Dental implants are widely considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Even so, the patients who sit down in our chair tend to ask the same handful of questions: Am I a candidate? Will it hurt? How long will it last? We have gathered the seven questions we answer most often at DizgeKlinik, so you can see exactly what matters before making a decision.
1. Can anyone get an implant?
Almost any adult in good general health whose jaw has finished developing is a candidate, whether a single tooth is missing or an entire arch. Uncontrolled diabetes, heavy smoking, advanced gum disease and certain bone medications can affect the success rate — but they rarely rule treatment out. More often they simply change the plan: diabetes is brought under control first, gum disease is treated before surgery, and temporary situations such as pregnancy postpone treatment rather than cancel it. That is why the first step is always a thorough clinical examination and a 3D CT scan; we never make the final decision without both.
2. What if I don’t have enough bone?
When a tooth has been missing for years, the bone in that area gradually shrinks — one of the most common worries we hear. Yet 'my bone has resorbed' does not mean implants are off the table. Grafting procedures rebuild lost volume, and where the sinus has dropped in the upper jaw, a sinus lift creates the height an implant needs. In many cases these additions are done in the same session as implant placement. Your CT scan shows us the exact height and width of your bone, so the plan is clear before anything begins.
3. Is the procedure painful?
Implant placement is carried out under local anaesthesia and is painless while it happens. Most of our patients compare it to having a filling; a single implant takes around 30 to 60 minutes. Guided surgery lets us work without sutures — or with minimal ones — in many cases, which noticeably reduces swelling and post-operative tenderness. Any mild sensitivity over the first day or two is easily managed with simple pain relief, and you can drive yourself home the same day.
- Local anaesthesia is standard; sedation options can be discussed if you feel anxious
- Guided surgery allows suture-free work in most cases
- Mild tenderness typically settles within a day or two
- Cold compresses and soft foods make the first day much easier
4. How long does the whole treatment take?
After placement, the implant needs time to fuse with the bone — a process called osseointegration. It takes around two to three months in the lower jaw and three to four in the upper. Once integration is complete, a digital impression is taken and your custom porcelain or zirconium crown is fixed onto the implant, so most treatments finish within three to five months from start to smile. When bone conditions allow, immediate-loading protocols can attach a temporary tooth the same day — the standard approach in full-arch treatments such as All-on-4. And throughout healing, a temporary restoration keeps your smile intact in the aesthetic zone.
5. Is there an age limit for implants?
There is a lower limit, but no upper one. Implants are not placed before jaw growth is complete — usually around age 18 — because an implant positioned in growing bone can end up in the wrong place over time. Advanced age, on the other hand, is not a barrier in itself: we routinely treat patients in their seventies and eighties with excellent results. What matters is not the date on your ID card but your overall health, the medications you take and the quality of your bone. For patients with chronic conditions, we coordinate the plan with their physician whenever needed.
6. Can the body reject an implant?
Implants are made of titanium, a material whose biocompatibility has been proven over decades. Titanium does not trigger an allergic or immune rejection response; bone cells grow onto its surface and fuse with it. The rare cases people describe as 'the implant not taking' are not rejection but failed integration, usually linked to infection, uncontrolled systemic disease or loading the implant too early. Published literature reports ten-year implant success rates above 95 percent. With careful planning, sterile technique and regular check-ups, the risk is reduced to a minimum.
7. How long do implants last, and how do I care for them?
The implant itself cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can develop disease just like natural teeth. Daily care is therefore the single biggest factor in how long an implant lasts — and with proper care, implants serve most patients for life. Peri-implantitis, the inflammation that can develop around an implant, is straightforward to treat when caught early but can lead to implant loss if ignored. That is why every implant patient at DizgeKlinik joins a periodic maintenance programme, where the health of the tissues around each implant is measured and tracked at every visit.
- Brush twice a day and use an interdental brush suited to implants
- Clean around the implant neck with floss or a water flosser
- See us for a professional check-up every six months
- Quit or cut down on smoking — the biggest enemy of the tissues around an implant
Bottom line
Whether implants are right for you is not something you need to research for weeks — it becomes clear in a single examination. At our clinic in Sultanbeyli, Istanbul, we take your 3D scan, go through your bone anatomy with you and explain every option in your personal treatment plan, including the questions this article could not cover. Book a free initial consultation by phone or through our website.