Treatment 03 — the fixed replacement
A missing tooth, replaced to stand on its own.
A dental implant is a titanium post placed in the jaw, carrying a crown that looks, feels and works like a natural tooth — without cutting down the healthy teeth beside the gap.
What it is
A root made of titanium, a tooth made to match
Natural teeth have roots; crowns and bridges only replace the part you can see. An implant replaces the root as well. The titanium post fuses with the jawbone over a healing period — a process called osseointegration — and that foundation is what lets the crown on top take real chewing force, for years.
Because the implant stands independently, the healthy teeth on either side stay untouched — no grinding them down to hold a bridge.
Who it's for
- ✓One missing tooth, with healthy neighbours
- ✓Several missing teeth, individually or on a bridge
- ✓A loose denture that needs firm support
- ✓A tooth that can't be saved and must come out
Suitability turns on bone volume, gum health and general health — all checked at assessment, with imaging, before any commitment.
The process
Four stages, none of them rushed
Assess & image
Examination and imaging check the bone, the gums and the neighbouring teeth — and whether an implant is the right answer at all.
Position planned
The implant's position, angle and size are planned around your bone and bite, and the crown that will sit on top. The end is designed first.
Placement & healing
The titanium post is placed under local anaesthesia. Then it heals and integrates with the bone — typically a few months of patience.
The crown
Once integration is confirmed, the custom crown is fitted — matched to the shape, shade and bite of your own teeth.
Fig. — Implant fixtures, sterile and ready
Honest pricing
What an implant costs depends on
An implant is three things bought together — a fixture, a surgical procedure, and a crown. These are the factors that move the total.
Depends on — 1
The implant system
Fixtures come from different manufacturers and research backgrounds, at different prices. Which systems the clinic offers, and what each costs, is laid out in your written estimate.
Depends on — 2
Bone condition
If the jaw has thinned where the tooth was lost, grafting may be needed before or during placement. Imaging at assessment shows this clearly — no surprises midway.
Depends on — 3
The crown
The visible tooth is custom-made, and material choices affect both appearance and price. It is quoted as part of the plan, not sprung on you at the end.
Implant questions
Asked at the clinic
Possibly — many such cases are treated successfully, but these factors genuinely affect healing and long-term success. That's exactly why suitability is decided at assessment, after examination and imaging, not promised in advance. You'll get a straight answer either way.
It's staged: assessment and imaging, placement of the implant, a healing period while the implant integrates with the bone — typically a few months — and then the crown. Rushing the healing stage is how implants fail, so the timeline is set by biology, not by the calendar.
A bridge fills the gap by anchoring to the teeth on either side, which usually means shaping those healthy teeth down. An implant stands on its own and leaves the neighbours untouched. Both are legitimate; the condition of the neighbouring teeth often decides.
Much like a natural tooth: brushing, cleaning between teeth, and regular reviews. An implant can't decay, but the gum and bone around it can still become inflamed if neglected — the reviews exist to catch that early.
Start with an assessment
Living with a gap — or a tooth that's failing?
An assessment with imaging will show whether an implant is right for you, and what it would cost, in writing. If it isn't right, you'll hear that instead.