- 223 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XH
- 020 7928 5844
- 223 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XH
Patient guide · Dental implants · Waterloo, SE1
An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth, not just the part you see. This guide shows what goes where, why your jawbone matters and how treatment fits around a busy working week at 223 Waterloo Road.
A dental implant is a small, screw-shaped post that sits in your jawbone where a tooth root used to be. Over the following months, bone grows tightly against its surface and holds it firm. A connector called an abutment is then attached, and a crown – the part you see – is fixed on top. Together they behave like a tooth with its own root, so you can bite, smile and brush in the usual way.
Your own teeth are held in the jaw by their roots. An implant copies that design, with a titanium post doing the job of the root.
Left: a natural tooth, with its crown above the gum and its root in the jawbone. Right: an implant tooth – the threaded post sits in the bone, the abutment passes through the gum and the crown sits on top. Illustration only.
A threaded post, only a few millimetres wide, placed in the jawbone. Its surface is designed so that bone can grow onto it. Once settled, it acts as the new root.
A small connector that fixes into the post and rises through the gum. It gives the crown a firm, accurately shaped base and links what is in the bone with what is in your mouth.
The visible tooth, made in a dental laboratory to match the shade and shape of your own teeth. Depending on the design, it is screwed or cemented onto the abutment.
Most implant posts are titanium or a titanium alloy, a metal with a long history in medicine and dentistry. Some systems use other materials, such as ceramic. Your dentist explains the system they recommend and why.
An implant is only as steady as the bone around it. After placement, your body gradually lays down new bone onto the implant's surface – a process called osseointegration. It takes weeks to months, which is why the final crown is not fitted straight away. Bone also needs work to do: when a tooth is lost, the bone that held it slowly shrinks because it is no longer being used. An implant passes biting forces back into the jaw, which helps to keep that bone in use.
Over weeks and months, new bone grows into the space around the implant until it hugs the threads. Only then is the implant ready to carry a crown. Illustration only.
If your 3D scan shows there is not enough bone, we explain the options, which may include grafting, and include it in your written quote.
Most visits are short. We are a few minutes' walk from Waterloo station, so many appointments can sit before work or over a long lunch. We map out the sequence of visits with you at the start, so you know in advance which day might need a little time off afterwards.
A single implant and crown fills one gap without touching the teeth either side.
An implant bridge lets two implants carry three or four teeth, so you do not need one implant per tooth.
An implant-retained denture clips onto implants so it stays put when you eat and talk.
All-on-4 fixes a full arch of teeth on four implants. A wider full mouth restoration is also possible.
| Factor | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Gum health | Gum disease can affect healing and suitability, so we treat and stabilise it first. |
| Smoking | Smoking can affect how the gum and bone heal. We talk about it openly and assess you individually. |
| Diabetes and general health | Diabetes and some other conditions can affect healing. Many people with well-managed conditions can still be considered. |
| Age | Implants are placed once the jaw has finished growing. After that, general health matters far more than age. |
| Bone | Your CBCT scan shows how much there is before you commit to anything. |
Read more about Dr Anti, our single implants and implant costs.
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| Implant consultation (taken off your fee if you go ahead) | £75 |
| CBCT 3D scan | From £90 |
| Single implant – Snucone | From £2,250 |
| Single implant – Straumann | From £2,750 |
| All-on-4 full arch | From £6,495 per arch |
*0% finance through Tabeo is available on many treatments, subject to status. Read more about what implants cost or see all our fees.
Not quite. The crown on top is made in a laboratory, but the post underneath replaces the root and is held by your own bone. It is fixed, so it does not come out like a denture.
An implant is not living tissue, so it is not rejected like a transplanted organ. Occasionally one does not bond with the bone; if so, we explain what can be done.
It feels firm and solid. An implant has no nerve inside, so biting can feel slightly different at first, but most people quickly stop noticing it. Placement is done under local anaesthetic; we do not offer sedation.
Brush twice a day, clean between your teeth with small interdental brushes, and keep up regular check-ups and hygiene visits. The gum around an implant can become inflamed if plaque is left, just like around a natural tooth.
The final crown usually follows a few months after the implant is placed. For a visible tooth, we plan a temporary so you are not without a tooth at work.
Related: Dental implants · Single implants · Implant bridges · All-on-4 · Implant costs · Crowns, bridges and dentures · Dr Anti
Book a £75 implant consultation with Dr Anti at 223 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8XH, near Waterloo station. The fee is taken off your treatment if you go ahead.