How are implants placed?
An implant is a small titanium screw that replaces the root of a missing tooth. We plan its exact position on a 3D scan of your jaw, then use a printed guide during surgery so the implant goes where the plan says. It takes less time and is gentler on the gum than placing it freehand.
Why two trips?
The implant needs about three to four months to bond with the bone before it can carry a final tooth. Fitting final teeth too early is one of the most common reasons implants fail, so we do not shorten this step.
Who makes the final teeth?
The same ceramist who makes our veneers, in the lab next to the clinic. You check shape and shade with them at the try-in before anything is fixed.
What can implants replace?
One tooth, several teeth or a whole arch. A single implant carries one crown. Two or more implants can carry a bridge that replaces several neighbouring teeth. Four or six implants can carry a full arch of fixed teeth; that is our All-on-4 / All-on-6 treatment.
The plan depends on how many teeth are missing, the bone available and how your teeth meet. The 3D scan shows all three before anything is decided.
What is an implant made of?
The implant itself is titanium, a metal the bone grows onto. On top sits an abutment, made of titanium or zirconia, which holds the visible tooth. The final crown or bridge is usually zirconia or e.max ceramic, made by our ceramist. We use Straumann implants; the brand, size and batch number are written in your records.
When is a bone graft or sinus lift needed?
When there is not enough bone to hold the implant securely. Bone shrinks after a tooth is lost, and in the upper back jaw the sinus can sit close to the roots. A bone graft adds material where it is missing; a sinus lift makes room under the sinus floor. Both can often be done during implant surgery.
If a graft is needed, the doctor explains it before anything is booked, including how it changes the price and the healing time between your two trips.
What are the possible risks and side effects?
Implant surgery is a routine procedure, and most people have only swelling and mild discomfort for a few days. Possible issues include:
- Swelling, bruising and some bleeding in the first days
- Infection, which is treated with care and sometimes antibiotics
- An implant that does not bond with the bone, which becomes clear before the final tooth is made
- In the lower jaw, pressure on a nerve, which is rare and is avoided by planning the position on the 3D scan
- In the upper jaw, involvement of the sinus, which the plan also takes into account
- Over the years, inflammation around the implant if cleaning is poor or with heavy smoking
Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and gum disease raise these risks. The doctor goes through your health history before proposing a plan.
What affects the price of implants?
The number of implants, the implant brand, the type of abutment, the crown material, and any extraction, bone graft or sinus lift. Both trips belong in the price. Your written quote names each item and states what happens if the plan changes after the scan. Our guide on what implants cost in Turkey explains how to compare quotes.
Implant, bridge or denture?
An implant replaces a tooth without touching the teeth next to it. A conventional bridge is fixed to the neighbouring teeth, which have to be shaped for crowns. A partial denture is removable and rests on the gums and teeth. Implants usually cost more at the start, but they leave neighbouring teeth untouched and help keep the bone where they sit.
How long do implants last?
With good cleaning and regular check-ups, implants commonly last many years, often decades. The crown on top may need replacing at some point, much like any crown. Not smoking, cleaning around the implant every day and a professional clean once or twice a year make the biggest difference.
Who works on your implants?
One doctor plans and places your implants, and sees you on both trips. The ceramist who makes our veneers makes your final crowns or bridge in the lab next door, and is with you at the try-in to check shape and shade.