Dental Implant FAQs

A: A dental implant is a small titanium post (fixture) that is surgically placed into your jawbone to act like a tooth root. Once the bone integrates (osseointegration), it serves as a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or overdenture.

A: Most healthy adults who have one or more missing teeth and sufficient jawbone structure are candidates. If bone volume is low, a bone graft or sinus lift procedure can often prepare the area. Your overall health, oral hygiene habits, and smoking status are also considered.

A: The timeline can vary, but typically:

1. Initial consultation, examination, and imaging.
2. (If needed) bone grafting or preparatory surgery — healing time may be several months.
3. Implant placement — then a healing period of ~3–6 months for osseointegration.
4. Abutment placement and impression for crown.
5. Final crown or prosthesis placement. In some situations (e.g. “immediate loading”), parts of this can be accelerated, but this depends on your bone quality and case complexity.

A: The surgical placement is done under local anesthesia (and sedation if chosen), so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, mild to moderate soreness, swelling, or bruising is common and manageable with pain medications and post-op care instructions.

A: Dental implants have a very high success rate — generally 95% or higher over 10 years, when placed by experienced clinicians and with good patient care and maintenance.

A: Caring for an implant is very similar to caring for natural teeth: brush twice daily, floss, use interdental brushes or water flossers around the implant, and see your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. Avoid harmful habits like smoking or chewing very hard objects (ice, hard candy) that could damage the implant or crown.

A: While complications are uncommon, possible issues include infection, implant failure (lack of osseointegration), nerve injury, sinus involvement (for upper implants), or prosthetic complications (loosening or fracture). A good evaluation, planning, and post-op care minimize risks.

A: With proper care and regular dental maintenance, implants can last many decades, potentially a lifetime. The crown or prosthetic parts might need replacement over time, but the implant body itself is permanent in most cases.

A: Cost depends on many factors: number of implants, need for bone grafts or extra procedures, type of prosthetic (single crown, bridge, implant-supported denture), and materials used. In cross-border or dental tourism settings, many patients find the cost significantly lower than in the U.S., without sacrificing quality.

A: In some cases, “immediate implant placement” is possible (placing an implant right after extraction), but it depends on bone quality, infection status, and the location of the tooth. Your dentist will evaluate whether you’re a candidate for this approach.

A: Yes — once the crown is placed, the implant should look, feel, and function like a natural tooth. The goal is seamless integration in both appearance and chewing function.

A: (If your clinic does) Yes, we offer flexible payment plans and financing options to help make implant treatment more affordable. Please contact us for details.