Dental Implants

An implant is three parts: a titanium post placed into the jawbone, an abutment that connects through the gum, and a crown on top. The post fuses with the bone over three to four months — a process called osseointegration — and that wait is the reason implants are normally two trips. Clinics offer Turkish ($400), German ($650) and Swiss ($950) systems; the surgery is the same, the difference is the implant's clinical track record and how widely its parts are stocked worldwide.

How it's done

1. 01

   CBCT scan

   A 3D scan measures bone height, width and density, and locates the nerve. This determines whether an implant is possible at all.

2. 02

   Placement

   Under local anaesthetic, the site is prepared and the post inserted to a controlled torque. Most single implants take under an hour.

3. 03

   Healing

   Three to four months while bone grows onto the implant surface. This happens at home, not abroad.

4. 04

   Abutment and crown

   On the second trip the implant is exposed, an abutment fitted and the crown scanned, made and seated.

Who it suits

Single or several missing teeth with enough healthy bone, in someone whose gums are in good condition.

Where it falls short

Uncontrolled diabetes, heavy smoking and active gum disease all reduce success rates significantly. Insufficient bone means grafting first, which adds months.

Recovery

Swelling and discomfort peaking around day three, settling within a week. Soft diet for the first fortnight.