Lost a tooth, or a few, to injury or disease? A dental implant replaces it from the root up, with a new tooth that looks, feels and works like your own.
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing and checkups let many of us keep our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you’ve lost a tooth, or a few, to injury or disease, dental implants can restore both your smile and your oral health.
An implant is a replacement tooth root: a small post placed in your jawbone, with a new tooth fixed on top. It’s the closest thing to the tooth you lost.
Inside an implant
Turn the model, take it apart, and choose a part to see what each one does.
The tooth you see: a replacement shaped and shaded to match your smile. It can be fixed in place for good, or made removable. Fixed teeth are more stable and feel more like your own.
A small connector that joins the crown to the implant. It sits just under the gum, holding your new tooth firmly in place.
The new root: a post, usually titanium, placed in the jawbone. Titanium is used in many hip and knee replacements too, because it pairs so well with human bone.
Healthy bone and gums hold the implant, just as they hold your natural teeth. If there isn’t quite enough bone, a graft can often build it back up first.
Implants are versatile. However many teeth you’re missing, there’s a way to replace them.
If you’re missing one tooth, one implant and one replacement tooth will do the trick, without touching the teeth on either side.
A few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge: a set of replacement teeth, held firmly in place.
If you’ve lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be fixed permanently in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Your options
Implants aren’t the only way to replace a missing tooth. Here’s how they compare with conventional bridges and dentures.
| Implant | Bridge | Denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed to your jawbone | Yes | No | No |
| Stable when you eat and smile | Yes | Can be unstable | Can be unstable |
| Leaves your other teeth alone | Yes | No | No |
| The strongest bite | Yes | No | No |
| Expected to last | A lifetime | 7 to 10 years | Varies |
Bridges rely on the neighbouring teeth for support, and may last even less time with root canals. Every mouth is different, and we’ll help you choose what suits yours.
Ask yourself
A few questions to see if implants might be worth a conversation.
Tick any that sound like you.
Our implant services
Every implant is planned around you, and some need a little preparation first.
Special software lets us study your dental CT scan in three dimensions, checking the quality, quantity and position of the bone, so each implant is placed in the best possible spot. It also helps us work closely with your restorative dentist.
Where there isn’t enough bone, a graft builds it up: often with bone from another area of your mouth, or at the same time a tooth is removed. If the sinus has enlarged after losing upper back teeth, a sinus lift restores it. Grafts typically heal for 9 to 12 months before the implant goes in.
The implant, your new tooth root, is placed in the jawbone, where it pairs with the bone around it.
A replacement tooth is fixed to the implant, shaped and shaded to blend in with your smile. It can be permanent or removable.
Implants can collect plaque and tartar just like teeth, so regular professional cleanings keep them healthy. We’ll set a schedule that suits you.
I have never had to go back to have something fixed the second time.
Whether it’s one tooth or many, we’ll help you find the right way to replace it, with results that look, feel and work like your own.