Dental Implants

A bridge or a denture replaces what you can see. An implant replaces what you cannot: the root. That distinction matters because the jawbone only keeps its volume while something is transmitting chewing load into it. When a tooth is lost and nothing takes over that job, the bone around the gap shrinks — noticeably within the first year, and it keeps going.

This is why implants are treated as the reference option rather than simply the most expensive one. The post is not cosmetic hardware; it is the part that keeps the bone working. Everything above it — abutment, crown, bridge — is replaceable over time.

Implants suit people who have lost one tooth, several teeth or a full arch, and who have enough healthy jawbone to hold the post. A dentist confirms this with a 3D cone-beam scan rather than a standard X-ray, because the scan shows bone height and width as well as the position of nerves and sinuses.

Where bone has already shrunk after long-term tooth loss, a graft or a sinus lift can rebuild it before the implant is placed. This adds three to six months to the timeline but does not rule out treatment.

Some conditions make implants riskier and need to be settled first:

• Untreated gum disease, which is the main cause of late implant failure
• Smoking, which measurably raises the failure rate and slows healing
• Uncontrolled diabetes, where poor glycaemic control impairs bone healing
• Recent or ongoing treatment with intravenous bisphosphonates
• Head and neck radiotherapy involving the jaw

1. Assessment and planning

The dentist takes a cone-beam scan and digital impressions, then plans the implant position in software. A surgical guide is often printed from that plan so the post goes in exactly where it was designed to.

2. Placing the implant

The post is placed under local anaesthetic in a procedure that usually takes 30 to 60 minutes per implant. Sedation is available for anxious patients. Most people return to non-physical work the next day.

3. Osseointegration

The bone grows onto the implant surface over roughly three to six months. This biological step cannot be rushed, and it is what gives the implant its long-term stability. A temporary tooth is normally fitted so you are not left with a visible gap.

4. The final crown

Once the implant is stable, an abutment connects it to a custom crown, bridge or denture. The restoration is matched to the shade and shape of the surrounding teeth.

Long-term studies put implant survival at roughly 95% at ten years when they are placed in healthy bone and maintained properly. Survival of the implant itself is not the same as the crown on top: crowns and, in particular, the screws and attachments in full-arch work are wearing parts and may need repair or replacement well before the implant does.

The single biggest factor in long-term success is your own maintenance. Peri-implantitis — inflammation and bone loss around the implant — is the main late complication, and it is driven by plaque, smoking and skipped check-ups.

Implant treatment needs at least two trips, or one trip plus a later return, because osseointegration takes months. Any offer that compresses the whole course into a single short visit deserves a direct question about which steps are being skipped.

• Follow-up. Who treats a complication after you fly home, and at whose cost?
• The implant brand. Ask for the system and reference number in writing. A widely distributed brand can be serviced anywhere; an obscure one may not be.
• The written plan. Number of implants, whether grafting is included, and the material of the final crown.
• Your records. Take the cone-beam scan, implant passport and treatment notes home with you.
• Timing with flights. Most surgeons advise avoiding air travel for a short period after sinus lifts in particular.

Five companies led the global implant market in 2025: the Straumann Group, Envista (which owns Nobel Biocare), Dentsply Sirona, Osstem and ZimVie. Their systems are the ones you will most often be offered, at home and abroad.

* Per implant, including abutment and crown, at private clinics in Turkey. Indicative ranges compiled from published 2026 clinic price lists; the exact price depends on the implant model, the crown material and whether bone grafting is needed. Confirm the brand, model and price in writing before treatment.

The brand moves the price by hundreds, not thousands. In UK private practice a single-tooth implant with abutment and crown typically costs £2,000–3,000 whichever of the premium or mid-range brands is used; a premium system adds roughly £200–500 per implant. Surgeon experience, grafting, sedation and the crown material usually change the total more.

For a straightforward case, what matters more than the logo is that the system is widely distributed, so a dentist at home can source parts and service it later. Ask for the brand, the model and the reference number in writing, and keep the implant passport.

Price per implant varies widely by country, by the implant system used and by whether grafting is needed. Quotes are only comparable when they cover the same scope: implant, abutment and final crown, plus any bone work and the follow-up appointments. A headline price for the post alone will not reflect what you finally pay.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Whether implants are right for you depends on your own examination and imaging. Discuss your options with a qualified dentist or oral surgeon before deciding.