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Pre-treatment

Your Guide to Dental Implants

An overview of dental implants: what they are, who they suit, what happens during treatment, and the main risks and benefits.

5 min read

Urgent help: who to contact

Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you have difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing, swelling spreading to your neck, under your tongue or to your eye, or signs of a severe allergic reaction (such as swollen lips, tongue or throat) after implant surgery.

Contact your dental team straight away if you get severe swelling or a high fever. These can be signs of an infection that needs urgent treatment. If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a small titanium screw. It is placed in the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Over weeks or months, the bone grows around the implant and joins to it. This is called osseointegration.

Once the implant has joined to the bone, a connector (abutment) is fixed to it. A made-to-measure crown, bridge or denture is then fitted on top. The result looks, feels and works very much like a natural tooth.

Why might I choose an implant?

Implants have several benefits over other ways to replace teeth:

  • The nearby teeth do not need to be shaped or used in any way.
  • They help keep the jawbone healthy. This prevents the bone loss that happens when a tooth is missing.
  • They are fixed in place. You do not take them out to clean them.
  • With good care, they can last many years, even decades.
  • They look and feel very like natural teeth.

Am I suitable for an implant?

Implants are not right for everyone straight away. Your dental team will check carefully. Things that can affect whether implants suit you include:

  • Bone. You need enough bone in your jaw to place and hold the implant. If you have lost bone, you may need a bone graft first.
  • Gum health. Any active gum disease must be treated and under control before implant treatment starts.
  • General health. Some medical conditions and medicines can affect healing and how well the implant works. These include:
    • Diabetes that is not under control. Poor blood sugar control greatly harms healing and how well the implant joins the bone.
    • Bisphosphonate medicines (for example alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate, zoledronic acid) or denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva). These are used for thin bones (osteoporosis) or some cancers. They affect how bone renews itself. They raise the risk of a serious jaw problem called medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).
    • Past radiotherapy to the head and neck. Radiation to the jaw area greatly harms bone healing. It is an important risk factor for implant failure and osteonecrosis.
    • Conditions or medicines that weaken your immune system. These affect how well your body heals after surgery.
  • Smoking. Smoking greatly lowers implant success and raises the risk of problems.
  • Age. Implants are not placed in young people whose jaws are still growing. Most centres wait until a patient is at least 18.

Your dental team will take X-rays or a CBCT scan (a 3D dental scan). This checks your bone and helps them plan your treatment precisely.

What does treatment involve?

Implant treatment takes several months. The main stages are:

  1. Consultation and planning. X-rays, scans and checks of your health and whether implants suit you.
  2. Treatment beforehand (if needed). You may need bone grafting or gum treatment before the implant is placed.
  3. Placing the implant. This is minor surgery done with a numbing injection (local anaesthetic). A small cut is made in the gum. The implant is placed in the bone, and the gum is closed. This usually takes 30–90 minutes.
  4. Healing (osseointegration). You wait for the implant to join to the bone. This usually takes 6–16 weeks. You may have a temporary tooth during this time.
  5. Fitting the connector (abutment). A small connector is fixed to the implant.
  6. Fitting the new tooth. Your made-to-measure crown, bridge or denture is fitted on top of the implant.

Risks and possible problems

Around 90–95% of dental implants still work after 10 years. But implants involve surgery, and surgery carries risks.

Common (affect more than 1 in 10 people):

  • Swelling, bruising and soreness for several days after surgery
  • Minor bleeding from where the implant was placed
  • Infection and bone loss around the implant (peri-implantitis). This affects about 1 in 5 people with implants over the years. It needs treatment. If it is not managed, you can lose the implant. Good cleaning and regular reviews lower the risk.

Uncommon (affect about 1 in 10 to 1 in 100 people):

  • Implant failure. The implant does not join to the bone. This affects roughly 1 in 20 implants overall. It is more common in smokers. A failed implant is usually removed. You may be able to try again after healing.
  • Short-term numbness or changed feeling in the lip, chin or tongue. This is more common with implants in the lower jaw.

Rare (affect fewer than 1 in 100 people):

  • Permanent nerve damage causing numbness. This is very rare with careful planning before surgery.
  • Damage to nearby teeth or roots while the implant is placed
  • A hole into the sinus (upper jaw only). This may need treatment.

Long-term care of your implant

Implants still need care. How long they last depends on looking after them well:

  • Brush carefully around the implant crown twice a day.
  • Clean between the implant and nearby teeth with small brushes (interdental brushes) or floss.
  • Go to regular hygienist appointments. Gum disease around an implant (peri-implantitis) is a serious risk if cleaning is poor.
  • Go to a yearly implant review. Your dental team checks the implant, the bone level and the crown, bridge or denture.
  • Do not smoke. Smoking greatly raises the risk of implant failure and peri-implantitis.
  • Tell your dental team if you grind your teeth. A night guard can protect the implant crown.

Questions to ask your dental team

  • Do I have enough bone for an implant, or will I need a graft?
  • Does my medical history affect whether implants suit me?
  • How many appointments will I need, and over how long?
  • What will my temporary tooth look like while I heal?
  • What care will the implant need in the long term?
  • What happens if the implant fails?

This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. It is intended to support — not replace — the discussion with your dental team about your individual options, risks, and treatment plan. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances. Your dental team will confirm exact fees and what is suitable for your specific circumstances before you agree to any treatment.

Sources

Links checked 18 October 2026.

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For clinicians: Implant Consultation notes template, Implant Review / Maintenance notes template.

Learn more about dental documentation on our blog or see Nosht pricing.

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