A single dental implant, step by step

A single dental implant, step by step, is easier to plan for once you see the whole timeline. Many people expect to fly out and come home with a new tooth a week later. With implants that is rarely how it works, and there is a good biological reason. This guide follows one implant at our clinic in Antalya from the first photo you send to the crown being fitted, with what happens and what you feel at each stage.

What a single implant is

An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. The Oral Health Foundation describes it as a small titanium screw placed into the jawbone. Once the bone has bonded to it, it can hold a crown. A single-tooth implant has three parts:

• The implant, which sits in the bone.
• The abutment, a small connector that attaches to the implant and comes up through the gum.
• The crown, the visible tooth, which attaches to the abutment.

We use MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann implants. The price is the same whichever brand is chosen, and your plan says which one and why.

Stage 1: photos, X-ray and a written plan

It starts at home. You send us photos of the gap and, ideally, a recent X-ray, by WhatsApp or through our form. A dentist reviews them and sends a preliminary written plan with an itemised price. You do not pay anything to receive the plan.

At this stage we can often say whether bone looks likely to be sufficient, but the final answer needs a 3D scan.

Stage 2: first trip, day one, the 3D scan

On your first day in Antalya, a dentist examines your mouth and takes a 3D CBCT scan. This shows the height and width of the bone, the position of nerves in the lower jaw, and the sinus above the upper back teeth. It is the most important step in planning where the implant goes and what size it should be.

The scan also shows whether you need extra bone. If the bone is too thin, a bone graft may be added, and if the sinus is too low over an upper back tooth, a sinus lift may be needed. Both are explained on our bone graft and sinus lift page. The final plan, including any extras, is confirmed in writing before anything starts.

If the tooth is still there and needs to come out, the extraction is free. Sometimes the implant can go in at the same visit, and sometimes the socket needs to heal first. The scan helps decide.

Stage 3: placing the implant

Implant placement is usually done a day or two into the first trip. Here is what to expect:

1. Numbing Local anaesthetic is given, as for a filling. If you are anxious, sedation by an anaesthetist can be arranged on request.
2. Opening the gum A small cut is made in the gum to reach the bone, or in some cases a tiny circle of gum is removed instead.
3. Preparing the bone The dentist makes a precise channel in the bone, guided by the plan from the scan.
4. Placing the implant The implant is placed into the channel. You feel pressure and some vibration, but not pain.
5. Closing A healing cap or cover screw goes on and the gum is stitched if needed.

For a single implant in good bone, the procedure itself is often shorter than people expect. Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, Dentist — Implant Surgery & Prosthetics, focuses on implant surgery and prosthetics at our clinic.

Stage 4: the first few days

Once the anaesthetic wears off, some soreness, swelling and perhaps slight bruising are normal for a few days. You will get written aftercare, which typically covers:

• Taking painkillers and any prescribed medicine as directed.
• Soft, lukewarm food and chewing on the other side.
• No smoking, which slows healing.
• Gentle salt-water rinses after the first day, if advised.
• Cleaning the rest of your mouth normally and the area gently.

The first trip is about 4 hotel nights in total. Before you fly home we check the area and make sure you know who to contact on WhatsApp.

Stage 5: healing at home

This is the longest stage and you spend it at home. The bone slowly grows onto the surface of the implant, a process called osseointegration. Our usual healing times are:

The upper jaw usually takes longer because its bone is softer. The Oral Health Foundation gives around four months as a typical healing time.

Can the crown go on sooner? Sometimes. Research comparing immediate and later loading of single implants, including a 2022 systematic review, shows that loading early can work in carefully selected cases where the implant is very stable. For patients who travel, a well-healed implant before the crown is the more predictable route, and that is our usual plan. If the gap is visible, ask us during planning how it can be covered while it heals.

During healing, keep the area clean, attend any check-ups with your dentist at home, and contact us if there is pain, swelling or a loose feeling.

Stage 6: second trip, the abutment and crown

Your second trip is usually three to six months after the first, about 5 hotel nights. It typically runs like this:

1. Check The dentist checks the gum and takes an X-ray to confirm the implant has healed into the bone.
2. Scan The healing cap is removed and the implant position is recorded with an intraoral scanner.
3. Making the crown The lab makes the abutment and crown. A single implant crown is usually zirconia.
4. Fitting The abutment and crown are fitted, the bite is checked and adjusted, and the crown is fixed.
5. Paperwork You receive your implant passport, which records the implant brand and details, along with copies of your X-rays and scans.

The crown is shaped and coloured to blend with your neighbouring teeth. Read more about zirconia crowns.

What it costs

• Implant: £300, same price for MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann
• Implant plus zirconia crown: £450
• Bone graft, if needed: £150 per 1cc
• Sinus lift, if needed: £350

Hotel nights for both trips and airport and clinic transfers are included. Flights are not. Fees are paid at the clinic against the plan you approved. See our prices page and how it works.

Looking after a single implant

Implants do not decay, but the gum and bone around them can become inflamed if plaque builds up, a condition called peri-implantitis. The Oral Health Foundation advises brushing twice a day, cleaning around the implant daily with interdental brushes, and regular dental and hygiene visits.

A 2012 systematic review of single crowns on implants by Jung and colleagues found high survival at five and ten years, while also showing that small problems such as a loose screw or a chip in the crown do happen over time. That is why check-ups matter, and why our guarantee depends on keeping them. Implants with abutment carry a lifetime written guarantee: a failed implant is replaced once free. See our guarantee page.

Is an implant the right choice for your gap?

An implant is not the only way to fill one gap. A bridge or a partial denture may suit you better, depending on the teeth next to the gap, your bone and your health. Read more on our dental implants page.

Start with a written plan

If you are missing a tooth, send us a photo of the gap and a recent X-ray if you have one. A dentist will review them and send a written plan with an itemised price, the likely healing time and the timing of both trips. There is no charge for the plan. Use our contact form or message us on WhatsApp.

Common questions

Does having an implant placed hurt?

It is done under local anaesthetic, so you should feel pressure but not pain. Afterwards most people have some soreness and swelling for a few days, which ordinary painkillers usually control. Sedation by an anaesthetist is available on request.

Why can’t the crown go on straight away?

The implant needs to fuse with the bone before it can take chewing forces. The Oral Health Foundation says healing usually takes around four months. In some cases a tooth can be fitted the same day, but only when the bone and stability allow it.

What does a single implant cost?

An implant is £300, the same price for MegaGen, Neodent or Straumann. Implant plus zirconia crown is £450. Bone grafting is £150 per 1cc and a sinus lift is £350 if needed. See our prices.

Is the hotel included for a single implant?

Yes, implant packages include hotel nights for both trips (4 + 5 nights) and airport and clinic transfers. Flights are not included.

How long does an implant last?

With good cleaning and check-ups, implants often last a very long time. Our written guarantee covers implants with abutment for life: a failed implant is replaced once free of charge. See our guarantee.

Sources

1. Oral Health Foundation: Dental implants
2. Jung et al. (2012), Clinical Oral Implants Research: survival and complications of single crowns on implants, mean follow-up of 5 years
3. International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (2022): immediate versus non-immediate loading in single-implant restorations, systematic review
4. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2025): implant placement timing and loading protocols, narrative review

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.