Why replace a missing tooth at all
A gap is not only cosmetic. The teeth beside it drift and tilt, the opposing tooth grows down into the space, and chewing quietly shifts to the other side of your mouth.
The bone that once held the tooth also begins to shrink within months. An implant is the only option that loads that bone the way a natural root does, which is what keeps it there.
What the process looks like
- Planning: We assess bone height and width and check the position of nerves and sinuses before deciding on implant size.
- Placement: The implant is placed under local anaesthesia in a visit of about 45 minutes. Most patients return to work the next day.
- Healing: Over roughly three to four months the bone fuses to the implant surface, a process called osseointegration.
- The crown: We then fit a custom crown shaded to your neighbouring teeth. Nobody will be able to pick out which tooth it is.
Options for several missing teeth
You do not need one implant per tooth. Two implants can carry a three-tooth bridge, and a full arch can be supported on four to six implants — a fixed alternative to a removable denture.
