Before you decide
Is a dental implant painful? +
Not during placement, because the area is numbed first. What you feel is pressure and some vibration rather than pain. Afterwards the site is usually sore and a little swollen for a few days, and most people manage with the painkillers they're prescribed. If anything sharp is felt in the chair, say so and the numbing can be topped up. If you're very nervous, mention it when you book so the sitting can be planned calmly.
What are the risks of a dental implant? +
Serious problems are uncommon when the case is chosen and planned well, but the risks are real: infection around the site, an implant that doesn't bond firmly to the bone and, in the lower jaw or upper back teeth, irritation of a nerve or the sinus. That's why your X-ray and medical history come first. A loose implant, bleeding or swollen gums, pus, fever or swollen glands in the neck mean you should call the clinic rather than wait.
Can I have an implant if I have diabetes or smoke? +
Often yes for diabetes, if your sugar is well controlled, and Dr. Mahesh may ask for recent blood reports first. Smoking and vaping are harder, since they slow healing and raise the chance of failure, so you'll usually be asked to stop around the time of treatment. Neither is an automatic no, and neither is ignored. It depends on the examination, your reports, and how ready you are to change a habit for a few months.
Why would a dentist suggest a bone graft or sinus lift before an implant? +
Because an implant needs enough healthy bone to hold it, and some jaws don't have that. Once a tooth has been missing for a while the bone can thin out, and above the upper back teeth the floor of the sinus can sit low. A graft adds bone to the site, and a sinus lift raises the sinus floor to make room. Both add healing time, and Dr. Mahesh will show you on the X-ray why he thinks it's needed.
Time and visits
How long does the whole implant process take? +
Often somewhere between three and six months from placing the post to fitting the final tooth, and longer if a graft or sinus lift is needed or a tooth must come out first. Most of that time is the bone settling, not you sitting in the chair. The appointments themselves are fairly few, but the exact timetable depends on your bone and how you heal. Dr. Mahesh can give you a realistic calendar after your assessment.
How soon after a tooth extraction can I get an implant? +
It depends. Sometimes the implant can go in at the time of removal, but more often the socket is left to heal for some weeks, or a few months, first. Infection, the amount of bone and the need for a graft all play a part, and the X-ray decides, not a fixed rule. What you shouldn't do is leave the gap for years, because bone can shrink and neighbouring teeth drift. Our
tooth removal page covers the first step.
Can I get a tooth on the same day as the implant? +
Occasionally a temporary tooth can be fitted soon after the post is placed, usually at the front where a gap shows, but only if the implant is stable enough to take it. Don't count on it. Many people wait for the bone to settle, with either nothing in the gap or a temporary denture. If you have an event coming up, tell us the date at your first visit so the plan can be built around it where possible.
After the implant
How long does the soreness last after an implant, and will I need antibiotics? +
The worst of the soreness and swelling is usually in the first few days, with mild tenderness lasting up to about a week. A bone graft or sinus lift can take longer. Antibiotics and painkillers are sometimes prescribed, depending on the case, so follow the prescription and don't borrow tablets left over from an earlier illness. Pain that is growing after the first few days, pus, a fever or a loose implant should be checked.
How do I clean around an implant, and should I floss under the crown? +
Brush twice a day and clean between the teeth and around the implant crown every day, because the gum there can become infected just as it can around a natural tooth. Whether floss, a small interdental brush or a water jet suits you depends on the shape of your crown, so ask Dr. Mahesh to show you at the fitting. Early gum trouble is far easier to settle than bone loss that has been building for months.
Why do some implants fail or feel loose? +
The usual causes are infection or gum disease around the implant, poor bonding with the bone, smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, heavy grinding of the teeth, or too little bone to begin with. Sometimes it's the crown or its connecting screw that has loosened, not the implant itself. Either way, see a dentist soon. Don't try to tighten or glue anything yourself, and don't keep chewing on it, since waiting can turn a small fix into a larger one.
How long do dental implants last, and how often are check-ups needed? +
The post can last many years, often decades, when the gums stay healthy. The crown on top may wear or need replacing sooner, and no dentist can honestly promise a figure. Check-ups are how problems are caught early, and your dentist sets the interval according to your gums and how well you clean. Heavy tobacco use and night-time grinding make long life less likely, so they're worth mentioning.
Choosing and cost
Implant, bridge or denture: which is better for me? +
Each has a place. An implant doesn't need neighbouring teeth to be filed down and doesn't come out at night, but it needs surgery, healing time and enough bone. A
bridge is quicker and needs no surgery, though it relies on grinding the teeth beside the gap. A
denture is removable and needs no surgery, but may feel less steady. Dr. Mahesh explains the trade-offs for your mouth without pushing one option.
Is an implant better than saving the tooth with a root canal? +
If a tooth can be saved and restored, keeping it is generally the first thing to try, because an implant replaces a tooth that has already been lost. A root canal and crown can often rescue a tooth with deep decay or infection. If the tooth is too broken or the root is cracked, an implant becomes the sensible route. Bring your X-ray, since the answer comes from the picture and not from a general rule.
What decides the cost of a dental implant? +
Mainly the number of implants, whether a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, whether a tooth must be removed first, the type of crown or bridge, the implant system used and the scans required. Every mouth differs, so a figure only makes sense after an examination, and then you'll get a clear estimate.
Message us on WhatsApp to arrange that assessment. It's also worth checking your health insurance policy, since many don't cover implants.
How do I choose an implant dentist, and which brand should I ask for? +
Ask who will do the surgery and the crown, what training they have, how the X-ray planning is done and who you see if something goes wrong later. Dr. Mahesh is a certified implantologist with over ten years in practice. The label on the implant matters less than the planning, the case selection and the follow-up, though it's reasonable to ask which system is being used and to have it explained to you.
