Your implant journey, step by step
Every treatment is different, but most follow the same stages. Here is what happens at each one, roughly how long it takes and what it costs where we can say in advance. Your own timings and fees are set out in your written plan before anything begins.
From consultation to new teeth, most treatment takes 3 to 9 months, or 9 to 18 months if you need bone grafting first.
The stages of treatment
1. Consultation
30 minutes · £95, or £150 with Dr Ross Cutts
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Initial clinical consultation (30 minutes) | A full examination of your mouth and a talk about your options. You receive a fully costed plan for your treatment and a letter explaining the whole procedure. | £95 |
| Initial clinical consultation with Dr Ross Cutts (30 minutes) | The same full consultation, with our principal dentist, Dr Ross Cutts. You receive a fully costed plan for your treatment and a letter explaining the whole procedure. | £150 |
Your first appointment is a full clinical consultation. We talk about what's bothering you and what you'd like, carry out a thorough examination of your mouth, and explain your options. It's also the time to mention any social engagements, travel plans, work commitments or budget you'd like us to plan around, so the stages of treatment can be timed to suit you.
If you are nervous, the consultation goes at your pace, with an explanation at every step. We agree a stop signal before we begin: raise your hand and we stop.
2. CBCT 3D scan
At our Cirencester practice · £210, if needed
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| CBCT 3D scan (at our Cirencester practice) | A 3D X-ray of your jaw that shows the shape and depth of the bone, so implants can be planned precisely. Charged in addition to the consultation, only if a scan is needed. | £210 |
To plan your treatment properly, we need a clear picture of your teeth and jaws. That can include photographs, X-rays and models or digital scans of your teeth. Often we recommend a CBCT scan too.
Ordinary dental X-rays are two-dimensional and can be slightly distorted. Where important structures such as nerves and sinuses must be avoided, they may not give enough information. A CBCT scan (cone beam CT, a type of 3D X-ray) gives life-size, three-dimensional images of your upper and lower jaw, so precise measurements can be taken before treatment. It can also be used to check a bone graft before implants are placed.
3. Planning and your written plan
May take a month or so
We use your examination, scans and records to plan your treatment in detail. As a general principle, using more implants spreads the forces of biting so that each one carries less load; your plan explains how many you need and why.
You receive a fully costed, individual treatment plan and a letter explaining the whole procedure. You sign the plan before any treatment begins, so you know exactly what's involved and what it will cost before you decide.
4. Any treatment needed first
From a few weeks to many months
Implants do best in a healthy mouth, so some people need treatment before their implants can be placed:
- Gum health. This may mean learning special cleaning techniques, using floss and small "bottle" brushes between your teeth, and sometimes gum treatment.
- Removing teeth that can't be saved. Some teeth reach a stage where no treatment can save them. If you are thinking about implants, it is often best to remove them early, because unhealthy teeth can harbour bacteria that put nearby implants at risk.
- Treating infection. Infection from a failed root canal or gum treatment, untreated gum disease, or long-standing soreness under a denture can affect how well implants heal. Your treatment may wait until these are resolved. We look at your mouth as a whole, not just the gap.
- Building up bone. If there isn't enough bone, it may need to be grafted first. See Will I need bone grafting? below.
5. Implant placement
Avoid big social or work commitments for at least a week afterwards; time off work isn't usually needed
Implants are usually placed under local anaesthetic. If you are anxious, treatment can be carried out under intravenous (IV) sedation, so you feel deeply relaxed. Nervous patients and sedation →
Afterwards you may have some slight bruising, a dull ache or swelling. How much depends on how many implants are placed and how involved the surgery is. You may feel some discomfort in the week after surgery, as you might after a tooth is taken out. If we prescribe medicine to help healing, please follow the instructions you are given.
If you wear a denture, it may need adjusting, or you may be asked to leave it out for a while, so that it doesn't press on the new implants.
Aftercare instructions and leaflets
6. Healing
Usually 6 to 12 weeks before your teeth are fitted
The implants are left to settle while the bone bonds to them. In some cases implants are suitable for use straight away, with temporary or final teeth fitted at the time they are placed or soon after. Your plan will say which applies to you. If you have a bone graft, healing takes longer.
Please don't be tempted to hurry this stage, and we won't either. Even treatment that is well planned and carried out can fail if it moves on before the bone and gum have fully healed.
7. Your new teeth
Fitting usually takes a couple of weeks
Once the implants have settled, your crowns or bridge are fitted, or your denture is attached to the implants. Precise impressions, often digital ones taken with our iTero scanner, help them fit accurately. About iTero scanning →
8. Aftercare
Hygienist visits every 2 to 3 months; check-ups every 6 months, or more often if advised
Implants can't decay, but like teeth they can suffer from gum problems, and untreated gum problems can lead to an implant being lost. Thorough daily cleaning is as important with implants as it is with teeth. Review appointments are usually more frequent in the first year that your implants are in use.
Will I need bone grafting?
After a tooth is removed, the bone that supported it slowly shrinks away. This happens faster if there have been long-standing gum problems or a poorly fitting denture. Sometimes there isn't enough bone left to hold an implant, so new bone has to be created first.
- Bone grafting adds bone where it is missing. The bone used can be your own (taken from another site) or a bone substitute from an external source.
- Guided bone regeneration uses a biomaterial to encourage your own bone to grow where there is less bone than ideal.
- A sinus lift (sinus augmentation) builds up bone in the space above the upper back teeth, where the bone is often too shallow for implants. Your own bone, a biomaterial or both can be used, and over time it is replaced by new bone.
How grafting changes the timings
- With no grafting, implants are commonly ready to begin function 6 to 12 weeks after placement.
- Grafting at the same time as the implant usually means 9 to 12 weeks of healing.
- Grafting first, and placing the implant once the graft has matured, means treatment may take 9 to 18 months overall.
- After a sinus lift, implants can usually be placed after 3 to 9 months, occasionally longer. If the bone over the sinus is adequate, implants are sometimes placed at the same time as the graft. Healing is then usually a little longer, on average 3 to 9 months, before your denture, crown or bridge is fitted.
Every bone graft is unique to the person, so these timings are a guide only.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial bone (guided tissue regeneration) | A bone-substitute material placed where the bone is too thin, to help new bone form around an implant. | from £480 |
| Bone grafting (complex) | More extensive bone grafting, for cases where more bone has to be rebuilt to hold an implant. | from £1,350 |
| Sinus grafting | Building up bone beneath the sinus, above the upper back teeth (a sinus lift), so implants can be placed there. | from £1,650 |
Risks, and what can go wrong
Implant treatment is well established, but like any treatment it carries risks. Knowing about them helps you look after your implants and spot problems early.
- An implant may not bond with the bone. If an implant becomes loose during healing or just after, it is removed and the jaw heals in the normal way. Once it has healed, another implant can be placed, or a bridge can be made using the implants that have bonded.
- Bone can be lost around an implant. If the cause can be found, there are ways to treat it. In some cases, though, bone loss continues and the implant is lost. Seeing a dental hygienist routinely reduces this risk.
- Gum disease. Implants can fail because of gum disease, just as teeth can. Keeping them clean every day matters.
- Smoking and alcohol. Smoking and heavy drinking reduce how well implants (and teeth) survive and raise the risk of an implant failing.
- Chips and loosening. Porcelain crowns on implants can chip or break, as they can on natural teeth, though they are usually easier to remove from an implant for repair. An implant bridge that becomes loose should be re-tightened straight away to avoid further damage. An implant that becomes loose will not re-tighten and should be removed as soon as possible.
- Accidents. Implants and their teeth can be damaged in an accident, just as natural teeth can, so wear a professionally made mouthguard for contact sports.
If you notice soreness, discharge or pain when chewing near any implant or tooth, tell us straight away. Whatever is worrying you, however small it seems, call us: usually there is nothing to worry about, but it is always better to check.
Can my plan or fees change during treatment?
Sometimes. Fees may change if:
- your treatment plan changes and a different procedure is needed
- a new treatment becomes available during your treatment
- treatment takes longer than expected
Implant dentistry moves on, and we may use a new procedure or material if it promises a significantly better result for you. Any change in cost is fully explained to you before it is incurred.
Questions about timings
Does my mouth need to be healthy before I have implants?
Yes. Implants do well in a healthy mouth, so any tooth decay or gum problems need treating first. This might mean gum treatment, and help with brushing and cleaning between your teeth. Teeth that can’t be saved are usually better removed early, because they can harbour bacteria that put implants at risk. Infections from failed gum or root canal treatment, or under a denture, may also need to clear before we start. We look at your mouth as a whole, not just the gap. This preparation can take anything from a few weeks to several months.
What tests will I need before my treatment is planned?
To plan your treatment properly, we usually need photographs, X-rays and models of your teeth and jaws. In some cases we’ll also recommend a CBCT scan, a 3D X-ray that shows the shape of your jaws in much more detail than an ordinary X-ray. The planning stage, up to your written plan, may take a month or so. If you need any treatment first, we’ll explain it in your plan.
How long does implant treatment take?
It depends on how complex your treatment is. Planning usually takes a month or so. If any treatment is needed first, such as gum treatment, removing teeth that can’t be saved or building up bone, that can take from a few weeks to several months. Once placed, implants are usually left to settle for 6 to 12 weeks before your teeth are fitted. Fitting your final crown, bridge or denture typically takes a couple of weeks.
Can I have teeth fitted on the same day as my implants?
Sometimes. In some cases implants are suitable for use straight away, with temporary or final teeth fitted at the time the implants are placed, or soon after. Whether this is possible depends on your individual situation, and we’ll tell you at your consultation if it’s an option for you. Otherwise, implants are left to settle for some weeks before your final teeth are fitted.
Will I need time off work after my implant is placed?
Time off work isn’t usually necessary. Just to be on the safe side, though, avoid booking important social events or work commitments for at least a week after your implants are placed. If you have IV sedation, you’ll need to rest for a day or two and follow the sedation advice we give you.
Why can't treatment be speeded up?
Your bone and gums need time to heal fully between each stage. Neither you nor your dentist should try to move on faster than that healing allows: even treatment that is well planned and carried out can fail if it moves too quickly from one stage to the next. We’ll agree a timetable with you at the start, and plan around your commitments where we can.
Can I have implants in stages?
Sometimes. It can be possible to have two or three implants placed, use them for a while, and add more later. This doesn’t suit every situation and works most often for a lower jaw with no teeth. For example, two or more implants can first be used to hold a lower denture firmly in place. Later, if there is enough bone, more implants can be added and fixed teeth fitted, so you no longer need the denture. We’ll tell you at your consultation whether this could work for you.
How much longer does treatment take if I need bone grafting?
Grafting usually adds time, because the new bone has to mature. Without grafting, implants are commonly ready to use after 6 to 12 weeks. If grafting is done at the same time as your implants, it’s more likely to take 9 to 12 weeks. If your implants have to wait until the graft has matured, treatment may take 9 to 18 months overall. After a sinus lift, implants can usually be placed after 3 to 9 months, then heal for a further 3 to 9 months on average before your teeth are fitted. Every graft is different, so these times are a guide.
Ready to take the first step?
Book a consultation to talk through your options. You'll receive a fully costed, written plan before any treatment begins.