Will I need a bone graft?

Only if the x-ray shows there is not enough bone width or height at the site, which is more common when the tooth has been missing for years. Where it is needed it is often done at the same appointment as the placement.

Is there an age limit?

There is no upper limit, and we place implants for patients in their seventies and beyond. The lower limit matters more, because the jaw needs to have finished growing, which is usually the late teens.

Can the tooth be fitted the same day?

In selected cases a temporary crown can be fitted immediately, but it depends on how firmly the implant sits when placed and where it is in the mouth. It is decided at the time, not promised in advance.

Dental implants

A titanium post placed in the jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth, restored with a crown once the bone has grown around it.

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Second operatory at Rudra Dental used for implant placement

An implant replaces the root, not just the visible tooth. A titanium post is placed into the jaw bone, and over the following months bone grows onto its surface and locks it in place. That process is called osseointegration and it is why an implant feels solid rather than removable.

Because it stands on its own, an implant does not need the neighbouring teeth cut down for support the way a bridge does. It also loads the bone when you chew, which slows the bone loss that follows a missing tooth.

It is a staged treatment rather than a single appointment. The waiting is the part that does the work.

Stages: Placement, then restoration after healing
Total time: Three to six months in most cases
Anaesthesia: Local, the same as a filling
Bone grafting: Needed in some cases, decided from the x-ray

When it is needed

Signs we look for

A single missing tooth

The most straightforward case. One implant, one crown, and the teeth on either side are left untouched.

Several missing teeth in a row

Two implants can carry a three unit bridge, so you do not need an implant for every gap.

A denture that moves

Implants can be used to anchor an existing style of denture, which stops the rocking and lets you bite properly again.

A tooth that cannot be saved

When a tooth is fractured below the gum or has failed root canal treatment, planning the implant before the extraction usually gives a better result.

Step by step

What actually happens

Assessment

X-rays show how much bone is available and where the nerve and sinus sit. Gum health is checked first, because implants fail in unhealthy gums.

Placement

Under local anaesthesia the site is prepared and the implant is placed. It takes around an hour for a single implant and most people are surprised how ordinary it feels.

Healing

Three to six months while bone integrates with the implant surface. A temporary tooth can be worn during this time if the gap shows when you smile.

Abutment and impression

Once integrated, a connector is fitted and a scan or impression is taken so the crown is built to your bite.

The crown

The final crown is fitted and the bite adjusted. From then on it is checked at your routine visits like any other tooth.

Afterwards

Looking after it at home

Swelling and mild discomfort for two to three days after placement is normal and settles with the medication given.

Keep to soft food on that side for the first week and avoid chewing directly on the site.

Smoking is the single biggest cause of early implant failure. Stopping, even for the healing period, matters more than anything else you can do.

Clean around the implant carefully once healed. Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can become infected if plaque is left.

Questions

dental implants, answered

If your question is not here, call the clinic and a dentist will talk it through before you book anything.

The post itself is designed to be permanent and many stay in place for decades. The crown on top is a wearing part and may need replacing over that time. Outcomes depend heavily on gum health, smoking and regular maintenance.

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