Dental Implants Near UBC Vancouver
A permanent replacement for a missing tooth
A dental implant is a small titanium post that takes the place of the root of a missing tooth. It is set into the jawbone, where bone grows onto it over the following months and locks it in place, giving a custom crown something solid to sit on.
Implants replace one tooth, several or a whole arch, and they look, feel and work like natural teeth. You brush and floss them the same way. Unlike a bridge, an implant does not require cutting down the healthy teeth on either side of the gap.
Who is a candidate
Most people who have lost a tooth to injury, decay or gum disease are suitable. The common worry is age, and it is largely misplaced: overall health matters far more than the number. The usual rule of thumb is that if you are well enough to have a tooth extracted, you are likely well enough for an implant.
What does matter is the bone and gum underneath. An implant needs enough healthy bone to anchor into, and gums free of active infection. Where bone has receded after a tooth has been missing for a long time, grafting beforehand can make implant treatment possible, and we will tell you if that applies to you.
We assess your dental and medical history, look at the site and take imaging before recommending anything. If an implant is not the right answer for your mouth, a bridge or a partial denture may serve you better, and we will say so.
What the process involves
Treatment runs in stages. First the implant is placed into the jawbone at the site of the missing tooth. Then comes the part that takes the time: osseointegration, where bone grows onto the titanium surface and fuses with it. That is what gives an implant its strength and is why the process cannot be rushed.
Once the implant is stable, an abutment is attached and a custom crown is made to match the shape and shade of the teeth around it. The crown is the only part anyone sees, and a well-made one is very hard to pick out.
Implants also combine with other restorations. Two or more can carry a bridge across a wider gap, or anchor a denture so that it stays put while you eat and talk instead of moving.
Comfort, anaesthesia and sedation
Patients routinely tell us afterwards that the procedure was more comfortable than they had braced themselves for. Implants are placed carefully and deliberately, with attention to the surrounding gum and bone, and local anaesthesia means you do not feel the procedure itself.
If dental anxiety is the thing standing between you and treatment, we offer sedation dentistry as well, so the appointment passes easily. It is worth raising at the consultation rather than on the day.
Afterwards there is usually some soreness at the site for a few days, managed with ordinary pain relief, and most people are back to normal routines quickly.
How long treatment takes
The honest answer is that it depends on your situation. In straightforward cases it is often possible to have a well-functioning and good-looking replacement tooth within a short span. In others, particularly where bone needs to build up first or a site needs to heal after an extraction, the timeline is deliberately longer to protect the final result.
Being without a visible tooth in the meantime is the worry most people raise. In practice, most patients leave our office with a temporary prosthesis in place while the implant integrates, so the gap is not on show.
Implants are built to last. The first person to receive modern dental implants had them placed in 1965 and they were still functioning when he died in 2006, more than forty years later. With good oral hygiene and regular check-ups, many patients can expect their implants to last a lifetime.
What dental implants cost
Cost depends on how many teeth are being replaced and how many implants are needed to support them, and those two numbers are not the same. Not every missing root needs its own implant, because a small number of well-placed implants can carry a bridge or a denture across a larger span.
Additional procedures, such as an extraction or bone grafting before placement, also affect the total. These are not upsells; they are what makes the implant last.
A meaningful estimate needs an examination. After a proper diagnostic assessment we set out what we recommend, why, and what it will cost, in writing, before you commit to anything. We also check what your insurance covers.
Booking an implant consultation
An implant consultation at our dental clinic on the UBC Vancouver campus covers the state of your bone and gums, imaging of the site, your options including bridges and dentures, the likely timeline and the cost. You leave knowing what is involved before you decide anything.
We also look after implants placed elsewhere. If you have moved to Vancouver with existing implants, we can take over your check-ups, cleaning and gum care, which is what keeps them sound.
We are at 2320 Acadia Rd, #110, in Lelem Village on the UBC Vancouver campus, with parking on site, and we accept most dental insurance including the UBC student plan and the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Call (604) 238-1668 to arrange a consultation.