A dental implant replaces a missing tooth with an artificial titanium root. Read what it costs, how the treatment goes and what to expect.
A single implant including a crown usually costs between €1,500 and €3,000. If bone grafting or a sinus lift is needed, that often adds several hundred euros.
Basic health insurance generally does not cover implants; some supplementary dental insurances cover part of it. Always ask for an itemised quote in advance.
The implant itself (the titanium “screw” in the bone) can last 20 years or longer with good care, often for life. The crown on top wears and is usually replaced after 10 to 20 years. Good oral hygiene and regular check-ups are crucial to prevent inflammation around the implant (peri-implantitis).
You feel nothing during the procedure: the area is locally anaesthetised. Afterwards there is some pain, swelling and sometimes bruising for a few days, which is usually well controlled with paracetamol or an anti-inflammatory in consultation with your dentist.
Implant: stands independently of the neighbouring teeth, preserves the jawbone and lasts long, but is more expensive and takes more time.
Bridge: quicker and often cheaper, but the neighbouring teeth must be ground down and the bone under the missing tooth shrinks over time.
An implant can be difficult or impossible with insufficient jawbone (often solvable with bone grafting), untreated gum disease, heavy smoking, poorly controlled diabetes, radiotherapy of the jaw area or certain bone medication. In young people who are still growing, doctors wait until the jaw has fully developed.
The procedure itself usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. Then the implant needs to heal in: about 2 to 4 months in the lower jaw and 4 to 6 months in the upper jaw. In total the process often takes 3 to 6 months, longer with bone grafting.
For the first days: soft, lukewarm or cold food such as yoghurt, soup, mash and pasta. Avoid hot, hard, sharp or crumbly foods and chew on the other side of the mouth. After 1 to 2 weeks you gradually return to your normal diet in consultation with your dentist.
The pain is usually strongest in the first 2 to 3 days and subsides within one to two weeks. If the pain actually increases, you have a fever or heavy swelling, contact your dentist.
Basic health insurance reimburses implants only in exceptional situations, for example with a severely toothless lower jaw or a congenital abnormality. Some supplementary dental insurances cover part, often with a yearly maximum and waiting periods. Check your policy conditions and ask for a quote in advance.
Dentures rest on the gums and can move; an implant is anchored in the jawbone and feels and functions more like a natural tooth. Dentures can also be fixed on implants (a clip-on denture), which greatly improves stability.
Brush and clean it like a natural tooth, including with interdental brushes or floss. See the dentist or hygienist once or twice a year and preferably stop smoking: it significantly reduces the risk of inflammation around the implant.
True rejection is rare, but an implant may not fuse properly or may become inflamed later. The success rate after 10 years is generally above 90 percent. Risk factors are smoking, poor gums and insufficient oral hygiene.