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Call us: 0115 647 9990
Mapperley Dental Studio · 870 Woodborough Road · 0115 647 9990
Replacing the root, not just the tooth
A fixed replacement for a missing tooth that stands on its own and does not rely on the teeth either side.
An implant is a titanium post placed in the jawbone to support a crown, bridge or denture. Treatment takes months rather than weeks because the bone must fuse to the implant before it can carry load.
Assessment and written plan before any surgery is agreed
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
The straight answer
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Over several months the bone fuses to its surface, a process called osseointegration. Once stable, the implant supports a crown, bridge or denture, restoring appearance and chewing function without involving the neighbouring teeth.
A missing tooth affects chewing and appearance, and the bone that supported it shrinks over time. Neighbouring teeth can drift into the space and the opposing tooth can over-erupt, altering the bite.
After assessment, including radiographs and often three-dimensional imaging, the implant is placed into prepared bone under local anaesthetic. A healing period follows. Once integration is confirmed, an abutment and the final restoration are fitted.
Implants have a good long-term record but they are not guaranteed and they are not maintenance free. They can fail to integrate, and the gum and bone around them can become inflamed and lose support in a condition similar to gum disease.
Why patients come to us
A single missing back tooth affects chewing and allows the neighbouring and opposing teeth to move. An implant fills the space without cutting down healthy teeth either side.
Practical outcome: function restored, and the surrounding teeth left untouched.
A lower denture in particular can be unstable because there is little ridge to hold it. Implants can be used to secure a denture rather than replacing it entirely.
Practical outcome: a denture that stays where it is put, often using a small number of implants.
A conventional bridge requires preparing the teeth either side of the gap, permanently removing enamel from teeth that may be perfectly healthy.
Practical outcome: the gap filled with nothing done to the neighbouring teeth.
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Suitability
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
Gums, remaining teeth, bite and bone volume are assessed, with radiographs and often three-dimensional imaging to plan position and check nearby structures such as nerves and sinuses.
Gum disease and decay are treated before surgery. Placing an implant into an unhealthy mouth is a leading cause of later problems.
You receive a plan setting out the stages, timescales, risks, alternatives and total cost, including the restoration, before anything is booked.
Under local anaesthetic the site is prepared and the implant placed. The gum is closed with stitches. Most patients describe the sensation as pressure rather than pain.
Several months are allowed for bone to fuse to the implant. A temporary tooth may be provided during this period where appearance matters.
Once integration is confirmed, a digital scan is taken and the final crown, bridge or denture attachment is made and fitted.
Implants are reviewed at regular intervals with specific cleaning advice, since the tissues around them require ongoing care.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Three legitimate ways to replace a missing tooth. Each suits different circumstances, and none is best in every category.
| Dental implant | Conventional bridge | Removable denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best suited to | One or more gaps with healthy gums and adequate bone | A single gap with sound teeth either side that would benefit from crowning anyway | Several missing teeth, or where cost or health rules out surgery |
| Fixed or removable | Fixed | Fixed | Removable |
| Neighbouring teeth | Untouched | Permanently prepared, removing healthy enamel | Untouched, though clasps rest on them |
| Typical treatment time | Several months | A few weeks | A few weeks |
| Healing required | Yes, bone must fuse to the implant | No | No, though extractions may need to heal first |
| Effect on bone | Helps maintain bone at the site | Bone under the gap continues to shrink | Bone continues to shrink, so the fit changes over time |
| Maintenance | Brushing and cleaning around the implant, plus regular professional review | Cleaning under the bridge with floss threaders or interdental brushes | Removing and cleaning daily, with periodic adjustment or replacement |
| Indicative cost | Highest of the three | Middle | Lowest |
| Main advantage | Stands alone and preserves neighbouring teeth | Fixed result in a much shorter timescale | Least invasive and least expensive |
| Main consideration | Surgery, months of healing and the highest cost | Healthy teeth are cut down and the whole bridge is at risk if one abutment fails | Moves during function and needs adjusting as the ridge changes |
Scroll the table sideways to see every option.
Fees
Implant treatment starts from £3,500. It is planned individually and costed in writing after assessment, because the number of implants, the need for grafting and the type of restoration all change the total.
One examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
Implant placement is carried out under local anaesthetic. Most patients describe pressure and vibration rather than pain, and many report it as more comfortable than they expected.
Agree a hand signal before starting. Tell your clinician immediately if you feel anything sharp, and more anaesthetic can be given.
Swelling, bruising and discomfort for two to three days are usual. Take painkillers as advised, eat soft food, avoid the site when brushing initially and use any rinse prescribed. Do not smoke, since it substantially increases the risk of failure.
Contact the practice if pain increases after the third day, if swelling worsens rather than improves, if you develop a fever, or if the implant feels loose at any stage.
Common questions
Usually several months from placement to the final restoration, because bone needs time to fuse to the implant before it can carry load. Where extractions or bone grafting are needed first, the timescale is longer. Your written plan sets out the stages so you know what to expect before starting.
The area is fully numbed with local anaesthetic, and most patients describe the procedure as pressure rather than pain. Discomfort, swelling and bruising for two to three days afterwards are usual and are normally managed with ordinary painkillers. We cannot promise a pain-free experience, but treatment stops if you are uncomfortable.
Well-maintained implants in a healthy mouth have a good long-term record, but no clinician can guarantee a lifespan and it would be wrong to suggest otherwise. Longevity depends on gum health, cleaning, smoking, grinding and general health. The restoration on top will need replacing at some point regardless.
No. Adequate bone volume and healthy gums are needed. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications affecting bone, previous radiotherapy to the jaws, and active gum disease all affect suitability. Some of these rule treatment out; others need managing first. Assessment with imaging comes before anything is recommended.
Bone grafting can build the site up, and in the upper back jaw a sinus procedure may be used to create height. Both add time and cost. In some cases a shorter or differently angled implant, or a different treatment altogether such as a bridge or denture, is the more sensible option.
Neither is better in every situation. An implant leaves neighbouring teeth untouched and helps maintain bone, but requires surgery, months of healing and a higher cost. A bridge is quicker and less expensive, but permanently prepares the teeth either side. Where those teeth already need crowns, a bridge can be the more logical choice.
They can develop peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition of the gum and bone around an implant that behaves much like gum disease and destroys supporting bone. It is often painless until advanced, which is why daily cleaning and regular professional maintenance appointments are not optional extras.
Implant treatment starts from £3,500. The final figure depends on how many implants are needed, whether bone grafting is required first, and whether the restoration is a single crown, a bridge or a denture attachment. Your written plan after assessment sets out the full cost including the restoration, so you can compare it against a bridge or denture before deciding.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.
