A dental implant is the option most people think of first when they lose a tooth, because it comes closest to the feel of a natural one. Before you decide, it helps to know what the treatment involves, how long it takes, roughly what it costs, and where its limits are.
What a dental implant is, and who it suits
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. It is usually made of titanium, which the body accepts well, and is placed in the jawbone where the tooth used to be. Once the bone has bonded to it, a crown is fitted on top so the tooth works like the original.
Implants suit people who have lost one or more teeth and want a fixed replacement that does not come out, who would rather not have neighboring teeth trimmed for a bridge, and who have reasonable general health, healthy gums, and enough jawbone to hold the implant. If bone is lacking, a bone graft first can still make an implant possible in many cases.
The dental implant process
An implant is not done in a day. It has several stages, with waiting time between them so the bone can bond firmly to the implant. In total it takes several months.
1. Examination and planning
We examine your mouth, gums, and neighboring teeth and take a dental CT scan to measure the height and width of the bone and to locate nerves and sinuses. From that we plan the position, size, and angle of the implant in advance. If the bone is thin or short, a bone graft may be needed first or at the same time.
2. Implant surgery
This is minor surgery under local anesthetic. The implant is placed in the bone in the planned position. Then the bone needs time to grow onto the implant surface, a process called osseointegration, which usually takes a few months depending on bone quality and the position in the mouth. For a front tooth we make a temporary tooth to wear in the meantime.
3. The abutment
Once the implant is firmly integrated, we attach an abutment, the connector between implant and crown, and take a digital 3D scan rather than an impression so the crown can be made to match the teeth beside it.
4. The crown
Your custom crown is fixed to the abutment and the bite is adjusted. From then on you chew, speak, and smile with it like a natural tooth.
What a dental implant costs
The cost depends on several things: the implant brand and type, the crown material, how many teeth are involved, and how complex the case is, for example whether a bone graft is needed.
At Tooth Boutique a dental implant is 45,000–89,000 baht per tooth. This is a starting price; we confirm the exact fee after your examination and CT scan. See the price list.
Pros and cons of dental implants
Pros
- Strong, chews much like a natural tooth, and lasts a long time with good care
- Helps preserve the jawbone at that spot, because chewing force passes into the bone as it does through a natural root
- Looks natural in shape and color
- Does not require trimming the neighboring teeth, as a bridge does, and does not come out like a denture
Cons
- Costs more than a removable denture or a bridge
- Takes longer, since the bone must bond to the implant before the crown goes on
- Involves surgery; even minor surgery can bring some swelling, discomfort, or a risk of infection
- Not for everyone, for example people whose medical conditions are poorly controlled or heavy smokers, in whom the bone bonds less reliably
Book a consultation
If you are thinking about an implant, come in for an examination and a CT scan of your bone first. We explain the plan, the timeline, and the full cost clearly before you make any decision.
- LINE
- Phone: 098 831 0246
- Open daily 10:00–20:00 (closed Tuesdays)
- Tooth Boutique Dental Clinic, Venice Di Iris, Vacharapol Road, Bang Khen, Bangkok. Parking available.