A dental implant is a small titanium post that is placed into the jawbone to take the place of a missing tooth root. After a healing period during which the bone grows around it, the implant is fitted with an abutment and a crown, which together replace the tooth that was lost. The result feels and functions much like a natural tooth.
Implants have been part of mainstream dentistry for more than three decades and the science is well understood. What still varies, clinic to clinic, is the time given to planning and the honesty about what each patient’s case can and cannot deliver. An implant is only as good as the planning that came before it.
At our Mohali clinic, Dr Aman has been placing implants since 2008. Most cases are straightforward and stay with us through every step. For complex cases that benefit from specialist input, she coordinates with visiting implant surgeons and prosthodontists who treat patients here at the clinic, so the work, the records, and the team you see do not change midway.
When an implant is the right choice
An implant is usually the most predictable long-term answer when a single tooth is missing or has to be removed, when the neighbouring teeth are healthy and you would rather not cut into them for a bridge, or when several teeth in a row need replacing and a stable, fixed solution is wanted instead of a removable denture. Implants also restore the bite force that bridges and dentures cannot fully replicate.
An implant is not always the right choice. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, heavy smokers, those with significant bone loss without the willingness to graft, or those with active gum disease may do better with a bridge or denture, at least until those conditions are addressed. We will tell you honestly if your case sits in this group, and we will not place an implant we do not expect to last.
When it can wait, and when it should not
After a tooth is removed, an implant does not need to be placed the same day. In most cases, healing for a few weeks to a few months gives a better foundation for the implant. There is no race. If you are between the loss of the tooth and the implant, a temporary tooth (a small bridge, a flipper, or a clear retainer with a tooth attached) can be used in the meantime so you are not without a tooth socially.
What should not wait: bone loss from a missing tooth begins quietly within months and accelerates over the years that follow. The longer a tooth has been missing, the more likely a bone graft is needed before an implant can be placed. If you have had a tooth out and are considering whether to replace it, the earlier we plan, the simpler the eventual implant tends to be.
How we approach implants at our Mohali clinic
We perform implants in-house at our Mohali clinic. The first step is always assessment: a full clinical examination, X-rays, sometimes a CBCT scan to map the bone in three dimensions, a review of your medical history, and a discussion of what you want from the final result. We do not start surgery until the plan answers every question we can think of.
For complex cases that benefit from specialist input, Dr Aman coordinates with visiting implant surgeons and prosthodontists who treat patients here at the clinic. This keeps your treatment continuous, with one familiar team, one clinical record, and no shuttling between practices. The specialist sees you in the same chair you were assessed in.
We use established implant systems from manufacturers with long-term clinical data, not the cheapest available. The components we place today must still be obtainable, repairable, and adjustable in twenty years. This matters more than the price tag at the start.
What to expect at your appointment
An implant pathway is usually spread across a few appointments over three to six months. Each individual visit is shorter than people expect.
- A planning consultation with examination, X-rays, and a discussion of the options and timing.
- A CBCT scan when the case needs three-dimensional planning, particularly for back teeth and for cases close to nerves or sinuses.
- The placement appointment, usually under local anaesthetic, where the implant is placed into the bone and the site is closed or protected. Most patients walk out about an hour later.
- A healing period of three to four months for the bone to integrate with the implant. We will see you briefly during this time to check the site.
- Placement of the abutment, followed by impressions or a digital scan for the final crown.
- Fitting of the final crown, with adjustments to the bite so it sits exactly right.
Discomfort after the placement is usually mild and lasts a day or two, controlled with ordinary pain relief. Swelling is uncommon for single implants and more likely for multiple implants or for graft cases. We give clear written aftercare at every step.
Common questions before treatment
Patients often ask whether an implant can be done in one visit. For carefully selected cases (good bone, healthy gums, no infection at the site, and a tooth that has been planned for in advance) immediate placement and a temporary tooth on the same day is possible. For most cases, a staged approach over a few months gives a more reliable result. We will tell you which path your case suits.
Patients flying in from abroad ask whether the whole treatment can be completed in one trip. For most planned cases the answer is no, because the bone needs time to heal between placement and the final crown. The way most NRI patients manage this is to plan the placement on one trip and the crown on the next, with a temporary tooth in between. We coordinate with your dentist abroad if that helps.
People also ask how long an implant lasts. With healthy gums, a stable bite, and regular cleanings, an implant can last decades. The crown on top is more like a normal restoration and may need replacement at some point. The implant itself, if well placed and well maintained, is one of the longest-lived dental restorations there is.
A note on cost and timelines
Cost depends on the implant system, whether a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, whether the case is a single tooth or a larger restoration, and the materials chosen for the final crown. We will give you a written treatment plan with all stages costed before any surgery is planned, so there are no surprises later.
For NRI patients planning treatment across more than one visit, get in touch a few weeks before you travel. We will look at your X-rays, set out a realistic two-trip plan, and confirm what we can complete in the days you have here.