Missing a tooth changes more than your smile. It can affect how you chew, how your other teeth shift over time, and honestly, how confident you feel in ordinary conversations. Dental implants are often the answer, but the word "surgery" puts plenty of people off booking that first appointment. Understanding exactly what's involved usually takes most of that anxiety away.
This is what actually happens when you come in for a dental implant consultation at our Kettering practice, from your very first conversation with us through to the scan that shapes your treatment plan.
Your journey starts with a consultation with our treatment coordinator, booked with a refundable £30 deposit. This appointment runs for 30 to 40 minutes and focuses on understanding your situation: which teeth are missing or affected, how long that's been the case, and what you're hoping treatment will achieve, whether that's restoring the ability to chew comfortably or simply feeling able to smile without thinking about it.
From here, you'll have a CBCT scan, which is a specialist 3D X-ray that gives our implant surgeons a detailed picture of the bone available to place an implant safely and precisely. This is a key part of planning treatment properly rather than working from guesswork, and it's carried out in practice using our own equipment.
A full treatment plan is then built around what the scan shows, and this gets discussed with you in detail, including realistic costs, before anything is booked in. There's no pressure to decide on the spot; you'll leave with a clear plan and time to think it over if you need to.
Once you're ready to proceed, you'll book in for your consent appointment and implant placement. We currently have two implant surgeons on the team, both using the Straumann system, which is one of the most widely researched and long established implant systems available, and we can talk you through IV sedation on the day if you'd rather be relaxed throughout (more on that in our guide to sedation for nervous patients).
It's worth knowing that our implant surgeons are currently only in for implant work one day each per week, and demand means we're often booked several months ahead. If implants are something you're considering, getting your consultation booked in sooner rather than later genuinely makes a difference to how quickly you can be seen.
After placement, a review appointment is booked to check healing is progressing as it should. Implants typically need a period of time to fuse with the jawbone before the final crown or bridge is fitted, and your dentist will talk you through the expected timeline for your specific case, since it does vary from person to person.
If a missing tooth, or several, is something you've been putting off dealing with, your first step is simply a conversation with our treatment coordinator. Book your initial implant consultation and find out exactly where you stand.
A CBCT scan is a detailed 3D X-ray that shows our implant surgeons the exact shape and density of your jawbone, which is essential for planning implant placement accurately and safely.
We currently have two implant surgeons, both working with the Straumann implant system.
Yes, IV sedation is available if you'd prefer to be relaxed throughout treatment. Our team can talk you through this option at your consultation.
Our implant surgeons currently work one day a week each and books fill up in advance, so we'd recommend booking your consultation as early as possible.
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