A dental implant is a single titanium screw placed in your jaw bone to which a false tooth is then attached. Dental implants are not only used to replace single teeth but can also be used to replace multiple missing teeth, often to provide a new full set of replacement teeth.

Dental implants are inserted into the jawbone under local anaesthetic, so the procedure is not painful.

Just like with any other dental procedure, local anaesthetic takes away any painful sensation for a number of hours so that you can comfortably undergo the procedure without the risks that are carried by the use of general anaesthetics (where you are not conscious).

Following the procedure, it is normal to experience some discomfort for 2-3 days after which symptoms should begin to resolve. In this time, you should carefully follow postoperative instructions to ensure quick and uneventful healing.
Over-the-counter painkillers (analgesics) are often recommended and are sufficient to get you through this period comfortably. After a few days, and from thereon in, you will feel no sensation from your implant.

We could never tell you an implant will last forever because they can suffer the same problems as teeth like gum disease and fracture – but they have one of the best success rates in dentistry if you look after your mouth.

A lack of bone does not mean that you will not be able to have an implant. We can carry out grafting procedures to replace lost bone to make an implant possible.

This really is dependent from patient to patient – but if you have missing teeth often implants can be the gold standard replacement option for reasons described above.

Sometimes implants can be placed as soon as a tooth is extracted, but if the tooth has been infected we may want to wait for the infection to heal before an implant is placed. We may also want the bone to fuse to the implant before the ‘crown’ is placed.