Skip to main content

Orion Dental Care, GK 1

Basement, E-75, Greater Kailash-1, New Delhi 110048Mon to Sat, 9:30 am to 8:00 pm  |  098115 01995
Book on WhatsApp

Single Tooth Implants: What to Know Before You Decide

A single tooth implant replaces one tooth and its root, and leaves the teeth on either side alone. This guide explains how it works, what to expect and what the research says.

Key points

  • A single tooth implant replaces one tooth and its root, and the neighbouring teeth are not involved.
  • The usual stages are a consultation and scan, preparation, placing the post, healing, the crown and regular check-ups.12
  • NHS guidance says the whole process could take 6 to 12 months.2
  • A systematic review of 26 studies found 96.8 percent of implants supporting single crowns still in place after five years, which is a group figure and not a promise.3
  • Risks include an implant that does not bond, inflammation of the gum around it and parts that wear or loosen.

When one tooth is lost, you have a few choices. You can leave the gap, you can have a bridge that joins a false tooth to crowns on the teeth either side, you can have a removable denture, or you can have an implant. A single tooth implant is the option that replaces the lost tooth on its own, from the root up.

How a single tooth implant works

A titanium post is placed in the jawbone where the root was. Over the months that follow, the bone bonds to the post, a process called osseointegration. A connector (abutment) and a crown are then fixed on, so the new tooth can be used for biting and chewing much like a natural one.1

The key difference from a bridge is that the neighbouring teeth are not involved. With a conventional bridge, the teeth beside the gap are shaped to carry crowns, and decay and gum disease at those teeth are the commonest reasons bridges are lost.5 An implant avoids that, as long as the neighbouring teeth are healthy and not in need of crowns anyway.

Who a single implant usually suits

Your dentist decides after an examination and imaging. A single implant generally suits:

  • people with enough bone, in both height and width, where the tooth was lost, or who are willing to have a bone graft first;1
  • people whose neighbouring teeth and gums are healthy and who keep them clean;1
  • people who are ready to stop smoking, because smokers have a much greater failure rate and NHS guidance asks patients to stop at least six months before treatment.1

It may be less suitable, or need more planning, if you grind your teeth, because grinding can overload an implant, if you have health conditions or take medicines that affect healing, or if you are a child or teenager whose jaws are still growing.12

The stages for one tooth

This is the usual order for one tooth.12

  1. Consultation and scan. Your dentist examines your mouth, discusses your health and uses X-rays or a 3D scan to see the bone.
  2. Preparation. Any gum disease or decay is treated first. If a graft is needed, it adds at least four months.1
  3. Placing the post. This is done under local anaesthetic. A temporary tooth may be fitted while you heal.
  4. Healing. The bone bonds to the post, usually over about three to six months, longer if a graft was needed.1
  5. The crown. An impression is taken, and the crown is made, fitted and checked for bite and appearance.
  6. Check-ups. Regular reviews protect the gums and bone around the implant. NHS guidance puts them at every three to six months.1

NHS guidance says the whole process could take 6 to 12 months.2 Read our step-by-step article on the implant procedure for more detail.

What the research says

A systematic review of 26 studies found that 96.8 percent of implants supporting single crowns were still in place after five years, and 94.5 percent of the crowns on them.3 In the same review, fracture of the implant itself was very rare, at 0.14 percent, but over five years the screw or abutment loosened in 12.7 percent of cases and gum problems occurred next to 9.7 percent of crowns, and 6.3 percent of the implants lost more than 2 mm of bone.3 Metal-ceramic crowns lasted better than all-ceramic crowns over five years, 95.4 percent against 91.2 percent, but materials change, so ask what is advised for your tooth and your bite.3

These are figures for groups of patients, not promises for one person.

What can go wrong

  • The implant may not bond. NHS guidance describes a small risk that an implant does not join the bone and has to be removed.2
  • The gum around the implant can become inflamed. A review of 11 studies found that on average 43 percent of patients had inflamed gum around an implant and 22 percent had the more serious form that destroys bone, with wide differences between studies.4
  • Parts can wear. The crown can wear or loosen sooner than the post, which is why regular check-ups matter.2
  • Feeling can change. Altered feeling in the lip or chin is very rare and usually settles.1

Single implant or bridge?

A bridge is quicker, because it needs no surgery or healing period for bone, but it uses the neighbouring teeth. An implant takes longer but leaves them alone. Our article bridge or dental implants? compares the two, and our dental bridges page explains how a bridge is made.

Looking after a single implant

  • Brush twice a day and clean around the implant with an interdental brush.
  • Do not smoke.
  • Attend check-ups.
  • If you grind your teeth, ask about a night guard.

Our guide to aftercare and recovery tips covers the first days and weeks.

What you wear in the gap while you wait

Many people worry about a gap in the smile during healing. Ask about the options in advance, since they depend on where the gap is.

  • A temporary denture or retainer with a tooth attached, which can be taken out to clean.
  • A tooth bonded to its neighbours for a short time, suited to some front teeth.
  • A temporary crown on the implant, in some cases, if the bone allows it.
  • No replacement, if the gap is at the back and does not show.

Temporary teeth should not press on the healing area, so follow the advice on wearing and cleaning them. If a temporary tooth breaks or comes off, contact the clinic.

Choosing the right time to replace a tooth

Timing depends on the reason the tooth was lost. If a tooth has just been taken out, the dentist may place an implant at the same time, wait for the socket to heal or plan a graft. Waiting a long time can allow the bone to shrink and the neighbouring teeth to drift, which may make treatment more complex. On the other hand, treating infection or gum disease first can protect the implant.1

Ask your dentist what is advised in your case and why, and what could happen if you leave the gap. You do not have to rush, but you should know what waiting involves.

Questions about the crown

The visible tooth is the part you will notice most, so it is worth asking about.

  • What will the crown be made of, and why?
  • How will it be matched to my other teeth in shade, shape and size?
  • Will it be screwed or cemented in place?
  • Who makes it, and can I see the shade tried in first?
  • What happens if it chips or loosens?
  • Will I be given a record of the implant and crown, so that a future dentist can maintain it?

Clear answers show that the crown is part of the plan, not an afterthought.

Myths and facts about single implants

Myth: a single implant is a minor procedure. It is a surgical operation, usually under local anaesthetic, with a healing period of months.1

Myth: it always needs a graft. Not always. Your scan shows whether you have enough bone, and a graft adds at least four months if needed.1

Fact: a single implant can sit among healthy teeth without involving them. That is its main attraction over a bridge.

Your questions at each stage

  • Before: Do I have enough bone? Which tooth should be replaced first? What are my alternatives?
  • During: What anaesthetic will I have? What will I wear while I heal?
  • After: When can I chew on it? What check-ups do I need?

Frequently asked questions

Can a single implant be placed at the same visit as an extraction?

Sometimes. It depends on the bone around the socket and the state of the gum, which your scan and examination show.

Will a single implant look like my other teeth?

The crown is made to match the shape and colour of your other teeth, and your dentist checks the appearance before it is fixed.

Does a single implant need special cleaning?

Brushing and cleaning around it with interdental brushes or floss, as your dentist shows you. Cleaning matters because gum around an implant can become inflamed.4

How do I know whether I need an implant or a bridge?

It depends on your neighbouring teeth, your bone and your preferences. Our single tooth implant page explains the process, and your dentist can talk through the choices.

Can a front tooth be replaced with an implant?

Yes. Front teeth need careful planning for the look of the gum and the crown, and your dentist will explain what to expect.

Do I need a temporary tooth?

Often one is fitted for appearance while the bone heals.

Can a front tooth implant look natural?

A well-made crown is matched to your neighbouring teeth in shade, shape and size, and the gum shape is also planned. Ask to see how the dentist will match yours.

How soon after losing a tooth can an implant be placed?

It depends. Sometimes it is placed at the time of extraction, sometimes after the socket heals, and sometimes after a graft. Your scan and your dentist decide.1

About the author

Portrait of Dr Anupam Sinha

Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics. BDS (2002), KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum. MDS in Orthodontics (2006), SDM College of Dental Sciences, Dharwad. His thesis work won a national research award in 2005, and he holds a certification in aesthetic dentistry. He sees patients at Orion Dental Clinic in Greater Kailash 1, South Delhi. Read the full profile of Dr Anupam Sinha.

Sources

  1. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry (patient information). https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/patient-information/dental-implants-in-restorative-dentistry/
  2. Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants (patient information). https://guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/dental-implants
  3. Jung RE, Pjetursson BE, Glauser R, Zembic A, Zwahlen M, Lang NP. A systematic review of the 5-year survival and complication rates of implant-supported single crowns. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2008;19(2):119-130. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18067597/
  4. Derks J, Tomasi C. Peri-implant health and disease. A systematic review of current epidemiology. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2015;42(Suppl 16):S158-S171. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.12334
  5. Tan K, Pjetursson BE, Lang NP, Chan ES. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of fixed partial dentures (FPDs) after an observation period of at least 5 years. III. Conventional FPDs. Clinical Oral Implants Research, 2004;15(6):654-666. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15533126/

Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on . General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.