where a tooth root used to be. Once the bone has grown around it, a connector called an abutment is fixed on top, and a crown, bridge or denture is fixed to that. The implant replaces the root; the crown replaces the part you see.
Does it hurt?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, the same as for a filling, so you feel pressure rather than pain. Most people describe the days after as sore rather than painful, and manage with ordinary painkillers. Swelling is usually at its largest on the second or third day.
How long does the whole thing take?
It depends on your bone and how many teeth are involved. A common path for one tooth is: consultation and 3D scan, the implant placed in one visit, a few months of healing, then the crown. Some cases can have a fixed temporary tooth on the day. Each treatment page lists its visits and time.
Am I too old for implants?
Age on its own is rarely the problem. What matters is your general health, the bone in your jaw and whether you can keep the area clean. Many people have implants placed in their seventies and eighties.
What if I do not have enough bone?
Bone shrinks after a tooth is lost, especially over years. If there is not enough, we can often add bone with a graft, or lift the sinus floor for upper back teeth. Sometimes a different design, such as angled implants, avoids grafting. A 3D CBCT scan shows exactly how much bone there is before anything is decided.
I have diabetes, or I smoke. Can I still have one?
Often yes, with care. Well-controlled diabetes is usually fine. Poorly controlled diabetes and smoking both slow healing and raise the risk of the implant failing, so we talk honestly about that, and about what you can change first.
How long does an implant last?
The implant itself can last many years, often decades, if the gum and bone around it stay healthy. The crown on top wears like any crown and may need replacing at some point. Cleaning and regular reviews make the biggest difference.
What does it cost?
It depends on how many teeth, whether bone grafting is needed, and which tier of materials and planning you choose. Our implant cost page shows the ranges and what changes them. You get a written plan with the cost before treatment starts.
Can I get new teeth in one day?
For some patients, yes: implants placed and a fixed temporary set fitted on the same day. It depends on the bone and how firmly the implants hold. Read about teeth in an hour and smile in a day.