Implant dentistry · London
Dental implant assessment and monitoring, planned in 3D before anything is placed.
The workup before an implant — CBCT, intra-oral scan, gum-health check, digital plan — and the lifelong recall that keeps it there. This page is the assessment and the monitoring; the surgery itself lives one click away.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A GDC-registered implant dentist and, where needed, an oral surgeon
Not a hygienist and not a general dentist doing occasional implants. A named implantologist who plans, places and maintains — with an oral surgeon on hand for grafting.
- 02
CBCT-guided digital planning, not guesswork
A cone-beam CT of the jaw, an intra-oral scan and a digital plan before any drill goes near you — bone volume, nerve position and sinus proximity mapped in 3D.
- 03
NICE-aligned, evidence-led maintenance
Assessment follows NICE and BSP guidance; the lifelong recall follows ITI protocols. No hard sell, no rush to place.
Indicative pricing
What implant assessment and monitoring costs in London.
The workup and the maintenance only — surgery and prosthetics are quoted separately once the plan is agreed.
In short
A full workup — consultation, CBCT, scan and plan — typically runs £600–£1,500, over one to two visits.
| Item | Indicative range | Typical duration | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| New-patient implant consultation | £150–£350 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| CBCT scan (single arch) | £150–£300 | 15 min | Same day |
| CBCT scan (full jaw, both arches) | £250–£450 | 20 min | Same day |
| Intra-oral digital scan | £80–£200 | 15 min | Same day |
| Digital treatment plan and guided template | £400–£1,200 | 1–2 weeks | Report in 7–10 days |
| Implant hygienist recall (per visit) | £95–£180 | 45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic and by how much imaging is needed. Placement, bone grafting, sinus lift and prosthetic (crown, bridge, All-on-4 arch) are quoted after the plan is agreed.
The problem
Implants fail for reasons you can spot before they are placed.
Uncontrolled diabetes, active gum disease, heavy smoking, thin bone, a low sinus floor — the assessment exists to catch these before you commit to surgery.
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Not sure implants are safe for you?
Diabetes, bisphosphonates, smoking, radiotherapy and bruxism all change the calculus. The workup weighs each honestly.
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Told you need a bone graft?
A CBCT and a proper plan tell you whether the graft is really needed, what type, and how long it heals.
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Have an implant that feels wrong?
Bleeding, recession or a rough feeling around an old fixture — peri-implantitis screening decides the next step.
The journey
From first visit to lifelong recall — what happens, in order.
A shared, written plan before anything is placed — and a maintenance schedule that runs from year one onwards.
Phase 1 · Assessment
History, imaging, gum check
Phase 2 · Planning & prep
Digital plan, any grafting
Phase 3 · Recall
Lifelong monitoring
- 01
Assessment
Medical and dental history review
A confidential form covers diabetes control, bisphosphonates, radiotherapy, smoking, bruxism and any previous implant issues — the things that decide whether implants are safe at all.
- 02
Assessment
Clinical exam, BPE and periodontal charting
A full mouth exam with basic periodontal examination (BPE), pocket depths and bleeding scores. Untreated gum disease is stabilised before an implant is even discussed.
- 03
Assessment
CBCT and intra-oral scan
A low-dose cone-beam CT for 3D bone volume, sinus floor and inferior alveolar nerve mapping — plus a digital intra-oral scan of the bite.
- 04
Planning
Digital treatment plan and options review
A shared screen walk-through of the plan: implant number, position, whether a guided-surgery template is needed, and whether grafting or a sinus lift comes first.
- 05
Planning
Preparatory work if required
Bone grafting, sinus lift, extractions or periodontal treatment happen first, with healing time built in — usually three to six months before placement.
- 06
Planning
Referral to the surgical phase
Once the site is ready, you are handed to the surgical team for placement. That phase lives on our surgery page — this page is the workup and the maintenance.
- 07
Recall
Lifelong recall and monitoring
Six-monthly hygienist recall, annual peri-implantitis screening, and radiographic bone-level review at year one and then as clinically indicated.
Typical workup: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to written plan. Prep (grafting, sinus lift) if needed: 3–6 months before placement.
When it helps
When an implant workup is the right next step.
The situations we see most, plus one red flag that means bringing prior notes with you.
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Single missing tooth
A gap from decay, fracture or trauma where a bridge would sacrifice neighbouring teeth.
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Multiple adjacent gaps
Two or more missing teeth in a row — assessment decides between individual implants or a small bridge on implants.
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Full-arch replacement (All-on-4)
A failing or fully edentulous arch where four to six implants can carry a fixed bridge — CBCT decides feasibility.
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Failing bridge or denture
An old bridge that has debonded or a loose lower denture — implants are often the definitive answer.
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Existing implant needing review
Bleeding, recession or a rough feeling around an old implant — peri-implantitis screening decides next steps.
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Cosmetic front-tooth loss
A visible tooth lost to trauma or resorption — planning covers pink and white aesthetics, not just the fixture.
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Planning before extraction
A tooth that is going to come out anyway — assessment before extraction protects bone and simplifies later placement.
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Red flag: numbness after a previous implant
Persistent lip or chin numbness after a previous placement suggests nerve involvement — bring the notes and any CBCT with you.
Assessment options
One implant, several, or a whole arch — the workup adapts.
The plan looks different for a single gap versus a full arch. Here is what each version of the workup covers.
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Single-tooth implant workup
One fixture, one crown. CBCT of the site, bite scan, and a straightforward plan — the commonest case we assess.
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Multiple-implant workup
Two or more implants supporting individual crowns or a short bridge — planning covers spacing, angulation and hygiene access.
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Full-arch (All-on-4 / All-on-6) workup
A fixed bridge on four to six implants. CBCT decides bone availability, nerve position and whether zygomatic implants are needed.
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Immediate vs delayed loading plan
Some cases allow a temporary tooth the same day; most need a healing period. The plan says which, and why.
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Pre-implant bone graft plan
When the ridge is too thin or too short, a graft (autogenous, allograft or synthetic) is planned first — healing three to six months.
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Sinus lift plan (upper back teeth)
When the sinus floor sits too low over the upper molars, an internal or lateral sinus lift creates the height needed.
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Guided-surgery template
A 3D-printed drill guide made from the CBCT and scan, so placement matches the digital plan to within a fraction of a millimetre.
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Lifelong maintenance plan
A written recall schedule: hygienist every six months, radiographic review at year one, and a peri-implantitis screen at every visit.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of implant dentists, we picked them.
GDC-registered implant dentists across central, north, west and south London, each with on-site CBCT and a working relationship with an oral surgeon for grafting.
Selection criteria
How we choose every implant dentist in our network.
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GDC-registered implant dentists with a documented implant caseload
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On-site CBCT and intra-oral scanning, not outsourced imaging
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An oral or maxillofacial surgeon available for grafting and sinus lifts
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A written maintenance protocol aligned with ITI and BSP guidance
Red flags and safety
The things the assessment is really looking for.
Implants have a very high success rate — as long as the risks below are looked for, discussed, and either managed or ruled out before placement.
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Assessment does not commit you to surgery
The workup exists so you can make an informed choice. If implants are not right for you, we will say so and suggest alternatives.
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Uncontrolled diabetes delays healing
An HbA1c above 8% roughly doubles early failure risk. We ask for a recent HbA1c and defer placement until control improves.
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Bisphosphonates and denosumab need a conversation
These drugs carry a small but real risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Length of use and route matter — we assess before placement.
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Smoking roughly doubles failure risk
Smoking more than ten cigarettes a day is the single biggest modifiable risk factor. Cessation support is offered as part of the plan.
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Gum disease is stabilised first
Placing implants into unstable periodontitis is a recipe for peri-implantitis. Charting, scaling and stabilisation come before any fixture.
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Bone volume decides feasibility
The CBCT tells us whether the ridge is thick and tall enough. Where it is not, a graft or sinus lift is planned before placement — not on the day.
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Nerve and sinus proximity are mapped
Digital planning marks the inferior alveolar nerve and the sinus floor. Placement avoids them by design, not by luck.
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Bruxism needs a nightguard plan
Heavy grinders overload implants and their crowns. A nightguard is planned into the treatment, not added as an afterthought.
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Red flags after placement
Persistent numbness, swelling that worsens after 72 hours, or a loose feeling in a healed implant are reasons to call the same day.
Reading your implant plan
Your assessment report in four parts. Read the last one first.
The written plan the implant dentist sends you keeps to the same shape, whatever the case.
A quiet reminder
Implant plans use precise, technical language — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to walk you through the report before you decide, just ask.
- 01 Header
Medical history and risk factors
Diabetes control, medications (especially bisphosphonates and denosumab), smoking status, radiotherapy history and any bruxism.
- 02 Imaging
CBCT findings and intra-oral scan
Bone height and width at each planned site, sinus floor position, inferior alveolar canal location and any incidental findings.
- 03 Findings
Periodontal charting and occlusal notes
BPE scores, pocket depths, plaque and bleeding indices, and a note on how the bite loads the planned implants.
- 04 Impression
Plan, staging and recall schedule
Read this first: whether grafting is needed, when placement is scheduled, and the maintenance recall from year one onwards.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Dental cover for implants varies by insurer and by plan — most cover assessment, hygienist recall and radiographic monitoring; the implant itself is often self-pay or partial. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything patients ask about implant assessment.
Quick answers on CBCT, bone grafts, diabetes and bisphosphonates, and how peri-implantitis is caught early.
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What does a dental implant assessment actually involve?
A full medical and dental history, a clinical exam with BPE and periodontal charting, an intra-oral scan, a cone-beam CT of the jaw, and a digital treatment plan you review on screen. Nothing is placed at this visit — the assessment tells you whether implants are safe and sensible, and what needs to happen first.
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Why do I need a CBCT scan and not a normal dental X-ray?
A CBCT gives a 3D map of the jaw at low dose. It shows bone height and width, the position of the inferior alveolar nerve in the lower jaw, and how close the sinus floor sits above the upper back teeth. A 2D X-ray cannot show any of that — planning without a CBCT is planning blind.
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Do I need a bone graft or sinus lift before an implant?
Sometimes. If the CBCT shows the ridge is too thin, too short, or the sinus sits too low, a graft or sinus lift is planned first and healed for three to six months before the implant is placed. Not everyone needs it — the scan decides.
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Can I have implants if I am diabetic or take bisphosphonates?
Often yes, but with caveats. Well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c under 7–8%) is usually fine. Bisphosphonates and denosumab carry a small risk of osteonecrosis (MRONJ) — the drug, dose and route matter, and the assessment is where that risk is weighed properly.
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What is peri-implantitis and how do you monitor for it?
Peri-implantitis is inflammation around an implant with bone loss — the implant equivalent of gum disease. We monitor with six-monthly hygienist visits, probing around each implant, and a radiographic bone-level review at year one and periodically thereafter.
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How often will I need to see a hygienist after an implant?
Every six months, minimum. Implants collect plaque like teeth do but respond to it worse. A dedicated implant hygienist appointment uses instruments that will not scratch the titanium and keeps the tissues healthy for the long term.
Related pages
The surgery, and everything else we arrange.
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Dental implant surgery
The placement itself — from local anaesthetic to loading.
Learn more -
All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange, in one place.
Learn more -
CBCT and diagnostic imaging
Low-dose 3D imaging for planning and diagnosis.
Learn more -
Send an enquiry
Tell us what is going on — we come back within a working day.
Learn more