Knowing what happens
is most of the fear.
We have found that the better informed our patients are, the more relaxed they are. So here is the whole procedure, plainly — and what we can do if the surgery itself is what worries you.
Four stages, across several months.
The waiting is not idleness. Bone needs time to grow onto the post, and that is what makes an implant behave like a real tooth rather than an object wedged in a socket.
Assessment
An examination and X-rays establish two things: whether your mouth is healthy enough to begin, and whether there is enough bone to hold a post.
Cavities, infections and gum disease are all treated first. If the ridge is too thin, grafting comes before placement — or a mini-implant, which needs less bone, may be the better route.
Placement
A titanium post is placed below the gum line and secured into the jawbone. This is oral surgery, done under local anaesthetic, with sedation available if you want it.
You go home the same day. Expect soreness and swelling for three to five days — which is why we suggest booking it towards the end of the week.
Osseointegration
Over the following months, bone grows onto and fuses with the titanium. This is the part you cannot rush and the reason implants work at all.
The result is a root system as strong as the original, which is what separates an implant from every other replacement option.
The crown
Once the post has integrated, a custom-made tooth is attached — shaped and shade-matched to blend with the teeth around it.
From then on you brush and floss it like any other tooth. Most people forget which one it is.
Come and meet us without any dentistry happening.
If fear of the procedure is what has kept you away, call us. We will do everything we can to make sure you are comfortable, whatever is being done.
One of the most effective things you can do costs nothing: visit the office without having any work performed. Tour the place, sit in the chair, have a conversation, meet the staff. Then when you come back for actual treatment, none of it is unfamiliar.
Ask us to walk you through the appointment in advance, too — how long it takes, which instruments are used, what you will feel, what recovery involves. That one visit alone resolves a great deal of anxiety.
Things patients tell us help
- A cup of a naturally calming tea beforehand — several varieties are sold at health food shops, and for some people that is enough on its own
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Coming in first for a tour, with no treatment booked
- Asking us to describe the appointment step by step before the day
Available, and commonly misunderstood.
Will I be asleep?
Typically not. Sleep dentistry is usually reserved for oral surgery and long procedures. Sedation makes you relaxed and drowsy — some patients do nod off — but you are not technically put to sleep.
How is it given?
Most often as a pill taken an hour before the procedure. One pill is generally enough to leave you entirely relaxed. Procedures like a cleaning or a simple filling do not really hurt, so with sedation many people need nothing further — but if you want pain medication as well, we can give it once the sedation has taken effect.
Can I still function?
Yes. You can hold a conversation and respond to instructions, though your reactions will be a little slower and your head less clear than usual. That is why we ask you to arrange a lift home, or to wait until it has fully worn off before driving.
Is it right for everyone?
Not automatically. We look at your health, your medications and how much anxiety you are actually experiencing, then recommend the type of sedation that suits the procedure and suits you.
Answered honestly.
How long does the whole thing take?
Will I be without a tooth for months?
Does it hurt?
What if I need several implants?
Is it worth it compared with a bridge?
What should I do to prepare?
Ask us anything first.
Including coming in just to look around. No treatment, no pressure — and for a lot of people it is the thing that finally makes the appointment possible.