A patient guide to dental implants
How dental implants work, and who they suit.
If you are comparing dental implants near you, start with the plan rather than the headline price. An implant replaces the root as well as the tooth, stands on its own and leaves neighbouring teeth alone. At Sunny Dental, the assessment, placement and restoration are coordinated by one dentist — with the complete dental implant cost explained in writing before treatment begins.
Who implants suit
When an implant is the right answer
Implants are the closest thing dentistry has to replacing a tooth outright — but they are not the only option, and they are not right for everyone. A bridge or a well-made denture is sometimes the better call.
- A single missing tooth you'd rather not file down neighbours for
- A tooth that is failing and will need removing
- An old bridge that has come to the end of its life
- A denture that moves, clicks or catches when you eat
- Several missing back teeth making chewing hard work
- A gap you've lived with for years and finally want closed
How treatment works
Four stages, fully explained
The assessment
A full examination, photographs and a 3D scan so we can see the bone, the nerve and the space we're working with. If an implant is not the right answer for you, I'll say so at this appointment.
The plan
The whole treatment is planned backwards from the finished tooth — where it needs to sit, how it should look, and what has to happen underneath to support it. You get that in writing, with fixed costs, before anything starts.
Placing the implant
A single visit under local anaesthetic, usually more straightforward than patients expect. The implant then needs time to fuse with the bone — typically three to four months, during which you are never left with a visible gap.
The crown
Once the implant is solid, the final tooth is made to match the ones beside it in shade, shape and texture. Then we review it, and look after it together at your regular hygiene visits.
From the journal
Read before you decide
The three questions I'm asked most about implants — dental implant cost, how long they last and whether they hurt — answered in full.
How much do dental implants cost in the UK?
What an implant actually includes, why quotes differ so much, and the parts of the price people are most often surprised by.
Read the guideHow long do dental implants last?
The honest lifespan of an implant and its crown, what shortens it, and what upkeep genuinely makes a difference.
Read the guideAre dental implants painful?
What the day itself is really like, what the following week feels like, and how we handle it if you're nervous.
Read the guideCommon questions
Implants, answered honestly
Am I too old for an implant?
Age itself is rarely the deciding factor — health and bone are. Well-controlled medical conditions are usually fine. What matters is whether the bone can support the implant and whether your gums are healthy, both of which we check at the assessment.
What if there isn't enough bone?
It's common, particularly where a tooth has been missing for years. Bone can often be rebuilt, either at the same time as placing the implant or as a separate step beforehand. The scan tells us which, and I'll explain what that adds in time and cost before you commit.
How long does the whole thing take?
Most single implants take four to six months from placement to final crown, because the implant needs time to fuse with the bone. You are not left with a gap during that period — a temporary tooth covers it.
Is a bridge not simpler?
Sometimes it is, and I'll tell you when. A bridge is quicker and does not involve surgery, but it usually means preparing the healthy teeth either side. An implant leaves those teeth untouched. We'll weigh both up properly rather than defaulting to one.
Before you decide
Risks and alternatives
Like any dental treatment, dental implant treatment carries risks, and whether it suits you depends on a full examination. Things to weigh up can include sensitivity, the need for maintenance or replacement in future, and whether healthy tooth structure has to be altered.
Alternatives may include a less invasive option, a different treatment, or no treatment at all. Your written plan sets out the risks, alternatives and fees that apply to you before you decide.