Dental Implants Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a suitable candidate for implants?

You are a suitable candidate for dental implants if you have one or more missing teeth, satisfactory physical and oral health, and you are not suffering from a chronic medical or dental illness.

You may not be eligible if you suffer from a systemic illness, pathology of the bones, or have problems related to your heart, kidney or liver.

How long is the entire procedure?

A dental implant is not a one-step process. Between waiting for your jaw bone to heal, scheduling visits and creating your crowns, the entire process generally takes 3–6 months to complete.

Is dental implant placement painful?

Dental implants represent one of the biggest advances in dentistry and have an overall success rate of about 96%. While every patient and case is different, many patients report minimal or no pain during the procedure.

How much do dental implants cost?

The cost of dental implants varies based on the complexity of the procedure, how many implants are needed and the type of prosthetic tooth used. Over multiple years implants can be the most cost-effective solution to missing teeth.

At Ardent Smile Clinic we offer an affordable dental implant payment plan of up to 5 years. We also provide a quote that includes all cost factors, including bone grafting and other necessary procedures.

How long do dental implants last?

With proper oral care and maintenance you can expect your dental implants to last a lifetime. However, the service life of an implant mainly depends on your own oral hygiene — the better your oral health, the longer your implants will last.

How can I look after my dental implants?

The most critical requirement is to look after your oral health. Consider your implants as your natural teeth: brush and floss them regularly.

You should also take special care of the gums surrounding the implants, as one of the major reasons for implant failure is gum and periodontal infection.

Will I ever be without teeth during the implant process?

After implant surgery the gums and mouth need to heal before a crown or prosthetic tooth is placed. You can still use a denture during the healing period, and we can always make provisions for temporary teeth.

In some cases where dentures are worn we ask patients to wear their dentures part-time, if possible, during the initial healing period (3–14 days).

Will I have enough bone to be able to place the implant?

Although an exam, radiograph or CT scan may be necessary to evaluate the amount of bone present, most patients have enough bone to place implants.

The longer a person has been missing teeth, the greater the amount of bone loss or atrophy that will have occurred. Sometimes insufficient bone will require the placement of a bone graft before implants are placed.

Does having gum disease affect my ability to get implants?

Depending on how severe it is and how well it has been controlled, gum disease can be a factor when placing dental implants, since it can lead to infection and implant failure.

Where possible it is typically better to treat the gum disease and establish a good oral hygiene routine first, then proceed with the placement of dental implants.