Single Implants

Dental Implants for patients in Waterloo, Southbank and Blackfriars.

A single-tooth dental implant is a way of replacing a missing tooth with a prosthetic that looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

The procedure involves the implantation of a titanium metal “root” within your jaw.

As it heals, the implant fuses with the surrounding bone, fixing it securely in place. The healing process — called “osseointegration” — typically takes between 3 and 6 months.

Once the implant is stable, your dentist will attach a tooth-coloured crown. Your dentist will have your crown made to match the shape and colour of your remaining natural teeth as closely as possible.

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Your Dental Implant Guide

Dental implants can also help prevent or reverse bone loss effects that can occur when a missing tooth is not replaced in a timely fashion.

Single-tooth dental implants are one of the most predictable, long-lasting dental prostheses depending on your standard of oral health and the crown material you choose.

See Implant-Retained Dentures.

How do I know if a dental implant is suitable for me?

Your dentist will conduct an initial consultation to determine your suitability for the dental implant procedure, including a complete medical history.

They will also perform x-rays to assess whether implants are viable for you, primarily based on the level of bone density in your jaw.

How long do dental implants take to complete?

The overall duration of a dental implant procedure hinges mainly on the length of time it takes for your jaw to heal following the initial implantation.

On average, there is a gap of 3 months between the implant fitting and having the prosthetic tooth attached.

However, the gap can be shorter in some cases.

Overall, we typically advise our patients that single-tooth dental implants can take up to 6-9 months to complete from start to finish.

What can I expect if I go ahead with a single-tooth implant?

If your medical history permits you to have dental implants, you will first undergo an x-ray to determine your suitability.

With this x-ray, your dentist checks the shape and density of your jaw bone, as well as other factors.

These factors can impact the viability of a dental implant procedure.

During the treatment, your dentist will numb the implantation site to ensure you don’t feel any discomfort during the procedure.

They will then place the implant into your jaw and attach a healing cap to protect it over the coming weeks and months.

Once the implantation process is complete, you must wait for it to heal before your dentist can attach your prosthetic tooth.

You will have periodic follow-up checks to assess the progress of your implant. Once the implant is securely placed, your dentist will fit your new crown, completing the process.

Is the procedure painful?

Modern local anaesthetics allow us to perform dental implant procedures with minimal discomfort to the patient.

If necessary, you can take over-the-counter pain-relief medications for a day or two after the procedure to alleviate any tenderness in the implant site.

How soon can I start eating on my dental implant?

You mustn’t disturb your dental implant the first few days following its placement.

Eat soft, non-sticky foods and avoid hot liquids for the first 24 hours. Do not drink through a straw, as the force may disrupt your implant.

Continue a soft-food diet for the first one to two weeks and avoid chewing in the area of the implant.

During the next 3 to 6 months, as the implant fuses with the bone in your jaw, avoiding hard and chewy foods as much as possible will aid the osseointegration process.

Once the process is complete, you can enjoy eating tough, crunchy foods, some of which you may have avoided even before you got a dental implant.

How do I care for my dental implant?

Cleaning implant-supported tooth replacements are just as necessary as cleaning natural teeth. Both structures depend on healthy surrounding tissues for support.

Plaque collects on the implant just as on natural teeth, so daily brushing and flossing at home are essential.

If daily cleaning is neglected, an infection known as peri-implantitis can develop, leading to loss of bone around the infected implant.

The dental hygienist plays an important role and will clean your implant without damaging the implant and crown.

Contact us or book an appointment online.