Dental Implants at Midland and Eglinton

Three things, mainly: how many teeth are being replaced, the condition of the site — grafting or an extraction adds stages — and the type of restoration that finishes the case, from a single crown to a full-arch design. Because those variables differ for every patient, we quote only after an exam, in writing, with insurance and CDCP assistance factored in where they apply.

Placement happens under local anaesthetic, so the appointment itself is numb rather than painful. The days afterward typically bring mild swelling and tenderness that over-the-counter medication handles well, and many patients rate the recovery as easier than an extraction. If dental visits make you anxious, mention it — we can plan additional comfort options so the experience stays calm from start to finish.

The waiting is biology, not scheduling. After placement, bone cells need roughly three to six months to grow onto the titanium surface and lock the post in place, and loading it too early risks failure. Grafting adds its own healing window. The good news: appointments during this period are brief, and a temporary tooth keeps your smile complete while integration happens quietly underneath.

Sometimes. When bone quality is excellent and the implant achieves strong initial stability, a temporary tooth can be fitted shortly after placement. The permanent restoration still waits for full integration. Immediate teeth are a case-by-case decision based on your bone, your bite, and where the implant sits, and we will tell you honestly at the planning stage whether your case qualifies.

Often more than patients expect, though long-term tooth loss does shrink the ridge. Imaging gives us the real answer. Where volume is short, grafting can rebuild the site before placement, adding a healing stage but making the outcome far more predictable. Complex reconstructions are planned alongside trusted Scarborough specialists, with our office coordinating your care from first scan to final tooth.

The post itself frequently outlasts everything else in the mouth — decades of service is common when home care and checkups stay consistent. The crown on top faces daily chewing forces and may need renewal after many years, which is done without touching the implant. The main threat to longevity is gum infection around the post, which is why maintenance visits matter so much.

There is no universal winner. An implant preserves bone and leaves neighbours alone but costs more upfront and takes months. A bridge finishes faster yet requires reshaping the adjacent teeth. A denture handles many missing teeth affordably but rests on the gums. We lay out how each option plays out over ten or twenty years in your specific mouth, then let you decide.

Nothing exotic — but nothing optional either. Brush it twice daily like any tooth, and clean the gumline around it every day with floss or the interdental brushes we recommend for your spacing. The implant cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed if plaque accumulates. Your hygiene visits include a specific check of the tissues surrounding every implant.

A conventional denture rests on gum tissue and relies on suction; implant-supported teeth anchor to posts in the bone. A small number of implants can secure an entire arch — either a snap-in overdenture you remove for cleaning or a fixed bridge that stays in permanently. Chewing strength, stability, and bone preservation all improve substantially. Your bone volume and goals determine which design fits.

Almost certainly not — health matters far more than birthdays, and patients well into their senior years do beautifully with implants when their gums and general health support healing. The real age restriction sits at the other end: we wait until jaw growth is complete, usually the late teens, before placing implants in younger patients. Your consultation looks at you, not your age.

Modern implants succeed at very high rates, but no procedure is perfect. Failure usually means the post never fully bonded or an infection developed around it. When that happens, the implant is removed, the site heals, and a second attempt is often possible later. You improve the odds considerably by not smoking, following aftercare closely, and keeping the area meticulously clean.

Not until the disease is controlled, and that order matters. The bacteria driving periodontal disease attack the tissues around implants just as aggressively as they attack natural teeth, so placing a post into an infected mouth invites early failure. We treat the gums first, confirm they are stable, and then plan implants on a foundation that can actually support them.