Video answer
What happens after you lose a tooth?
Dr Prinja explains tooth loss and the importance of preserving bone and assessing replacement options. An implant is one option, not an automatic first choice.
Replace
Dental implants in Pinner, North West London
A dental implant is a titanium or ceramic fixture placed into the jawbone to support a crown, bridge or denture, replacing the root of a missing tooth.
At a glance
- Appointment
- 60–90 minutes for placement
- Visits
- Assessment, CBCT, placement, healing reviews, restoration
- Results
- 3–6 months to final restoration
- Longevity
- Decades where maintained; restorations may need renewal
- Reversibility
- Surgical and irreversible
- Anaesthetic
- Local anaesthetic; sedation available
Dental implants start from £2,900. Bone grafting, where required, starts from £500, and a CBCT scan is £110 for a single arch or £198 for both. Sedation is £300 where preferred.
Book a consultationAssessment and diagnosis before any cosmetic treatment
The short answer: Dental implants
A dental implant is a titanium or ceramic fixture placed into the jawbone to support a crown, bridge or denture, replacing the root of a missing tooth.
Dental implants is planned and provided by Dr Vikas Prinja at Apple Dental Studios, 106 Marsh Road, Pinner, with patients travelling from across North West London. If you are looking for a dentist in Pinner, that page sets out how consultations, written plans and fees work here.An implant is considered only after the tooth itself has been assessed for whether it can be kept. Implant planning at Apple Dental Studios uses radiographs and, where indicated, 3D imaging to check bone and the surrounding teeth, and bridges or dentures are discussed as genuine alternatives.
Compare your options
Why dental implants rather than something else?
You are reading
Dental implants
The option described on this page.
Bridge alternative
Crowns & bridges
A bridge replaces the tooth by joining to the teeth either side, which requires those teeth to be prepared.
May be required
Bone grafting
Where bone volume at the site is inadequate, grafting may be needed before or at the time of implant placement.
Restore instead
Restorative dentistry
Where the natural tooth is restorable, restoring it is usually preferable to removing and replacing it.
Who is suitable for dental implants?
- Adults with a missing tooth or teeth
- Sufficient bone volume, or bone that can be grafted
- Stable gum health and controlled general health
What problems does dental implants solve?
- Single missing teeth
- Multiple missing teeth
- Failing or unrestorable teeth
- Loose dentures
What happens at the dental implants assessment?
- Clinical examination and gum assessment
- CBCT scan to assess bone volume and anatomy
- Digital planning of implant position driven by the final restoration
- Medical and smoking history review
Vikas explains
Watch: Dr Prinja explains
A concise video explanation, supported by the written guidance on this page.
How does dental implants work?
- 01
Planning
Scans and digital planning determine implant position before surgery.
- 02
Placement
The implant is placed under local anaesthetic, with sedation if preferred.
- 03
Healing
Integration with bone typically takes several months.
- 04
Restoration
An implant crown or bridge is made and fitted.
- 05
Maintenance
Regular reviews and professional cleaning around the implant.
What are the benefits?
- Does not rely on preparing adjacent teeth
- Preserves bone at the site
- Function close to a natural tooth
What are the limitations?
- Treatment takes months rather than weeks
- Not suitable for all medical histories
- Grafting may be required
What are the risks of dental implants?
- Infection or failure to integrate
- Peri-implantitis, particularly in smokers or with poor hygiene
- Nerve or sinus involvement in certain sites
- Aesthetic limitations where gum tissue has been lost
What are the alternatives to dental implants?
- Conventional bridge
- Removable denture
- Bone grafting to enable implants
- No replacement
How long does dental implants last?
Implant survival rates reported in the literature are commonly above 90% at ten years, with maintenance a major determinant.
How is dental implants maintained?
- Implant-specific hygiene appointments
- Daily interdental cleaning
- Annual review including radiographs where indicated
How much does dental implants cost in London?
From £2,900Guide fee
Dental implants start from £2,900. Bone grafting, where required, starts from £500, and a CBCT scan is £110 for a single arch or £198 for both. Sedation is £300 where preferred.
A written plan with itemised fees is provided after assessment, before any treatment is agreed. See the full fee guide.
Compare options
Which option is right for you?
Explore the dental glossary for plain-language definitions of the clinical terms used here.
Clinical transparency
Evidence and clinical references
- General Dental Council — Standards for the Dental Team
General Dental Council
- NICE guidance on dental care and recall intervals
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Read next
Guides and articles on dental implants
Written by Dr Vikas Prinja for patients considering or already having this treatment.
Common questions
Dental implants: common questions
How much do dental implants cost?
Dental implants start from £2,900 at this practice. The final fee depends on whether grafting is needed, the number of implants and the restoration. A written quotation is provided after examination and a CBCT scan.
How much does a dental implant cost in London?
Dental implants start from £2,900 at this practice. The final fee depends on the number of implants, the restoration, bone grafting and the diagnostic planning required.
How long does dental implant treatment take?
Dental implant treatment usually takes several months because the implant needs time to integrate with the jawbone before the final restoration is fitted. Some cases can be planned differently after assessment.
Is dental implant surgery painful?
Implant placement is carried out under local anaesthetic and is not usually painful at the time. Some swelling and soreness for a few days afterwards is normal and is managed with simple pain relief and written aftercare.
How long do dental implants last?
Well-planned implants can last many years, and long-term survival rates reported in the literature are high. Longevity depends on gum health, cleaning, smoking, bite forces, diabetes control and attending maintenance appointments.
Who is not suitable for dental implants?
Implants may be delayed or ruled out where there is untreated gum disease, insufficient bone without grafting, heavy smoking, poorly controlled diabetes or certain medications and medical conditions. Suitability is confirmed after examination and a CBCT scan.
Clinical authorship
Written and reviewed by Dr Vikas Prinja
The London Dentist. Cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry in London.
Clinically reviewed Updated
About Dr Vikas PrinjaHow this fits together
Consider alongside
How this treatment relates to the others, and why each relationship exists.
Alternative tooth replacement
Crowns & bridges
A bridge replaces the tooth by joining to the teeth either side, which requires those teeth to be prepared.
May be required before
Bone grafting
Where bone volume at the site is inadequate, grafting may be needed before or at the time of implant placement.
Frequently combined
Restorative dentistry
Where the natural tooth is restorable, restoring it is usually preferable to removing and replacing it.
Replace
Bone grafting
Dental bone grafting adds graft material to the jaw to rebuild bone volume, so that an implant can be placed in the correct position with adequate support.
Restore
Crowns & bridges
A crown is a laboratory-made restoration that covers a damaged tooth to restore its shape and strength; a bridge uses one or more crowns to replace an adjacent missing tooth.
Restore
Restorative dentistry
Restorative dentistry repairs and rebuilds damaged, worn or missing teeth — using fillings, onlays, crowns, bridges or implants — with the aim of restoring function while preserving as much natural tooth as possible.
Enhance
Smile makeover
A smile makeover is a planned combination of treatments — which may include alignment, whitening, bonding, ceramics or gum treatment — sequenced to change the appearance of the smile while protecting long-term dental health.
Consultations in LondonBook a consultation
Consultation
Thinking about improving your smile?
Start with a comprehensive assessment and understand your options before deciding on treatment.