Dental Implants: What to Expect, Start to Finish

Implants are often described as the closest thing to a natural tooth. That is fair. What gets less attention is that implant treatment is a process measured in months, not a single appointment.

Assessment

Treatment starts with imaging to assess how much bone is available at the site and where the nerves and sinuses sit. Your medical history matters here. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and certain bone medications all affect healing and, in some cases, make implants inadvisable.

Preparation

Where bone has been lost, grafting may be needed before an implant can be placed. This adds several months. It is not an upsell; an implant placed in inadequate bone is an implant that fails.

Placement

The implant is placed under local anaesthetic in a procedure most patients find comparable to an extraction. Some swelling and discomfort for a few days afterwards is normal.

Healing

This is the long part. The bone needs to bond to the implant surface, a process called osseointegration, and it typically takes three to six months depending on the site and your own healing. A temporary tooth can usually be provided in the meantime for visible gaps.

The final tooth

Once integration is confirmed, impressions are taken and the crown is made and fitted. From here the implant functions like a tooth for eating and speaking.

Afterwards

Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed and be lost, a condition called peri-implantitis. It behaves much like gum disease and is the main reason implants fail years after placement. Daily cleaning around the implant and regular professional review are not optional extras.

Success rates

How well an implant does depends on the individual patient. Ask your surgeon about your own risk factors specifically rather than relying on a general figure.