What to expect from a dental implant assessment

Dental implants offer the most natural-looking and long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. But before any implant is placed, a thorough assessment is essential to confirm suitability and design a treatment plan that is right for the individual patient.

The assessment process begins with a full clinical examination and a 3D CBCT scan, which gives our implant team a detailed view of bone volume, bone quality, and the anatomy of the treatment area. This information is the foundation of everything that follows — from implant diameter and length selection to surgical guide design and final restoration planning.

• 3D CBCT imaging is essential for assessing bone volume and identifying anatomical structures
• Bone density and quality directly influence implant diameter and surface specification selection
• Adjacent teeth, gum health, and bite must all be evaluated before any surgical planning begins

When bone grafting is required

Some patients present with insufficient bone volume at the implant site, typically due to long-term tooth loss, previous extraction trauma, or gum disease. In these cases, a bone grafting procedure is recommended before or alongside implant placement. Modern grafting materials and techniques have made this a predictable, well-tolerated procedure with excellent long-term outcomes.

The type and extent of grafting required depends entirely on the individual case. Minor socket preservation can often be completed at the time of extraction. Larger augmentation procedures are staged, with a healing period before implant placement proceeds.

• Socket preservation at extraction significantly reduces bone loss and future grafting needs
• Sinus lift procedures restore bone height in the upper jaw posterior region
• Guided bone regeneration uses membranes and graft material to build volume predictably

The implant placement procedure

Implant placement is a surgical procedure performed under local anaesthesia. Using a surgical guide produced from the CBCT data, the implant is placed into the prepared site with precision positioning. Most patients experience minimal discomfort during the procedure and manage well with over-the-counter pain relief in the days that follow.

• Guided surgery using custom surgical stents reduces placement error to less than 1mm
• Healing abutments are placed at surgery to shape the gum tissue around the future crown
• Osseointegration — the fusion of implant to bone — takes 8 to 16 weeks depending on bone quality

"Understanding what the assessment involves removes the uncertainty for patients. Most people are surprised by how straightforward the process is when it is explained clearly."