Dental Implants in Sharjah

What a dental implant is

An implant restoration has three parts:

• The implant: a screw-shaped post that sits in the jawbone where the root used to be.
• The abutment: a connector that attaches to the implant and rises just above the gum.
• The restoration: the crown, bridge or denture that you see and chew with.

Because the implant is anchored in the bone, it does not rely on the neighbouring teeth for support. A conventional bridge is fixed to the teeth on either side of the gap, which usually means shaping those teeth.

Who may be suitable, and when another option fits better

Many adults with one or more missing teeth can be considered for implants. Before recommending one, the dentist looks at:

• The health of your gums, with any gum disease treated first.
• Whether there is enough bone, or bone that can be built up with a graft.
• Your general health, including diabetes and medicines that affect healing or bone.
• Smoking, which slows healing and raises the chance of problems.
• Clenching or grinding of the teeth.

Implants are usually not placed during pregnancy or before the jaw has finished growing. If an implant is not right for you, the dentist explains the alternatives, such as a bridge or a removable denture, and the limits of each.

Your assessment: examination and CBCT 3D imaging

Before surgery the dentist examines your mouth, reviews your medical history and medicines, and takes a CBCT scan to measure the bone and locate the nerve and the sinus.

CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography) is a 3D X-ray of the jaw. It shows the height and width of the bone, the nerve in the lower jaw and the floor of the sinus above the upper back teeth, which a flat X-ray cannot show in three dimensions.

You then receive a written treatment plan with the options for your case, the stages, the expected number of visits and an estimate of the cost, and you can decide in your own time.

Guided implant surgery with a surgical guide

In many cases the implant position is planned on the computer first. The dentist combines your CBCT scan with a digital scan or impression of your teeth and places a virtual implant where it will support the final tooth and keep a safe distance from the nerve, the sinus and the neighbouring roots.

A surgical guide is then made from the plan: a thin template that fits over your teeth or gum during surgery and directs the drill to the planned position, angle and depth. A guide is a planning tool, not a promise of a particular result, and not every case needs one.

The treatment steps

Every plan is individual, but implant treatment usually follows these stages:

1. Assessment and planning: examination, CBCT scan and a written plan.
2. Preparation, if needed: treating gum disease, removing a damaged tooth or building up the bone.
3. Under local anaesthetic, the dentist opens the gum, prepares a narrow channel in the bone and places the implant, following the plan made from your CBCT scan. The gum is then closed over the implant or around a small healing cap.
4. Healing: how long the bone takes to bond with the implant varies from person to person, and a temporary tooth may be fitted in some cases.
5. Once healing is checked, the abutment is attached, a scan or impression is taken and the final crown, bridge or denture is fitted, followed by regular reviews and professional cleaning.

One tooth, several teeth or a full arch

One missing tooth is usually replaced with one implant and a crown. Where several teeth are missing side by side, two or more implants can support a bridge.

When most or all teeth in a jaw are missing or failing, a full-arch option may be considered: a fixed bridge on several implants, or a removable denture that clips onto implants. The choice depends on the bone, the bite, your expectations and how easy each one is to clean.

Bone grafting and sinus lift

After a tooth is lost the bone can shrink. If there is not enough bone for an implant, it can often be built up with a graft, before the implant or at the same time.

In the upper back jaw, a sinus lift raises the floor of the sinus slightly and places graft material beneath it to make room for an implant. Grafting can add a stage and healing time, and the dentist explains this before you agree to treatment.

Placing an implant on the day a tooth is removed

Sometimes an implant can be placed in the same visit as the extraction, known as immediate implant placement. It is considered only when the bone and gum around the socket are healthy and stable enough; otherwise the socket heals first and the implant is placed later. A temporary tooth on the day of surgery is possible only in selected cases.

Risks and what to watch for

Implant placement is surgery, and like any surgery it carries risks. Your dentist explains the risks that apply to you and asks for your written consent before treatment. Possible problems include:

• Pain, swelling and bruising after surgery.
• Bleeding, and infection at the implant site.
• Injury to nearby structures, such as the roots of neighbouring teeth or the sinus in the upper jaw.
• Irritation of the nerve in the lower jaw, causing numbness or tingling of the lip, chin or tongue. This is often temporary but can occasionally be long lasting.
• The implant not bonding with the bone, in which case it may need to be removed and the options reviewed.
• Later problems such as inflammation of the gum around the implant, loss of the bone around it, a loose screw or a chipped crown.

Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, gum disease and poor cleaning raise these risks.

Contact the clinic if you have bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure, pain or swelling that gets worse instead of better, a fever, numbness that does not wear off, or an implant or crown that feels loose.

Aftercare and looking after your implants

These points are general guidance. Follow the written instructions your dentist gives you after surgery, as they are made for your treatment.

• Avoid hot drinks and chewing on the treated side while your mouth is numb.
• Eat soft foods at first and take any medicine exactly as prescribed.
• Keep the area clean as you are shown, without disturbing the wound, and avoid smoking.
• Once healed, brush twice a day and clean around the implant with floss or interdental brushes.
• Keep your check-ups and cleaning visits, and tell the clinic if the gum bleeds or the tooth feels different.

What affects the cost of dental implants in Sharjah

We do not publish a single implant price, because the cost depends on what your treatment involves. The main factors are:

• The number of implants, and whether they support crowns, a bridge or a denture.
• Extractions, a bone graft or a sinus lift needed first.
• Imaging and planning, including the CBCT scan and a surgical guide if one is used.
• The implant system and the materials for the final teeth.
• Temporary teeth during healing, when they are part of the plan.

Insurance cover varies: some plans exclude implants and others pay part of the cost, so check your policy. You receive a written estimate after your assessment, before any treatment starts.

Who you will see

You can read about the dental team on our doctors page. The team includes Dr Ahmed Abou Foul, Specialist Periodontist, a dentist who specialises in the gums and the bone that support the teeth. At your assessment the clinic tells you which dentist will carry out each stage of your treatment.

Questions about dental implants

How do I know if I am suitable for an implant?

Only an examination can tell. The dentist checks your gums, bone, bite and general health, and measures the bone on a CBCT scan.

Do I need a CBCT scan first?

Usually, yes. For implant planning a CBCT scan shows the bone in three dimensions and the position of the nerve and the sinus.

How many visits does treatment take?

Usually several: the assessment, the surgery, reviews during healing and the visits to fit the final tooth. Grafting or extractions add stages, and your written plan gives an estimate.

What if I do not have enough bone?

Bone can often be built up with a graft or, in the upper back jaw, a sinus lift. The dentist explains the options after the CBCT scan.

Can an implant be placed on the same day a tooth is removed?

Sometimes, when the bone and gum around the socket are healthy enough. Otherwise the socket heals first and the implant is placed later.

What will I feel, and what anaesthetic is used?

The area is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you may feel pressure and vibration. Tell the dentist if anything is uncomfortable. Some soreness and swelling afterwards is common.

What are the risks?

Swelling, bleeding, infection, irritation of a nerve or the sinus, and an implant that does not bond with the bone. They are explained in the risks section above and at your assessment.

How do I look after an implant?

Like a natural tooth: brush twice a day, clean around it with floss or interdental brushes, avoid smoking and keep your check-ups.

Can I have implants if I smoke or have diabetes?

Possibly, but both raise the risk of problems. Diabetes should be well controlled, and stopping smoking is strongly advised.

Which implant systems do you use?

The dentist recommends an implant system for your case and records it in your treatment plan.

What affects the cost in Sharjah?

The number of implants, the final teeth, any grafting or extractions, the imaging and planning, and the materials. You receive a written estimate after your assessment.

Does insurance cover implants?

It depends on your policy. Many plans exclude implants or cover only part of the cost, so check with your insurer first.

Book an implant consultation

To book an implant consultation, use online booking, call the clinic or send a WhatsApp message. aiHealth Medical Center is on Wasit Road, Sharjah. You can also read the dental health blog, see the page on wisdom tooth extraction or go back to the home page.