---

The most common question we are asked is: What is a tooth implant?

A dental implant is an artificial root replacement that is used to support one or more false teeth. Usually, tooth implants replace missing teeth which have been removed due to injury, disease or decay. It is usually more comfortable than a dental plate or crown and so implants are becoming very popular.

Implants can be implemented to replace either a single missing tooth, more than one or an entire set. In the first instance tooth implants can seem more expensive if compared to other solutions like bridges but in the long run they are cheaper as they last longer and maintenance costs are much lower. From the medical point of view implants are superior to other teeth replacement solutions as they look and feel – and more importantly – function like your own teeth.

Not everyone can have teeth implants however. Your oral health and bone condition must be examined by an experienced dental implant dentist or implantologist first.

What are the benefits of tooth implants for you?

• They can replace one or several or your teeth without the need of filing down your adjacent teeth.
• They can give support to a bridge, so you don’t have to wear a removable partial denture
• If you decide to have a denture, having several tooth implants as a support can make it more comfortable.
• They can stabilise the jawbone, helping to keep the bone integrity for longer.

What types of implant are available in our London practice?

• Root and plate implants are either screws or metal plates inserted directly into the jawbone. Root implants vary in shape and the implantologist will choose which to use depending on the bone density and also which teeth are being implanted.

• The sub-periosteal implant is a lightweight framework that is inserted underneath the gum tissue, and sits over the jawbone. The best description of this type is that it mimics a root system.

• Another option is to place teeth on a series of bridges which are held in place by an implant at each end. This is a good option for patients needing a lot of teeth replaced as it can be achieved with fewer implants than the total tooth number.

• Mini implants are low-cost implants, and are smaller than ordinary implants. They were used initially as a temporary measure but have been found to be useful in older patients with less bone available.

• Different implants can be made out of different materials. Most implants are made of titanium or titanium alloy. Some are made from zirconia (a ceramic made from zirconium) and there are implants that made of tantalum (Zimmer Trabecular Dental Implant). These materials are biocompatible, which means the body does not reject them.
• Read more about Zimmer Dental's latest and most advanced dental implant here: Trabecular Metal Implant with Osseointegration.

• Most implants are made suitable for osseointegration (the point at which bone and the implant fuses) by sandblasting and acid etching. This makes the implant surface rough enough for the bone to attach properly. Using various technologies fairly new to dentistry, the implant is kept in a biocompatible state in which bone fusion happens more quickly, aiding the healing process.
• 
• An implant like this is the Straumann SLActive.

• Learn more about Straumann's fast healing, revolutionary tooth implant system, the SLActive here.

• Implants use different types of prosthetic connection. The most popular ones are: external hexagon, internal hexagon, internal octagon, tri-lobe. These connections and the abutments that are using these connections are major factors in the long term viability of implant treatments. They have to be very strong and also extremely good at transferring forces back to the implant then to the bone. Micro movements are the main risk factors for bone loss so any abutments have to be a perfect fit to avoid these at all cost.

Dental implants have many advantages in comparison to other tooth replacement treatments, however, there are some risks and disadvantages any patient must consider.

A dental implant treatment can be more intrusive than other treatments and preparing the bone for an implant is risky. Blood vessels, nerves and other healthy teeth and their roots have to be avoided so in some respects positioning is limited but the same time it is very important. Final restoration depend on good positioning, so it has to be very precise, sometimes to a fraction of a millimetre. Because the invasive nature of preparing an implant site, hygiene is extremely important. The hygiene in a dental surgery can be taken as a given, but neglected oral health, smoking or bad diet on the part of the patient can lead to failed treatments, then bone damage, making further treatments very difficult or even impossible.

Dental implant cost information and the NHS

Can you get free Dental Implants on the NHS?

We are often asked whether the NHS provides dental implant treatments? The simple answer is, sadly, no. There are many reasons behind this, but the most important is the initial cost of these treatments. There are exceptions to this general rule and as we understand it, the NHS can provide free dental implants if you lost your tooth or teeth in an accident or your jawboned was damaged because of a third party or in an underlying medical condition, like mouth cancer.

The NHS does not provide dental implants if you have lost your tooth because of age, neglected oral health or there is no specific medical condition. More information on dental treatments available from the NHS.

Private Dental Implant Costs

People choosing tooth implants more and more often these days because they understand that the result will be functionally and aesthetically preferable as well more natural than dentures or dental bridges.

However, many patients realise that implants are the most expensive treatment they can opt for, with the price exceeding that of the most expensive veneer treatment.

There is no such thing as a cheap dental implant treatment, but depending on circumstances, total costs can be either high or between high and moderate.

This is because of several factors, mainly as listed below:-

1. The day to day manufacturing costs of implants is not high in itself, but the work which has gone into developing a strong, safe a reliable implant has been costly and work is always continuing. These costs are reflected in the market price of implants.
2. Dental training is in itself very long but to become a successful implant dentist requires yet more training. A top implantologist therefore has taken many years to reach that position and fees must reflect this.
3. Before any dental practice can even open its doors to its first patient there are many regulations with which it must comply and these are checked regularly. Staff in our London practice are of the very highest calibre and the equipment and surroundings are the best you could possibly require and this too is a costly procedure.

Why are implants more expensive in the UK?

There are two main factors that make dental implant prices very high in the UK but the primary reason is the lack of dental implant specialists practising here. This makes it difficult to place high numbers of implants per 10,000 patients – 20 in the UK as opposed to 200 in Italy, for example – and this makes the cost-per-head higher as the equipment needed does not get used by so many patients. The resulting high costs tend to make fewer patients decide on implants, thereby keeping costs high, but hopefully this situation may be about to change.

Why is the cost of implant about to get more affordable in the UK?

The good news is that there are positive changes happening in the UK concerning dental implant treatments. More and more dentists are acquiring the necessary knowledge and experience to carry out these treatments safely. Added to this, there is a flow of a whole new workforce from Eastern European countries as well as from Portugal and Spain. More dentists means more competition and this in the end means lower prices for patients.

Well-established manufacturers from Korea, Israel, Brazil and other developed countries are challenging one another strongly on material prices. This again means that end users can find cheaper deals on dental implants.

As affordability improves, especially in London and suburbs, and people are becoming more and more aware of the additional options they have. More people are choosing implant treatments and this means that dental practices can maintain the service in a more cost efficient way.

Therefore, it is not really a surprise that there are a number of implant specialist practices which have opened up in recent years to take advantages of these changes, with our Harley Street practice being one of the leaders in this amazing new technology.

Dent1st London Cosmetic Dentistry & Implant Centre

Customer Services - 020 4247 8886

Address - 46 Harley Street, London, W1G 9PT

View Larger Map

---

Some general dental implants cost in the UK

Dental consultation fees: around £50

Bone grafting: £400 to £3,000 (highly depending on the procedure needed)

Gum grafting: £400 to £500 per site

Single Root Form Implant: £900 – £1,400

---

More Useful Information

• Office of Fair Trade - Guide to private dentistry. This leaflet provides help on choosing the right dentist and the correct treatment and answers questions like what to do if something goes wrong.
  
  
• Association of Dental Implantology UK - Dental Implant Information. The mother of all dental implant information source.
  
  
• Care Quality Comission - Standards for dentists. UK Dentistry is regulated by the CQC since 2012. They have introduced a very strict and detailed plan how the service should be delivered. It worth reading.
  
  

---

Videos on specialist implants used by our practice

Straumann - SLActive	Zimmer - Trabecular Metal Implant
Watch video on Youtube	Watch video on Youtube
Maxillent - iRaise
Watch video on Youtube