Dental Implants
A replacement root, not just a replacement tooth
What it
actually is
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone to take the role of a missing tooth root. Over three to six months the bone grows directly onto its surface — a biological process called osseointegration — creating an anchor as stable as the root it replaced. A custom ceramic crown is then attached on top.
What separates an implant from a bridge or a denture is what happens underneath. Bone maintains itself only when it is loaded. Remove a tooth and the jaw in that area begins to resorb, which is why long-term denture wearers develop a collapsed lower face. An implant restores that loading and preserves the bone.
Every case here is planned from a 3D cone-beam scan and placed through a surgical guide printed from that plan, so the position is decided on screen with the final crown in mind before any surgery begins. Success rates for well-planned implants in healthy patients exceed 95% at ten years.
Why patients
choose it
Preserves bone
The only tooth replacement that maintains the jawbone by loading it the way a natural root does.
Independent
Neighbouring healthy teeth are left completely untouched, unlike a conventional bridge.
Full bite strength
You can eat what you like. Implants restore close to the biting force of a natural tooth.
Fixed, not removable
Nothing to take out, nothing to click, nothing that moves while you speak.
Decades of service
The implant itself frequently lasts a lifetime; only the crown on top is periodically renewed.
Step by step
Consultation & 3D imaging
Medical history, examination and a cone-beam CT scan measuring bone volume and the position of nerves and sinuses to the tenth of a millimetre.
Digital planning
The implant position is designed on screen working backwards from where the final crown needs to sit, and a surgical guide is printed.
Placement surgery
Under local anaesthetic — sedation available — the site is prepared through the guide and the titanium post is placed. Most patients say it was easier than an extraction.
Healing & integration
Three to six months while the bone fuses to the implant. A temporary tooth keeps the gap filled throughout.
Final crown
A custom abutment and hand-finished ceramic crown are fitted, shade-matched to your natural teeth.
What to
expect after
- Mild swelling and discomfort for two to three days, managed with standard over-the-counter painkillers.
- Soft food for the first week; avoid chewing directly on the site.
- No smoking — it is the single biggest cause of early implant failure.
- Salt-water rinses from day two; no vigorous rinsing on day one.
- Sutures reviewed at seven to ten days; most patients return to work the next day.
Guided surgery as standard
Every implant is placed through a printed guide derived from the 3D plan — not freehand.
One clinician, start to finish
Dr. Chen plans, places and restores your implant. No hand-offs, no divided responsibility.
Conservative planning
Fewer implants, less grafting and shorter treatment wherever the biology allows it.
Frequently
asked
Is implant surgery painful?+
The surgery itself is not — the area is fully anaesthetised. Most patients report less discomfort afterwards than they expected, and many take nothing stronger than ibuprofen.
What if I do not have enough bone?+
Bone grafting rebuilds the site, either at the time of placement or a few months before. The 3D scan tells us which at the consultation stage.
Why does it take months?+
Because bone biology cannot be rushed. Loading an implant before it has integrated is the main cause of failure.
Can I have teeth the same day?+
In selected cases, yes — immediate temporary teeth on the day of surgery. Suitability depends on bone quality and bite forces.
Do implants get decay?+
No, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed. Peri-implantitis is prevented with hygiene and regular maintenance visits.