Dental implants
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jaw bone to replace the root of a missing tooth, and a crown is then fixed on top. At Suman Dental Care implants are placed by Dr. Ohm Rajani, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with an MDS in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Step by step
Dental implants
- Before
- Treatment
- After
About 4–5 visits over 4–6 months, with 3–6 months of healing. A bone graft or an extraction first adds several months.
When a tooth is lost, the bone beneath it slowly shrinks and neighbouring teeth can drift into the gap. An implant replaces the root as well as the crown, so it stands on its own without trimming the teeth next to it. It is a longer and more involved option than a bridge or a denture, and it is not suitable for everyone.
- One or more missing teeth
- Loose dentures that need more support
- Enough jaw bone, or a bone graft first
- Diabetes, smoking and medicines are reviewed during planning
After implant placement, expect swelling and bruising for 2–3 days, mild to moderate soreness for 3–5 days, and a little oozing of blood on the first day. Use cold packs on the cheek for the first 24 hours and your usual pain relief. Eat soft, cool food for a few days and do not brush the wound for the first day.
Avoid smoking, which raises the chance of the implant failing. Keep the area clean with gentle brushing and the rinse your surgeon advises. Avoid pressing on the site with your tongue or a temporary denture unless advised.
See the full implant aftercare card. Call us if swelling or pain gets worse after day 3 or the implant feels loose.
- The implant may not fuse with the bone in a small minority of cases. It is then removed, the area heals and another implant can often be tried later.
- Infection around the implant (peri-implantitis) can lead to bone loss. Good cleaning and regular check-ups reduce the risk.
- Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and gum disease all raise the chance of failure.
- Nerve and sinus: in the lower jaw an implant can damage a nerve, and in the upper jaw it can enter the sinus. A CBCT scan is used to plan around them.
- Swelling and bruising after surgery are expected.
What affects the cost
We don't publish prices online. After an examination you get a written estimate that lists each item.
- Examination, planning and a CBCT scan if needed
- Local anaesthetic for the surgery
- Placement of the implant
- The abutment and the crown
- Post-surgery review visits
Questions patients ask
Is implant surgery painful?
The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure but not pain. Soreness afterwards is usually mild to moderate and is controlled with your usual pain relief for a few days.
How long does an implant last?
With good cleaning and regular check-ups, many implants last for decades, though this is not certain for everyone. Read how long do dental implants last?
What if I do not have enough bone?
A bone graft can rebuild the bone. It is done at the time of the implant or earlier, and adds several months to the healing time.
Implant, bridge or denture?
What about replacing all my teeth?
A full arch can be supported on fewer implants, for example the All-on-4 approach, but it depends on bone and the bite. Read All-on-4 full-mouth implants explained.
Who should not have an implant?
People whose gums are diseased, who smoke heavily, whose diabetes is not controlled, or who are still growing. Some medicines and radiotherapy to the jaw also need review. Your surgeon assesses this at the first visit.
After a dental implant
What to do after treatment, day by day.
Questions about this treatment?
Send a WhatsApp message or book an examination. The dentist explains the options before anything starts.