Yes of course you can. Many patients pay as they go along or choose to seek their own finance - either way just discuss what you would like to do. Realistically the process from start to finish can take anywhere from 3-12 months depending on complexity - we tend not to rush these things as a lot of time frames are dependent on your own healing (which varies from person to person).

The placement of the implant is not painful as it is all done under local anesthetic. Afterwards you can be swollen and tender, we normally advise to take painkillers for a few days until the swelling settles. The majority of our patients feel fine and have no issues but we warn everybody the same every time. We normally tell people that it is normally nowhere near as sore as having a tooth removed. There is no reason why one cannot drive home and work after the procedure, except if you chose to have IV sedation.

The truth is that there is no exact figure. We aim for around 10-15 years. Some can last much longer and some can last less. They have a very high success rate but there is always a risk the implant does not integrate with your bone, is rejected by your body or becomes infected. The reality is that every case is different and must be judged accordingly.

- If you are a smoker you are at a higher risk of losing the implant. - If you have a reduced immune response such as uncontrolled diabetes you may have delayed healing. - If you have been on bis-phosphonates for a long time due to osteoporosis this may affect the way your bone heals. - If you have had an implant or artificial hip/joint that has been successful before this normally indicates a chance of success. - We strongly advise you to start Vitamin D supplements (potentially full blood cultures) and look at your diet (consider probiotics).

Our dental implant integration success rate with dental implants is very high at last assessment it was 97.9%*. We do have failures and any implant dentist that says they do not have any, is most likely not placing enough. We take on more complex and referred cases therefore with the more complex cases it carries a higher risk which affects are audit numbers. So we always take people quoted implant success rates with a pinch of salt because you do not know what they define as a success - is it one day? one month? one year? Does it take into account bone loss over time? crown fractures? rejection of the implant? the list goes on. Nonetheless we always analyze and critique our own failures and successes to see how we can consistently improve. Even after placing so many implants for so many years, one cannot rest on one's laurels and must always seek to deliver their best for each and every case. You will see many dental implant clinics talk about their successes etc but very few discuss their complications while we firmly believe one should hope for the best but prepare for the possible complications, and these should all be discussed with every patient.

We need to understand the reason why certain cases do not go as we wished... sometimes it is due to multiple factors.

Our options include:

- We will either clean the site and re-try a new implant placement after a period of healing. - We may just clean the site and graft to protect the implant. - We may remove the implant and just leave a space or replace it with a new bridge or denture.

When we assess you, we have to make sure your safety is the most important factor. Therefore, if you have infections or fractures or gum disease elsewhere in your mouth then these need to be addressed first, as if they are left they could jeopardize the implant. We may refer you back to your dentist to deal with these issues first before we can carry out treatment.

We normally say how much would you pay if you replace a lost finger with something that looks and functions similarly? We charge on what we feel is appropriate given the level of expertise, technology and customer service we provide. There will always be people cheaper than us and more expensive. Dr. Ahmed wants to provide the best possible result, the best materials and the best experience and the reality is that this all comes at a price. We do not price match other clinics and never will as we believe we provide a level of care that is incomparable. If you are solely basing your decision on finding the lowest price implant, then we are not the clinic for you, but if you believe in paying for quality, service and long term aftercare then we can help.

Not that we are aware of but do expect some swelling, bruising, numbness and tenderness around the area for 1-2 weeks post surgery.

We use a variety of materials to add density and volume to the jaw in areas where bone loss has occurred. The type of bone graft used depends on the source of the material, and each type has different properties and uses:

Autograft: Uses bone from the patient's own body, usually from another part. This type of graft has bone-forming properties, so regeneration may be faster and more predictable than other types. However, it requires a second procedure to harvest the bone.

Allograft: Uses cadaver bone. This type of graft doesn't require a second procedure. To avoid immune rejection and contamination, the bone is processed at high temperatures.

Xenograft: Uses bone from an animal, usually a cow or pig. Xenografts don't require a second procedure, but they may take longer to regenerate than an autograft and Allografts. To avoid immune rejection and contamination, the bone is processed at high temperatures.

Alloplast: Uses synthetic materials, such as bioglass or polymers. Bioglass is similar to ceramic and it comes in malleable forms like pastes and putties that can be shaped into a jawbone socket. For post operative symptoms and complications please scroll to the bottom of this page and you will see a word document for post surgery advice sheet. We would advise Tylenol and ibuprofen or whatever your normal analgesic protocol is. Normally you will have non-dissolvable stitches they may rub around the area and be removed 1-2 weeks later. Do not worry if you should lose some during your healing period. We advise to be gentle around the area and use warm salty mouth rinses to keep the site clean.

We normally perform it while you're awake under local anesthetic so you do not feel anything during the procedure and recover quickly. The surgery on average takes around 1hr for most cases. In full mouth complex same day smile cases sedation can be arranged.

The short answer is yes. The reality is that we are seeing more and more implant issues from all over the world and dealing with complex cases is all part of the job. Sometimes people say that their implant is loose but that may just mean that the crown attached to the implant is loose. In most cases, this can either be retightened with a special screwdriver or re-cemented back in. If the actual implant screw in the bone is loose, then the whole implant fixture may need to be removed. The site can either be left without an implant or bone granules added and another implant attempted.

It is always helpful to know what brand of implant you have and the diameter of the screw placed, because if there is an emergency you may not be able to see your own dentist and will need to see someone else. As we deal with a lot of complex cases we have special screwdrivers for all major implant providers.

You will attend for a consultation initially, where you will be assessed if an implant is the ideal option for you. It is important to discuss the costs, benefits and risks of all potential options beforehand. If deemed appropriate, we will then take a 3D CT scan of the bone to assess the quality for implant placement and if any grafting will be required.

We also take an intra oral digital scan and photographs and discuss our consent process with you. From this a custom 3D printed placement surgical guide and models will be created to ensure we place the implant in exactly the right position to ensure the best possible crown position and long-term outcome.

You will then attend for placement of an implant (1-3hr appointment). Please ensure you have something to eat before attending, this may differ depending if you are using local anesthesia, nitrous, or IV sedation. It is also advisable to have painkillers such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen handy after surgery to ease recovery. We normally say the area will be tender for 1-7days. You may have a temporary gum healing cap screwed in poking through the gum - this does not hurt but just merely there to help the gum heal. There will be some non-dissolvable stitches placed that are finer than hair to close the gum over in the area.

One to two weeks after implant placement we will remove the sutures and check your healing is ok. A minimum of 12 weeks later we will bring you for a final scan/impression of your future final implant crown (if deemed appropriate).

Two weeks later we will fit your final crown and give you instructions on cleaning and wear. We then advise a review every year to take an x-ray to make sure the implant is doing well.