The dental implant procedure, step by step
A single dental implant is placed under local anaesthetic in one appointment of typically around an hour. The gum is numbed, a narrow channel is prepared in the jawbone, the implant is screwed into place and the gum is closed over or around it. After typically around three to six months of healing, a crown is made and fitted on top. This is what happens before, during and after, at Toothi London in Edgware.
Written and reviewed by Dr Ali El-Kabengi (GDC 270807), principal dentist at Toothi London, 1 Handel Parade, Edgware HA8 6LD, who has a special interest in implant dentistry. Updated 4 October 2026. Every case is different; your own steps are set out in your written plan after your scan.
Before surgery: consultation, scan and plan
- Free consultation. We examine the gap, the teeth either side and your gums, go through your medical history, and talk through an implant against a bridge or a denture.
- CBCT 3D scan. A 3D scan of the jaw shows how much bone there is and where the nerve and sinus sit. It is taken at a referral imaging centre and paid to them directly.
- Your plan and fixed price. From the scan we decide the implant’s size and position, whether a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, and whether your implant will be placed with a surgical guide or freehand. You get the full price in writing before you commit.
- Your surgical guide, if used. For guided cases our implant laboratory plans the position digitally and 3D-prints a guide that fits over your teeth. Read guided vs freehand implant surgery.
On the day, eat a normal meal beforehand, as you’ll be numb for a few hours afterwards, and tell us about any change in your medicines since your consultation.
On the day: how the implant is placed
- Numbing. Local anaesthetic numbs the area. You are awake throughout and feel pressure and vibration, not pain.
- Checking the guide. In guided cases, the guide is clipped over your teeth and checked to make sure it sits perfectly still.
- Reaching the bone. Usually a small flap of gum is lifted to see the bone. In some guided cases the implant can go in through a small circular opening without lifting the gum.
- Preparing the site. A sequence of drills, each slightly wider than the last and cooled with sterile water, shapes a channel to the planned depth and width.
- Placing the implant. The implant is screwed into the channel and its stability in the bone is checked.
- Covering it. Either a small cover screw goes on and the gum is closed over the implant, or a healing cap is left showing through the gum. Which one depends on how firm the implant is and where it is in the mouth.
- Closing the gum. A few stitches are placed if the gum was opened.
For a single implant, the whole appointment typically takes around an hour. A bone graft or internal sinus lift done at the same time adds to that.
Straight after placement
The numbness wears off over a few hours. The first two days are typically the most sore, and most people are back to normal eating within a week. You’ll go home with written aftercare covering pain relief, keeping the area clean, eating on the other side and not smoking while it heals. Read what implant placement really feels like for the day-by-day detail.
Healing: the bone bonds to the implant
Over typically around three to six months, bone grows onto the implant surface. This is called osseointegration, and it is what lets an implant take full biting force. You won’t feel it happening. For a front tooth, a temporary tooth can be fitted so you’re not left with a visible gap; for a back tooth, the gap is usually left to heal undisturbed. See how long implant treatment takes.
Fitting your crown
- Uncovering, if needed. If the gum was closed over the implant, a short appointment opens it and fits a healing cap so the gum shapes around it.
- Recording the implant. A scan or impression records the exact position of the implant, and the lab makes your abutment and porcelain crown to fit it and to match your other teeth.
- Fitting. The abutment and crown are fixed to the implant and your bite is checked and adjusted.
Looking after your implant
Review appointments after treatment are included. After that, an implant is cleaned like a natural tooth, with brushing and cleaning between the teeth, and checked at your routine visits. Gum health around the implant is what keeps it in the bone for the long term. See how long dental implants last.
Extra steps some people need
- Taking the tooth out first. The socket usually heals for a period before the implant goes in. Whether an implant can go in at the same visit as the extraction depends on the bone and the infection risk.
- A bone graft. If the bone has shrunk since the tooth was lost, a graft rebuilds it. A small graft can often be placed with the implant; a larger one usually heals first.
- A sinus lift. In the upper back teeth, the sinus floor may need gently raising to make room for the implant. An internal lift is often done at the same time as placement.
Your CBCT scan shows whether you need any of these, and you’ll know before you commit.
What it costs at Toothi
| New implant consultation — includes a written plan | Free |
| CBCT 3D scan — at a referral imaging centre, paid to them directly | Not included |
| Single tooth implant including crown — Osstem implant · abutment · porcelain crown · all reviews · digital planning and surgical guide when your case is guided | £1,995 |
| Second implant placed at the same visit | £1,795 |
| Tooth extraction (simple) | £145 |
| Complex or surgical extraction | from £295 |
| Bone graft — minor / socket preservation, if needed | from £395 |
| Bone graft — major, with membrane, if needed | from £995 |
| Sinus lift — internal, if needed | £595 |
| Sinus lift — lateral window, if needed | from £1,195 |
Every figure is on our fees page. Fixed full-arch bridges (All-on-X) are available, priced on assessment at your free consultation. See also what dental implants are and implants vs dentures vs bridge.
Common questions
Am I awake during dental implant surgery?
Yes. Implants are placed under local anaesthetic, so you’re awake and the area is numb. You feel pressure and vibration but shouldn’t feel pain.
How long does the implant procedure take?
Placing a single implant typically takes around an hour. From consultation to final crown, treatment typically takes around three to six months, most of it healing time.
Is an implant placed with a surgical guide?
At Toothi it depends on your case. Guided placement, using an Osstem OneGuide surgical guide made from your scan, is chosen when it adds accuracy or safety; freehand placement from the same scan is chosen when the dentist needs a direct view of the bone. Both are included in the £1,995 price.
Can I go to work after implant surgery?
Most people take the day of placement off and keep the following day light. Desk work is usually fine from the day after.
Book a free implant consultation (a £50 deposit online, refunded when you attend or give 24 hours’ notice) · WhatsApp us · 020 3148 2444
0% finance is available over up to 10 months on treatment over £250. Cherry Dental Ltd trading as Toothi is a credit broker, not a lender, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 957242). Credit is provided by Tabeo, subject to status. All fees are confirmed in a written treatment plan before any treatment begins.
