Replacing one missing tooth
Single Tooth Implant in Turkey
A single tooth implant replaces one missing tooth with a crown held by an implant in your jawbone, so the teeth beside the gap stay untouched. It may suit you if you have lost one tooth, or if one tooth cannot be saved. However, a bridge or a partial denture can also be a sound choice, so your plan is confirmed only after an in-person examination and a CBCT scan.
At a glance
- Replaces
- One missing tooth
- Parts
- An implant, a connector and a crown
- Teeth beside the gap
- Left untouched
- Healing before the crown
- Usually 3 to 6 months, longer with a graft
- Trips to Istanbul
- Often two, several months apart
- Check-ups
- Every 3 to 6 months, for the long term
Typical ranges only, until an in-person examination and CBCT imaging confirm your plan.
How a single tooth implant works
A single tooth implant has three parts. First, your surgeon places a small titanium screw in the jawbone, where the root used to be. Then, once the bone has healed around it, your dentist fixes a crown on top.
Because the implant stands on its own, the teeth next to the gap stay as they are. However, a conventional bridge relies on crowns fitted to those teeth. So their health often guides the choice.
- 1
The single tooth implant
A titanium screw that sits in the jawbone and so takes the place of the root.
- 2
The connector
Dentists call it an abutment. In short, it links the implant to the crown above the gum.
- 3
The crown
This is the tooth you see, so your dentist shapes it to fit your bite.
Who a single tooth implant may suit
Suitability is individual. A dentist weighs these points after examining you, so treat them as a guide rather than a checklist.
It may be considered if
A different plan may be safer if
Single tooth implant, bridge or partial denture?
Each option can work well. For example, in one review, implant crowns and conventional bridges showed similar survival over 5 and 10 years. So the health of your neighbouring teeth and your own priorities often decide.
Your single tooth implant journey
A common pathway uses two trips to Istanbul. However, an extraction or a graft can add time.
- 1Online
Remote review
First, photos and a recent X-ray or CBCT scan let a dentist prepare a provisional plan.
- 2Trip 1
Examination and CBCT
When you arrive, your dentist checks the gap, the teeth beside it, your gums and your bone. Then they confirm or change the plan.
- 3Trip 1
Implant placement
Next, your surgeon places the implant under local anaesthetic. In carefully selected cases, a temporary crown goes on soon after.
- 4At home
Healing
The bone usually takes 3 to 6 months to fuse with the implant, and longer after a graft. Meanwhile, keep the area clean and chew on the other side.
- 5Trip 2
Final crown
Your dentist takes new scans. Then they fit the crown and check your bite.
- 6At home
Regular check-ups
Afterwards, see a dentist or hygienist every 3 to 6 months, ideally close to home.
Living with a single tooth implant
Eating
While the implant heals, chew on the other side and choose softer food. Then, once your final crown is in, your dentist tells you when to eat normally again.
Cleaning
Brush the crown as you would a natural tooth, and also clean between your teeth every day. Implants cannot decay. Even so, plaque can inflame the gum around them and, over time, harm the bone.
Check-ups
See a dentist or hygienist every 3 to 6 months. At these visits, they also check your gum, the bone level and the screw that holds the crown.
Risks of a single tooth implant
Single implants have a strong record in studies. For example, one review of 46 studies found that 97.2% of implants were still in place after 5 years, and 95.2% after 10 years. Even so, an implant that survives is not always free of problems.
However, the crowns themselves survived less often: 89.4% were still in use at 10 years. So ask for written terms on what happens, and who pays, if your crown needs work.
Occasionally an implant fails to bond with the bone, and your dentist then removes it. Notably, smoking roughly doubles the risk of this early failure. After healing, a new implant may be possible.
Over 5 years, the screw that holds the crown loosened in 8.8% of cases in one review. For this reason, your dentist checks it at maintenance visits.
In the same review, the porcelain chipped on 3.5% of crowns within 5 years, while 4.1% came loose.
Plaque can inflame the gum around an implant. Over 5 years, 7.1% of cases had gum problems and 5.2% lost more than 2 mm of bone. So daily cleaning and regular check-ups help to prevent this.
At the front, the gum or crown may not look exactly as planned. In fact, the review found problems with appearance in 7.1% of cases over 5 years.
Some bleeding is normal, while severe bleeding is extremely rare. Depending on where the implant goes, you may also feel numb around the area afterwards.
What your single tooth implant plan should answer
Ask any clinic, including us, for clear written answers before you book.
- 1Can my own tooth be saved instead?
- 2Would a bridge suit me as well as an implant?
- 3Do I need a bone graft or a sinus lift?
- 4Will I have a temporary tooth while the implant heals?
- 5What is the crown made from, and why?
- 6What is covered if the crown or implant needs repair?
Single tooth implant: your questions
Often two. On the first trip, your dentist examines you and places the implant. After the bone heals, usually 3 to 6 months later, you return for the final crown. A graft can add time.
Not in every case, because reviews found similar survival for implant crowns and conventional bridges. However, an implant leaves healthy neighbouring teeth untouched, whereas a bridge may suit you if those teeth already need crowns.
Sometimes. In carefully selected patients, a temporary crown fitted soon after surgery did as well as waiting, according to a review of 10 trials. Even so, the final crown comes after healing.
In one review, 95.2% of single implants were still in place after 10 years. However, no one can promise a lifetime, and the crown may need repair or replacement sooner.
That is a valid choice. However, nearby teeth can drift into the space over time, and a bridge or an implant helps to prevent this.
Related guides
Medical review required before publication · General information only; it does not replace an examination, diagnosis or personalised treatment plan.
- Jung RE et al. Systematic review of the survival rate and the incidence of biological, technical, and aesthetic complications of single crowns on implants (2012)
- Pjetursson BE et al. Comparison of survival and complication rates of tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses and implant-supported fixed dental prostheses and single crowns (2007)
- Thoma DS et al. A systematic review of the survival and complication rates of resin-bonded fixed dental prostheses after at least 5 years (2017)
- Scheuber S et al. Implants versus short-span fixed bridges: survival, complications, patients' benefits. A systematic review on economic aspects (2012)
- Zhao G et al. Long-term clinical outcomes of immediate loading versus non-immediate loading in single-implant restorations: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2022)
- Fan YY et al. Smoking in relation to early dental implant failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis (2024)
- Herrera D et al. Prevention and treatment of peri-implant diseases: the EFP S3 level clinical practice guideline (2023)
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Dental implants in restorative dentistry, patient information (reviewed 2025)
- NHS. Dentures (false teeth)
- Oral Health Foundation. Bridges
Is a single
tooth implant
right for you?
Send a recent X-ray and a few photos of the gap. A dentist will then review them and explain whether an implant, a bridge or another option looks suitable. Your plan stays provisional until you're examined in person.