An implant is a small titanium screw placed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Bone fuses to its surface over several weeks, and a crown, bridge or denture is then attached on top. It is the only option that replaces the root as well as the visible tooth, which is why it protects the surrounding bone.

Most healthy adults are. What matters is bone volume, gum health and general medical history — smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and untreated gum disease all reduce success rates. We take a CBCT scan at consultation so suitability is based on your actual anatomy, not an estimate. Where bone is limited, grafting or a sinus lift often makes treatment possible.

Placement is carried out under local anaesthetic and most patients describe it as more comfortable than an extraction. There is usually some tenderness and swelling for a few days, managed with ordinary painkillers. Oral or intravenous sedation is available if you would prefer to be fully relaxed.

A straightforward single implant typically takes three to five months from placement to final crown, allowing time for the bone to integrate. Grafting adds a few months. Full-arch Smile in a Day cases can have fixed temporary teeth fitted on the day of surgery, with the definitive bridge made later.

With good hygiene and regular maintenance visits, implants routinely last 15–20 years and often a lifetime. The crown or bridge on top is the part most likely to need replacing eventually, much like any other restoration.

Single implants start from £2,350 including the crown, with full-arch and grafting cases quoted individually after your scan. Every case is confirmed in a written plan before treatment, and you can ask us about spreading the cost.

Yes, and it is one of the most transformative treatments we provide. As few as two to four implants per arch can hold a denture firmly in place, restoring confident eating and speech and removing the need for adhesive.

Not necessarily. As a referral centre we regularly treat cases other practices decline, using sinus lifts, block and particulate grafting and guided surgery to rebuild lost bone volume. A second opinion with a CBCT scan is often worthwhile.

Brush twice daily, clean between the implant and neighbouring teeth with interdental brushes or floss designed for implants, and attend hygiene appointments at the interval we recommend. Implants cannot decay, but the gum and bone around them can still be lost to infection if plaque builds up.