Dental implants
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone that acts like the root of a tooth. It can carry a single crown, a bridge, a denture that clips on, or a fixed set of teeth across a whole arch. At Y3 Smiles Dental in Broadmeadows, suitability is assessed first.
What are dental implants?
An implant replaces the part of a tooth you never see. A small titanium post is placed into the jawbone, and over the following weeks the bone grows onto it, a process called osseointegration. That gives a firm foundation for whatever is fitted on top. What goes on top is where the options open up, and it is worth knowing them before you decide anything: a single crown for one missing tooth, a bridge carried by two implants where several teeth in a row are gone, a denture that clips onto a small number of implants so it stops moving, or a fixed bridge across a whole arch supported by several implants. Which one suits you depends on how many teeth are missing, how much bone you have and what you want to spend, and those are three different conversations. Implants are not right for everyone. Gum disease has to be under control first, because the same bacteria that loosen teeth will attack the gum and bone around an implant. Uncontrolled diabetes, some medicines that affect bone, heavy grinding and smoking all change the odds, and smokers heal less predictably. Where there is not enough bone left, a graft may be needed first, which adds time and cost. Sometimes the honest answer is that a bridge or a well-made denture is the better choice for you, and we will say so. Implant treatment also carries risks worth understanding before you agree: infection around the implant, an implant that does not osseointegrate, meaning the bone does not fuse to it, and has to be removed and replaced, damage to a nearby nerve or sinus, and the long-term maintenance an implant needs to stay healthy. Your dentist will go through the ones that apply to your case. The information here is general education rather than a diagnosis, and you are welcome to ask questions or seek a second opinion.
When might you need dental implants?
A single missing tooth
An implant and crown fill the gap without cutting down the healthy teeth either side, which is what a conventional bridge needs.
Several missing teeth in a row
Two implants can carry a bridge of three or more teeth, rather than one implant per tooth.
A denture that moves
A lower denture that lifts when you eat or speak can be clipped onto a small number of implants so it stays put.
A whole arch of failing or missing teeth
Where the teeth in an upper or lower jaw cannot be saved, a fixed bridge on several implants replaces the arch.
A tooth that cannot be saved
Where a tooth has to come out, planning the replacement before the extraction often means better bone to work with later.
Bone loss where a tooth is already missing
The jaw shrinks where a tooth has gone. An implant loads the bone again, which helps hold the shape of the jaw.
What happens, in short
Assessment and imaging
An examination, x-rays and usually a 3D scan show how much bone there is and where the nerve and sinus sit. The scan is taken at an imaging provider, who bills it separately.
The plan and the quote
Your dentist explains which option suits your case, what it involves, the risks that apply to you, and the fee in writing before anything is booked.
Groundwork, if it is needed
Some cases need a tooth removed, a graft to rebuild bone, or gum treatment first. Each step is quoted and explained on its own.
Placing the implant
The implant is placed under local anaesthetic through a small opening in the gum, which is then closed. Most people are surprised how ordinary it feels.
Healing
The bone bonds onto the implant over the following weeks. You are not left with a gap: a temporary tooth or your adapted denture covers the space meanwhile.
Fitting the teeth
Impressions or a scan are taken, and the crown, bridge or denture is made to fit your bite, then fitted and checked.
Keeping it healthy
Implants need cleaning around and under them, and a check-up schedule. An implant cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can still be lost.
What does it cost?
A single implant, including the crown on top, is from $4,000. Implant-supported dentures and full-arch treatment are quoted after your assessment, because the number of implants and any groundwork decide the figure. You get a written, itemised quote with item numbers before anything is booked, and the cost page sets out what moves the total.
You get a written, itemised quote with item numbers before any treatment starts, so you can check it with your health fund. Health funds · Payment options
Who places implants at Y3 Smiles Dental?
Dr Javed Mahmud, known to patients as Dr Pavel, Dentist, AHPRA DEN0001774450.
He holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and a Master of Surgery in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from BSMMU, and has worked in dentistry for more than 25 years, in Victoria since 2015. Implants, oral surgery and bone grafting are his main interests. He is a general dentist, not on the specialist register. Dr Fatima Kurnaz reviews the clinical information on this page.
Can implants hold a loose denture in place?
Yes. A small number of implants can be placed and the denture clipped onto them, so it moves far less when you eat and speak.
This is usually the option that changes the most for the least outlay, and it is most noticeable in the lower jaw, where a conventional denture has the least to hold on to. The denture still comes out for cleaning. Sometimes an existing denture can be adapted rather than remade.
What is full-arch implant treatment?
A fixed bridge of teeth across a whole upper or lower jaw, carried by several implants rather than one implant per tooth.
It suits people whose remaining teeth in that jaw cannot be saved, or who already wear a full denture and want something that does not come out. You may have seen this advertised under a brand name: those names belong to particular implant systems, and the treatment described here is the same idea. We describe what is being done rather than whose system it is.
When is an implant not the right answer?
When gum disease is still active, when there is not enough bone and grafting is not sensible, or when a bridge or denture would serve you better for what you want to spend.
Heavy smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and some bone medicines all make implants less predictable, and your medical history is part of the assessment for that reason. There is no shame in a denture that fits well, and we would rather fit one than place an implant that is likely to fail.
What can go wrong?
Infection, an implant that does not bond and has to be removed, bone loss around an implant later, and, in the lower jaw, irritation of a nearby nerve.
The imaging is what keeps most of this predictable: it shows where the nerve and sinus are before anything is placed. An implant that fails early can usually be replaced after healing. The slower risk is peri-implantitis, gum and bone inflammation around an implant, which is why the cleaning and the check-ups are part of the treatment rather than an optional extra.
How long does the whole thing take?
Longer than people expect, because the bone has to bond to the implant before the final teeth go on.
Healing is measured in weeks to months rather than days, and groundwork such as a graft adds to it. You are not without teeth in the meantime. Your dentist will give you a timeline for your case once the scan has been read, and will be honest if it is a long one.
Do implants need special care?
They need cleaning around and under them every day, and regular check-ups. An implant cannot get a cavity, but the gum and bone holding it can still be lost.
We will show you how to clean around whatever you have, which is different for a crown, a bridge and a denture that clips on. This is the part that decides how long the work lasts.
More about dental implants
Other questions people ask
Does it hurt?
The placement is done under local anaesthetic, and most people describe the appointment as easier than having a tooth out. Soreness and swelling for a few days afterwards is normal and is covered on our aftercare page.
Can I play sport with an implant?
Yes, once it has healed. Wear a custom-fitted mouthguard for anything with contact, a ball or wheels, and tell us before it is made so the guard is built around the implant crown. A knock that takes out an implant restoration is a great deal more expensive to deal with than a guard.
Can I be asleep for it?
Sedation can be arranged at the clinic with a visiting registered specialist anaesthetist, on days we set aside for it. It is IV sedation or a general anaesthetic, booked in advance, and we ask you to commit before we organise it. The anaesthetist charges their own fee. Most implant treatment here is done under local anaesthetic alone.
Will there be a gap while it heals?
No. A temporary tooth, or an adapted denture, covers the space while the implant integrates with the bone. Your dentist will tell you which applies before you start.
Can I claim implants on my health fund?
Some policies pay towards implants under major dental, often with a waiting period and an annual limit that will not cover the whole thing. Medicare does not cover implants for adults. Ring your fund with the item numbers on your quote before you commit.
What if I smoke?
You can still be assessed, and it is worth having the conversation. Smoking affects healing and the long-term outcome around implants, so your dentist will be straight with you about what it means for your case.
Do I need a referral?
No. Book a consultation with us. If your case would be better handled elsewhere, we will tell you and arrange the referral.
What happens if an implant fails?
It is removed, the site is allowed to heal, and in many cases another implant can be placed later. Your dentist will explain what that would mean for your case and what it would cost before you start, not after.