“Will implants work for me?” is the question we hear most often at implant consultations in Alderley Edge. Many adults who have lost one or more teeth can have dental implants, but not everyone is ready for them straight away. Whether you are suitable depends on a handful of things we check before any treatment is planned. This article explains what they are, so you know what to expect.
A dental implant is a small titanium post that sits in the jawbone in place of a tooth root. For it to be stable, there needs to be enough healthy bone around it, in the right place.
A standard flat X-ray does not show this well. Implant planning usually involves a 3D scan, often called a cone beam CT scan, which shows the height, width and density of the bone and how close the planned implant would sit to the nerve in the lower jaw and the sinuses in the upper jaw.
After a tooth is lost, the bone around the gap gradually shrinks. That is why the time since a tooth was lost matters. Where the bone has thinned, bone grafting can sometimes rebuild it before or during implant treatment. The scan tells us whether that is needed.
Implants need healthy gums around them, just as natural teeth do. If there is active gum disease, we treat it first. Placing an implant into a mouth with untreated gum disease puts it at risk of a similar problem around the implant, known as peri-implantitis.
If your gums need attention, our specialist periodontists can assess and treat them before implant work begins. You can read more about the warning signs in our article Should I be worried about gum disease?
Healing after implant surgery depends on your general health. We will ask about your medical history and any medicines you take. Things we discuss with you include:
None of these automatically means implants are off the table. They shape the plan, the timing and the aftercare.
Implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth or a full arch. The right approach depends on how many teeth are missing and the condition of the teeth that remain.
Being told “not yet” is common, and it is rarely the end of the conversation. Gum disease can be treated, bone can sometimes be rebuilt, and health conditions can be brought under better control. Where implants are not the right choice, there are other ways to replace teeth, including bridges and dentures, and we will explain the options honestly.
Your first implant consultation with us is free. We will look at your mouth, talk through your medical history and what you would like to achieve, and explain whether implants are suitable for you and what treatment would involve. If they are, you will receive a written treatment plan with costs before you decide anything. Our current prices are on our fees page.
To book, contact us online or call the practice on 01625 599 001.
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