A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone to hold a replacement tooth. This guide explains what implants are, who they suit, how treatment runs and what to expect in the years afterwards.
Key points
- A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone to act as an artificial root, with an abutment and a crown, bridge or denture fixed above it.
- Treatment runs in stages with healing time between them, and NHS guidance says the whole process could take 6 to 12 months.2
- A systematic review of studies with at least ten years of follow-up found 94.6 percent of implants still in place after 13.4 years on average.3
- Risks include an implant that does not bond, inflammation of the gum around an implant, and parts that wear or loosen.24
- Daily cleaning, not smoking and check-ups every three to six months are the main ways to protect an implant.1
Losing a tooth is more than a gap in your smile. Chewing changes, neighbouring teeth can drift, and the bone that once held the tooth slowly shrinks. Dental implants are one of several ways to replace missing teeth, and many people choose them because the new tooth is held by the jaw and not by the teeth on either side. This guide is written for patients who are deciding whether to ask about implants, and it covers the whole journey in plain language.
What a dental implant is
An implant has three parts. The post sits in the bone and acts as an artificial root. The abutment is a small connector that joins the post to the visible tooth. The crown, bridge or denture is the part you see and bite with. Once the bone has bonded to the post, the new tooth can be used for biting and chewing much like a natural one.1
Implants can replace one tooth, several teeth or a whole arch. For a single gap, one post carries one crown. For several missing teeth, a few posts can carry a bridge. For a jaw with no teeth, a full set of teeth can be fixed to a handful of posts. We explain the main designs in our guide to the types of dental implants.
How treatment runs, stage by stage
Implant treatment is not a single appointment. It is a series of stages with healing time between them.
- Examination and planning. Your dentist looks at your teeth, gums and bite, asks about your health and medicines, and uses X-rays or a 3D scan to see how much bone you have.
- Preparing the mouth. Gum disease, decay or infection are treated first. If there is too little bone, a bone graft may be advised, which adds healing time and can bring swelling, bruising and pain.12
- Placing the post. The post is placed in the jawbone, usually under local anaesthetic. Some people are offered sedation as well, which is a matter to discuss at the planning visit.
- Healing. Over the following months the bone bonds to the post. NHS patient information puts this at about three to six months, and longer if a graft was needed.1
- Fitting the tooth. The abutment and the final crown, bridge or denture are made and fitted, and your bite is checked.
- Maintenance. Regular check-ups protect the gums and bone around the implant. NHS guidance suggests monitoring every three to six months over the long term.1
From the first visit to the final tooth, NHS guidance says the whole process could take 6 to 12 months.2 Your dentist can tell you what is likely for your own mouth, because a graft, a tooth that must be removed first or a gum problem can change the plan. Our step-by-step article on the implant procedure goes through each visit in more detail.
Who dental implants usually suit
Your dentist decides after an examination and imaging, and may suggest treating other problems first.1 In general, implants suit people who:
- have enough healthy jawbone, or are willing to have a bone graft first;
- keep their teeth and gums clean and attend regular check-ups;
- have no untreated gum disease, because gum treatment comes first;
- are willing to stop smoking, because NHS guidance asks patients to stop at least six months before treatment.1
Implants 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 teenager whose jaws are still growing.2 Always tell your dentist about every condition and medicine. If you are not sure whether you need an implant at all, read when a dental implant is advised.
How long implants last, and what the research says
No one can promise how long a particular implant will last, but large reviews give a useful picture. A systematic review of studies that followed patients for at least ten years found that 94.6 percent of implants were still in place after 13.4 years on average.3 That figure is for groups of patients, not a promise for one person, and the implants in those studies were looked after and followed up.
What can go wrong
Every treatment has risks, and implants are no exception.
- The implant may not bond to the bone. NHS guidance describes a small risk that this happens and the implant has to be removed, higher in smokers.2
- The gum around the implant can become inflamed or infected. A systematic review found that on average 43 percent of patients had inflamed gum around an implant (peri-implant mucositis) and 22 percent had the more serious form that destroys bone (peri-implantitis), with wide differences between studies.4 Inadequate cleaning can lead to long-term bone loss.1
- Parts can wear or loosen. The screw or the crown can loosen or wear with time and may need repair or replacement.2
- Feeling can change. Altered feeling or numbness in the lip or chin is very rare and usually settles.1
The common thread is cleaning and follow-up. Brush twice a day, clean around the implant with interdental brushes and keep your check-ups.1
Caring for an implant
An implant cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can still be affected by plaque, which is why daily cleaning matters. A few habits make a real difference:
- brush twice a day with a soft brush;
- clean between the teeth and around the implant with interdental brushes or floss, as your dentist shows you;
- do not smoke, because smoking raises the chance that an implant does not bond;
- keep your check-ups, and tell your dentist early if the gum bleeds, the tooth feels loose or the bite feels different.
If you want to know what the first days feel like, read our guide to aftercare and recovery.
Alternatives to an implant
An implant is not the only answer. A fixed bridge uses the teeth on either side of the gap, which are shaped to carry crowns. Dentures are removable and need no surgery. Some people decide to leave the gap, and that is also a legitimate choice if the gap is not causing problems. Our articles compare a bridge with an implant and dentures with implants, and the page on missing teeth explains all the options.
Questions to ask at your consultation
Take a short list with you. Useful questions include: Which treatment do you advise for my mouth and why? Do I need a bone graft? How long will each stage take? What are the risks for me? What will I need to do at home? Who will I see for check-ups, and how often? A good consultation explains the choices, including the choice to do nothing, and does not rush you.
At Orion Dental Clinic, both doctors place implants, and planning uses a 3D scan so that the position of the post can be worked out from your own bone. Our page on dental implants sets out what the first visit involves.
Key terms in plain words
- Post (or fixture): the titanium screw that sits in the bone like a root.
- Abutment: the connector between the post and the crown.
- Crown, bridge or denture: the visible replacement teeth.
- Osseointegration: the way bone bonds to the post, which takes months.
- Bone graft: material that adds bone where there is too little.
- Sinus lift: a procedure that adds bone beneath the sinus in the upper back jaw.
- 3D scan (CBCT): an image that shows bone height, width, nerves and sinus in three dimensions.
- Peri-implant inflammation: inflammation of the gum and bone around an implant, caused by plaque.
Knowing these words makes consultations easier to follow, and a good dentist will explain each as it comes up.
Implant, bridge or denture: a quick guide
| Implant | Bridge | Denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it replaces | Root and crown | Crown only, carried by neighbouring teeth | Teeth, resting on the gums |
| Surgery | Yes | No | No |
| Time | Several months | A few weeks | A few weeks |
| Neighbouring teeth | Not touched | Shaped to carry crowns | Clasps may touch them |
| Removable | No, or clip-on for some designs | No | Yes |
| Bone | Stays stimulated around the post | Not stimulated under the gap | Not stimulated |
Each has a place. The right one depends on your mouth, your health and what matters most to you, so ask your dentist why they suggest one and what the others would involve.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the whole implant process take?
NHS guidance says the whole process could take 6 to 12 months, with three to six months of healing before the crown is fitted.2 A bone graft adds at least four months.1
Does getting an implant hurt?
Treatment is done under anaesthetic. Afterwards, some bleeding, swelling and discomfort are common for a few days.1 Read more in our article on whether dental implants hurt.
Can anyone have a dental implant?
Not everyone. Your dentist decides after an examination and imaging, and may advise treating gum disease or building up bone first.1
What happens if an implant fails?
A small number of implants do not bond to the bone and have to be removed.2 Your dentist can discuss whether a new implant is possible once the area has healed.
Do I need check-ups after the tooth is fitted?
Yes. Regular check-ups protect the gums and bone around the implant, and NHS guidance suggests every three to six months over the long term.1
What is the difference between an implant and a crown?
A crown is the visible tooth. An implant is the post in the bone that holds it, and a crown or bridge is fixed above it.
Are implants noticeable?
A well-made crown is matched to your teeth in shape and colour, so it should look like the others. The dentist can show you how the colour and shape are planned.
About the author
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
- 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/
- Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants (patient information). https://guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/dental-implants
- Moraschini V, Poubel LA, Ferreira VF, Barboza EdS. Evaluation of survival and success rates of dental implants reported in longitudinal studies with a follow-up period of at least 10 years: a systematic review. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2015. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25467739/
- 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
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.