Replacement Dental Implants
Important: The information on this page is for general guidance only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. Suitability for dental implants varies from person to person and only a full consultation and examination with our dentist can confirm the right treatment for you. If you have concerns about your dental or general health, please get in touch with our team or speak to your GP.
A systematic review published in the Journal of Dentistry found that 96.4% of modern dental implants were still in place after ten years. That kind of track record is why many people choose dental implant treatment over other kinds of false teeth. At Erskine Dental Care, our implant team has placed thousands of dental implants, restoring smiles for patients across the west of Scotland.
Some people come to us having lost a tooth or a full arch. Others already have implants that are failing, ageing or were placed poorly somewhere else. Either way, we can help you find the right way forward.
Book a free consultation at Scotland’s largest full-mouth implant clinic and find out whether this treatment could suit you.
When you might need replacement dental implants
Not everyone who needs implant treatment is starting from scratch. Sometimes an implant placed years ago or somewhere else requires further treatment. These are the situations we see most often.
1. Implants placed abroad
Implant problems can turn up wherever the original treatment happened, including here in the UK, though treatment abroad brings its own extra considerations. Lower-cost implant treatment overseas can seem appealing, but standards, materials and follow-up care vary widely. Many patients do have successful treatment abroad, yet returning to the original clinic isn’t always practical if something needs attention once you’re home.
We regularly assess and, where needed, replace implants placed abroad and elsewhere in the UK. Our recommendation depends on the condition of the implant, surrounding bone and gums. Where replacement proves to be the best long-term solution, we’ll explain why. If you’re weighing up treatment overseas, it’s worth reading about the risks before you book anything.
2. Older implants and worn restorations
A well-placed implant is built to last decades, but the crown, bridge or denture attached to it takes daily wear. Chewing, grinding and simple time can leave that restoration chipped, loose or looking tired long before the implant underneath needs any attention. More often than not, the implant itself is still doing its job and it’s just the visible teeth on top that need renewing.
3. Failing or loose implants
Sometimes an implant that has served well for years starts to feel loose or uncomfortable. The cause determines the best fix; removing and replacing it is often the most predictable long-term option, though some problems can be managed without taking the implant out.
4. Poorly positioned implants
An implant placed at an awkward angle or depth can affect your bite, your cleaning or how your smile looks. Restoring or replacing it correctly can make day-to-day life far easier.
5. Gum disease and jawbone loss
Gum disease is one of the more common reasons an implant needs attention years after it was placed. Left untreated, it can let infection reach the bone that holds an implant steady and enough loss can make even a well-placed one work loose. Regular check-ups catch this early, often saving the implant rather than replacing it.
6. Trauma and damage
A knock to the mouth, whether from a fall, a sporting injury or a car accident, can affect an implant years after it went in. Sometimes only the visible crown chips or breaks and that alone can be repaired or remade. Other times the force reaches the implant itself and it needs to come out before a new one can go in.
What does replacing a dental implant involve?
Replacement can mean two quite different things and which one applies depends on what’s actually gone wrong. If your implant is healthy and only the crown, bridge or denture has worn out, we fit new teeth onto the post that’s already there. If the implant itself needs to come out, whether from infection, fracture or bone loss, we treat the site first. Once it’s healed, we place a fresh implant when the time is right. An assessment tells us which path applies to you.
Dental implants replace missing teeth from the root up. A titanium post is placed into your jawbone, where it acts as an artificial tooth root. Titanium remains the gold standard material because it bonds reliably with living bone. Once the implant has settled, it provides a stable foundation for your new teeth. That might be a single crown, a bridge or a complete arch.
Types of false teeth supported by implants
Dental implants can support several kinds of restoration. The right one depends on how many teeth you’re replacing and what suits your life.
Crowns for a single missing tooth
A crown replaces one tooth, fixed onto a single implant. It’s custom-made in our on-site laboratory to match the shade and shape of the real tooth beside it. Most people quickly forget which one is the implant.
Bridges for multiple missing teeth
A bridge replaces several neighbouring teeth using multiple implants for support. Unlike a traditional bridge, an implant-supported one doesn’t require enamel removal from the healthy teeth on either side. Fixed crowns and bridges cannot be taken out for cleaning; patients should care for them much like natural teeth.
Implant-retained overdentures
An overdenture is a removable prosthesis that clips securely onto implants. It offers far more stability than a conventional denture while still coming out for cleaning. For many long-time denture wearers, it’s a comfortable middle ground.
All-on-4 full arch teeth
All-on-4 uses four implants to support a complete arch of new teeth, with the implants and a fixed set of teeth placed in a single day. If you’ve been managing with loose dentures, this treatment can change how you eat, speak, smile and socialise almost overnight.
What happens during dental implant surgery?
Dental implant procedures follow several structured steps. Our dental team guides you through each one and you’ll always know what’s coming next.
Consultation and assessment
For replacement treatment, your first visit is about finding out exactly what’s going on. We take X-rays and examine the implant, the restoration on top and the bone and gum around it. That tells us whether the post itself needs to come out or whether new teeth are all that’s required. From there, we build a treatment plan around your medical history, dental health, goals and budget. Every option gets explained clearly. You won’t feel rushed and there’s no obligation to proceed.
Placing the implant
The surgical procedure itself is shorter than most patients expect, typically taking between 30 and 90 minutes. It’s carried out under local anaesthetic, with sedation available if you’re anxious. Some swelling and bruising are common in the days afterwards. Both usually settle quickly with rest and simple pain relief.
Healing and osseointegration
Your gums typically heal within one to two weeks. Beneath them, the implant gradually fuses with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration, which usually takes a few months. If you need them, temporary dentures can be provided. A minor second procedure may then be needed to fit the abutment. This is the small connector that your final teeth attach to.
Fitting your new artificial teeth
Once everything has healed, your custom-made crown, bridge or overdenture is fitted. Because our laboratory is on-site, adjustments happen quickly. Your restoration is shaped and refined specifically for you, not selected off the shelf.
How implants help prevent bone loss
When a tooth is lost, the bone beneath it slowly shrinks because nothing is stimulating it. Denture wearers often notice this as a gradually changing fit. An implant works like a natural root, keeping the jaw active so that your facial structure holds its shape over time. This bone-preserving effect is one of the strongest arguments for implants over other ways to replace missing teeth.
Understanding the cost of your new teeth
Every mouth is different and we price treatment individually after your assessment rather than off a generic list. A single implant is priced from £ 3,155, with finance available from around £69 a month. Our 0% finance option runs over 24 months and the online application has no impact on your credit rating. Not every gap needs an implant. It’s worth having a proper consultation before you commit to a number.
Caring for your new teeth
Maintenance is simpler than most people expect. Brush twice a day and clean between the implant and its neighbours with a small interdental brush. Keep up your routine hygiene visits too, since we check every implant at each appointment and can spot small problems while they’re still easy to sort. Looked after well, dental implants can serve you for decades.
Follow us on social media to see the smiles we’ve restored. Replacing teeth, changing lives.
Frequently asked questions
Choosing new teeth is a big step. These are answers to questions patients ask most often before their first visit.
In many cases, yes. Years of denture wear usually means some bone shrinkage. We start with a 3D scan of your jaw. From there, you might suit an implant-retained overdenture or a fixed full-arch option, depending on what the scan shows. Many of our patients switched after decades of loose dentures and most tell us they wish they’d made the change sooner.
Implants hold up well over time and failure is uncommon. Early failure happens when an implant doesn’t bond with the bone during healing. Late failure can develop years later, usually through gum disease or gradual bone loss around the implant.
Signs worth acting on include:
- A loose feeling
- Discomfort when biting
- Gums that look red
- Swelling around the implant
None of these automatically means the implant has failed, but each deserves a prompt look. Surgeon experience shapes how these cases turn out. Patients travel to us from Glasgow, Paisley, Argyll and the islands because of it. If an implant placed elsewhere is giving you trouble, we can assess it. Options may include removing and replacing it once the site has healed.
Most failed implants can be replaced, though it isn’t guaranteed in every case. It depends on how much healthy bone remains after the old implant is removed. If there’s enough healthy bone, a new implant usually goes in without much extra work. If there isn’t, bone grafting can often build up what’s missing first.
Very occasionally, ongoing oral disease rules out an implant as the right option for now and we’ll talk through what does work for you instead.
Sometimes an implant can be placed the same day a failing tooth comes out. In other cases, the socket needs eight to twelve weeks to heal first. Waiting years isn’t ideal, since bone gradually shrinks without a root there to stimulate it. Booking an assessment early keeps more options open.
You can find more answers on our dental implant FAQ page.
What our Implant patients say about us.
Don’t just take our word for it – hear from our patients who have received Implants at Erskine Dental Care.
John Smith
Glasgow
The change in confidence since my Invisalign treatment has changed my life forever!
Edith Kowalski
Erskine
The team at Erskine Dental Care were absolutley amazing from start to finish, couldnt be happier with my smile!
Patrick Ewing
Erskine
I can now smile with confidence since receiving treatment from Erskine Dental Care.
About the medical reviewer
This content was reviewed by Dr Philip Byrne, BDS, DipImpDent, Principal Dentist and Full Arch Implant Dentist at Erskine Dental Care, Erskine, Scotland.
Dr Philip is a GDC-Registered Dentist (No. 80751) who has been placing dental implants since 2007 and limits his practice exclusively to implant dentistry. He holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Glasgow (2002) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Implant Dentistry from Newcastle University (2018). Dr Byrne is an Associate Fellow of the ADI, reflecting his specialist focus in implant and full-arch implant dentistry.
Last reviewed: July 2026
