Dental implants — frequently asked questions

A dental implant is a small titanium (or sometimes zirconia) post placed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once the bone fuses to it, it supports a crown, bridge or denture, replacing teeth permanently and preserving the jawbone.

Implant placement is done under local anaesthetic and is typically painless during the procedure. Afterwards, mild soreness and swelling for a few days are normal and easily controlled with ordinary painkillers — most people compare it favourably to a tooth extraction.

The implant post can last 20 years to a lifetime with good hygiene and regular check-ups. The crown on top usually lasts 10–15 years before normal wear may call for replacement. A systematic review with ten-year follow-up reported implant survival of 93.1% at ten years, while the fixed bridgework carried on those implants survived at only 80.1% (Pjetursson et al., 2012, Clinical Oral Implants Research). That gap is the point: survival means the implant is still in the jaw, not that it and its restoration are healthy.

There is no upper age limit for implants. What matters is general health, healthy gums and adequate bone, not age. Many implant patients are in their 60s, 70s and beyond, and implants can greatly improve quality of life by replacing failing dentures.

Often yes. Bone loss can be rebuilt with a bone graft or sinus lift, or worked around with angled, zygomatic or All-on-4 techniques. A CBCT scan determines what is possible. Bone loss rarely rules implants out completely at a well-equipped clinic.

In the UK a single implant typically costs £2,000–£2,500. In Turkey it is around £400–£800 per implant, or £750–£1,400 for a complete implant and crown — a saving of roughly 60–70%. Full-arch All-on-4 is around £4,500–£7,500 per arch in Turkey versus £14,000–£22,000 in the UK. These are indicative market ranges for comparison only — not a quotation, and not specific to any clinic.

Lower labour and premises costs, a favourable exchange rate, high clinic volumes and health-tourism infrastructure — not cheaper materials. Accredited Turkish clinics use the same premium implant brands (Straumann, Nobel Biocare) as UK practices.

Yes, at a properly accredited clinic. Choose one with verifiable accreditation, named specialists, premium implant brands, an implant passport, a written guarantee and a clear UK aftercare pathway. Check each of those in writing before you travel rather than relying on a clinic marketing page, and treat the absence of a document as an answer in itself.

A reputable clinic provides a written guarantee, an implant passport and remote support, and coordinates routine follow-up with your UK dentist. Failure is uncommon — a systematic review with ten-year follow-up reported implant survival of 93.1% at ten years, though the fixed bridgework carried on those implants survived at only 80.1% (Pjetursson et al., 2012, Clinical Oral Implants Research) — and a good clinic stands behind its work if it occurs. Agree before you travel who pays for a replacement and for the travel it would involve.

Usually 3–6 months from first scan to final tooth, most of which is the bone fusing to the implant. The surgery itself takes 30–60 minutes per implant. Same-day temporary teeth are possible in many full-arch cases.

Yes. A full arch of fixed teeth can be supported on as few as four implants (All-on-4) or six (All-on-6), giving a permanent, non-removable set of teeth without one implant per tooth.

Yes. The crown or bridge is custom-made to match the shape, shade and translucency of your natural teeth, and because the implant emerges from the gum like a real tooth root, the result is very difficult to distinguish from natural teeth.