Is an implant the right choice for you?
An implant is a small titanium screw that sits in the jawbone where the root of your tooth used to be. Over a few months the bone grows tightly against it. A crown is then fixed on top, so the tooth looks and works like the ones around it.
It tends to be a good option if:
- you have lost one tooth and the teeth on either side are healthy, so you would rather not file them down for a bridge
- you have lost several teeth in a row and want something fixed rather than removable
- your lower denture lifts when you talk or eat; even two implants can hold it down (see implant overdentures)
It may not be the right first step if you smoke heavily, your diabetes is poorly controlled, you have active gum disease, or you take certain bone medicines (such as bisphosphonates for osteoporosis). None of these automatically rules you out, but each changes the risk, and sometimes the plan.
What happens, visit by visit
- Consultation and scan. Dr. Adish examines your mouth, gums and bite and reviews any existing dental records. Imaging is recommended as needed for planning; a CBCT scan can show bone dimensions and the position of nerves and sinuses. You leave with a written plan and an itemised estimate.
- Getting the site ready (only if needed). A failing tooth may need to come out first, gum disease may need treating by our periodontist, or a bone graft or sinus lift may be needed where the bone has shrunk. Our implantologist carries these out at the clinic, working with Dr. Adish. Grafted bone usually needs three to six months to mature.
- Placing the implant. Under local anaesthetic, the implant is placed through a small opening in the gum. A single implant typically takes 45–60 minutes in the chair. If the gap shows when you smile, we can usually fit a temporary tooth so you aren’t left with a visible gap while it heals.
- Healing. The bone bonds to the implant over roughly three months in the lower jaw and four to six in the upper. You eat normally on the other side during this time, and we see you once or twice to check healing.
- Impressions and the final crown. Once the implant is firm, we take an impression or digital scan and the lab makes your crown. It is screwed or cemented onto the implant at a final visit, and we check your bite carefully.
For a fixed full-arch replacement, see hybrid dentures. If you want teeth you can remove for cleaning, compare implant overdentures.
One tooth, several teeth or a whole arch
| Situation | Usual option | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| One missing tooth | One implant with one crown | Neighbouring teeth are left untouched |
| Two or three missing teeth in a row | Two implants with a bridge on top | You often don’t need one implant per tooth |
| All teeth missing, want something removable | Two to four implants with an overdenture | Clips on and off for cleaning; the most affordable implant option for a full arch |
| All teeth missing, want something fixed | Four to six implants with a fixed full-arch bridge | Stays in; you clean it in place, like natural teeth |
Recovery: what the first days are like
The day of surgery. Expect numbness for two to three hours. Bite gently on gauze if there is oozing, keep to soft, cool food, and don’t rinse hard or use a straw.
The first week. Mild swelling and soreness are normal and usually peak on day two. Brush the rest of your mouth as usual and clean around the implant gently as we show you. Avoid smoking: it is the single biggest avoidable reason implants fail to heal.
The following months. You can chew normally away from the implant. If you wear a temporary denture, we may adjust it so it doesn’t press on the site.
Call us if bleeding doesn’t settle with pressure, swelling increases after day three, or you have a fever.
What affects the cost
We don’t quote a price before seeing you, because two people missing “one tooth” can need quite different treatment. Your estimate depends on:
- how many implants you need and where they go
- whether you need an extraction, bone graft or sinus lift first
- the implant system and the type of crown (metal-ceramic or zirconia)
- whether you want a temporary tooth during healing
Ask for a written, itemised estimate that distinguishes any imaging, the implant, the abutment (connector) and the crown, and confirms which stages are included or quoted separately. Our implant cost guide explains each line.
Risks, limitations and other options
Implants have a high success rate, but no surgery is risk-free. The things we discuss with every patient are:
- The implant not fusing with the bone. It happens in a small minority of cases, more often in smokers and people with uncontrolled diabetes. If it does, the implant is removed and can usually be replaced after healing.
- Infection around the implant soon after surgery, or gum inflammation around it years later (peri-implantitis), which is why cleaning and check-ups matter.
- Nerve or sinus problems. In the lower jaw a nerve runs close to the back teeth; in the upper jaw the sinus sits just above. The CBCT scan is how we plan around both.
- Appearance at the front. Where gum and bone have shrunk, a front implant crown can look longer than its neighbours. We tell you in advance if we expect this.
If an implant isn’t suitable or isn’t what you want, the alternatives are a bridge, a partial denture, or, for a back tooth, sometimes leaving the gap and monitoring it. We’ll tell you honestly which of these we would choose in your position.
How long implants last, and looking after them
Most implants placed in healthy bone are still working more than ten years later, and many last much longer. The crown on top wears like any other crown and may need replacing after 10–15 years.
Looking after an implant is mostly what you already do: brush twice a day, clean between your teeth with floss or an interdental brush, and come in for a check-up and clean every six months. If you grind your teeth, a night guard protects both the crown and the implant. More detail is in our implant care guide.
Questions patients ask us
Is getting a dental implant painful?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure rather than pain while the implant goes in. Afterwards most people describe soreness similar to an extraction for two or three days, and ordinary painkillers are usually enough. Swelling, if any, peaks on day two and settles within the week.
How long does the whole treatment take?
For a single tooth in healthy bone, expect about three to four months from placement to the final crown in the lower jaw, and four to six months in the upper jaw. If the tooth is still in place and needs removing first, or you need a bone graft, add a few months for healing.
Can the implant go in the same day the tooth is removed?
Sometimes. If there is no infection and enough bone around the socket, the implant can be placed immediately after the extraction. Whether that is sensible for you is something we decide from the scan, not on the day.
Am I too old for implants?
There is no upper age limit. What matters is general health, how well any diabetes is controlled, the medicines you take and the bone available. Plenty of people have implants placed in their sixties, seventies and beyond. Implants are not placed until the jaw has finished growing, usually around 18.
Are dental implants safe? What are the side effects?
Implant placement is a well-established procedure. The common after-effects are soreness, swelling and some bruising for a few days. Less common risks include infection, the implant not fusing with the bone, and, rarely, nerve or sinus problems. We explain each of these, and how we reduce them, before you agree to treatment.
Are implants safe for an MRI scan?
Titanium implants are not magnetic and are generally considered safe for MRI. Tell the radiology team you have implants, because metal can blur images of the area right around them.
Does health insurance in India cover implants?
Most health insurance policies exclude dental implants unless tooth loss followed an accident, and even then cover varies. Check your policy wording. We can give you an itemised estimate and treatment notes for your insurer.
Is an implant better than a bridge or a denture?
Not always. An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, but it needs surgery and healing time. A bridge is quicker and can make sense if the neighbouring teeth already need crowns. A denture is the least invasive and least costly. Our implant vs bridge and implants vs dentures guides go through the trade-offs.
Sources
ADA MouthHealthy: dental implants ↗Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS: dental implants patient information ↗Last updated 22 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.