When one tooth is missing, a single implant is the solution that best mimics nature: a titanium root in the bone, an abutment, and a zirconia or porcelain crown. The neighbouring teeth stay intact (unlike a bridge, which requires grinding them), and the bone in the area is preserved because it keeps receiving load. After an extraction, in suitable cases, the implant is placed straight into the socket at the same visit — and in the front zone, a provisional crown too.
Implant or bridge?
| Single implant | Tooth-supported bridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Neighbouring teeth | Untouched | At least two are ground down |
| Bone in the area | Preserved | Keeps resorbing |
| Cleaning | Like a normal tooth | Special floss under the bridge |
| Lifespan | Very long with proper care | 10–15 years on average |
| Treatment time | 3–6 months (or less with immediate placement) | 2–3 weeks |
Immediate implant after extraction
When the tooth is still in the mouth but beyond saving — cracked, a broken root, or an infection that cannot be treated — it is often possible to extract and place the implant at the same visit. The advantages: one surgery instead of two, preservation of the bone and gum around the socket, and a shorter overall time. The condition: a socket free of active infection and enough bone beyond the root tip to anchor the implant.
In the front — aesthetics first
For a front tooth it is not enough for the implant to “take”; the gum around it must stay in place and the crown must look like the tooth that was there. That is why guided planning matters most here, and why a provisional crown is often fitted on the same day to shape the gum during healing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an implant last?
A well-integrated, well-maintained implant — decades, sometimes a lifetime. The crown on it may be replaced after 10–20 years. The causes of failure are known: smoking, poor hygiene, untreated gum disease.
What is a surgical guide?
A clear device printed from the digital plan and seated in the mouth during placement. It has sleeves that steer the drill and the implant to the planned position, angle and depth. The result: precision, a small incision, fast recovery.
Can an implant be placed right after an extraction?
In suitable cases — yes, at the same visit. The conditions: a socket without active infection and enough bone to anchor the implant. It saves a surgery and preserves bone and gum.
Which implants do you use?
Titanium implants from established manufacturers with long-term clinical documentation and parts available for years to come. The specific system is chosen per case and recorded on the implant passport you receive.
Do I need an MRI or a special CT?
A dental CT (CBCT) — low radiation, a few minutes at an imaging centre; we give the referral and read the result at the consultation. The clinics do not take CT scans. If you have a recent CT of the jaws, bring it; a new one may not be needed.
Can you feel the implant?
No. It has no nerves and it is inside the bone. What you feel at first is the crown — slightly different from the tooth that was there — and after two weeks you forget that too. Our patients cannot say which tooth is the implant without looking.
Can I have an MRI with implants?
Yes. Titanium is not magnetic. Tell the technician you have dental implants, they note it, and that is all. You do not beep at the airport either.
Why not a bridge on the teeth instead of an implant?
Because for a bridge two healthy teeth next to the gap get ground down, and in ten years you have three problems instead of one. An implant does not touch the neighbours. A bridge still makes sense when the neighbouring teeth need crowns anyway, or when there is no bone and you do not want to build it.
What is an “implant passport”?
A card you get at the end of treatment with the manufacturer, model, diameter and length of every implant and where it sits. If in 15 years another dentist in another city needs to replace a screw, they know what to order. Keep it with your important documents.
Want to know if immediate loading is right for you?
A first consultation at any network clinic includes an exam, a reading of your scan and an explanation of the options — no obligation.