8 things to know before a dental implant

A dental implant is a titanium screw placed into the jawbone to mimic the root of a missing tooth, with a permanent crown fitted on top. Behind that simple definition sit the details that actually determine the outcome. These eight points are what we discuss most often in the consultation room.

1. Your bone volume dictates the plan

After an extraction, the jawbone gradually resorbs. An implant needs a certain height and width of bone to stay stable. We measure this with a 3D scan at the first consultation. If bone is insufficient, grafting or a sinus lift enters the plan, adding a few months to the total timeline.

2. “Same-day implants” aren’t always possible

Integration with the bone (osseointegration) takes three to six months on average. In some cases a temporary tooth can be fitted the same day, but loading the permanent crown too early can cost you the implant. Any plan promising a fast timeline should be able to explain how it handles this biology.

3. The implant brand is a real variable

Implant brands differ in surface treatment, long-term clinical data and the availability of components. If an abutment screw loosens years later, you want that system’s parts to be reachable anywhere in the world. Ask which brand is being used and get it in writing.

4. Smoking directly affects healing

Smoking reduces blood supply to the bone and measurably raises the risk of implant failure. Even if quitting isn’t on the table, pausing for two weeks either side of surgery makes a measurable difference to healing.

5. Less pain than you expect, more swelling

A single implant is placed under local anaesthetic and most of our guests feel no pain during the procedure. Swelling and mild bruising over the next 48–72 hours is normal. Ice and the prescribed medication make this period comfortable.

6. Implants don’t decay but the gum around them can

Peri-implantitis is inflammation of the tissue around the implant and, untreated, it causes bone loss. The only real antidote is disciplined interdental cleaning plus a professional check twice a year.

7. Price differences usually hide in the crown

The gap between two quotes usually comes not from the screw but from the crown material on top: zirconia, E.max or metal-backed. When comparing offers, make sure the implant, abutment and crown are each priced separately.

8. A well-maintained implant lasts decades

Long-term studies put ten-year success rates above 95% for well-maintained implants. An implant is genuinely a lifetime investment, on the condition that the maintenance lasts a lifetime too.

Placing the implant is the technical part. What really decides the outcome is matching the right case to the right plan.

This content is for general information and does not replace an in-person examination. Treatment decisions should only follow a clinical assessment.