Dental Implants

Overview

A dental implant replaces a missing tooth root with a small titanium post placed into the jawbone, restored with a custom crown once it has integrated. Unlike a bridge or denture, it doesn't rely on neighboring teeth for support. At Somosot Dental we use CBCT imaging and digital implant-planning technology to evaluate the available bone and nearby anatomical structures before recommending treatment.

Who may benefit

• Replacing a single missing tooth without altering neighboring teeth
• Patients who want a fixed (non-removable) replacement
• Anchoring a denture or bridge more securely

When it may not be suitable

• There is not enough bone at the site. The examination and CBCT assessment exist to establish this; some cases need bone grafting first, and some are better treated another way.
• You smoke or vape. Both interfere with healing and increase the risk of implant failure — this is worth discussing before treatment rather than after.
• Your general health or a medication affects healing. The dentist reviews your medical history before recommending an implant, which is why the list of what you take matters.
• A bridge or a denture would serve you better. An implant is one option for a missing tooth, not the only one, and the alternatives are part of the conversation.

Examination and records normally required

• A clinical examination of the site and the teeth either side of it
• 3D (CBCT) imaging, to assess the available bone and the position of nearby anatomical structures
• Your medical history and a list of the medicines you take
• Any X-rays or records a previous clinic gave you, including the USB copy
• Tell the clinic before any imaging if you are pregnant or think you may be

How Somosot Dental approaches this

• Implant cases are planned from the 3D scan rather than from a flat X-ray, so the available bone and the nearby anatomy are assessed before anything is decided.
• Where it is appropriate, the digital plan is used to design a customized surgical guide that helps transfer the planned implant position during surgery. Not every case is guided, and the approach may still be adjusted based on what is found clinically.
• The implant is evaluated for healing and stability before the final crown is placed. Immediate placement or a temporary crown may be considered in selected cases, but that cannot be promised in advance.

Technology at the Bohol branch

• Vatech Pax-i 3D — panoramic (OPG) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) in one unit, on site
• Cephalometric X-ray, on site
• Digital intraoral scanners, so most cases need no impression trays
• In-house dental laboratory
• DJ89 Plus 8K resin 3D printer, for models, surgical guides and provisionals

This equipment is at the Tubigon, Bohol branch. The Cebu branch's facilities list does not include on-site imaging or a laboratory — ask the Cebu branch what your case would need there before assuming a scan can be taken on site.

Treatment stages

Important limitations and risks

• Nothing here is a guarantee. Digital planning supports careful positioning; it does not make an outcome certain, and the final position may need to be adjusted during surgery.
• Implants can fail. Healing, bone quality, smoking, general health and how the implant is looked after all bear on it.
• Placement is done under local anesthesia to minimize pain. You may still feel pressure, vibration or movement, and soreness, swelling or minor bruising afterwards is normal.
• Same-day teeth cannot be promised before the examination. Immediate loading depends on bone stability, bite and infection control being favourable.
• The ₱50,000 figure is a starting point for the fixture and its placement. It is not the total cost of replacing a tooth.

What affects how long it takes

• Where in the mouth the implant is placed
• Bone quality at the site
• Whether bone grafting is needed first
• Your general health
• Your individual healing response

What affects the price

• The crown fitted on the implant, which is priced separately from the crowns list — a zirconia crown is ₱20,000.
• Imaging. A CBCT scan is ₱10,000 and includes the prints and a USB copy of the scan.
• Bone grafting, where the site needs it.
• The number of implants. The published figure is per implant.

Aftercare

• Follow all medications and instructions given by the dentist
• Choose soft foods and avoid chewing directly on the surgical area during the initial healing period
• Do not disturb the surgical area with the tongue or fingers
• Brush the surrounding areas gently and use a prescribed mouth rinse only as directed
• Avoid smoking and vaping — they can interfere with healing and increase the risk of implant failure
• Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments
• Contact the clinic if there is persistent bleeding, worsening swelling, fever, severe pain, discharge, altered sensation, or another concerning symptom
• The implant must be evaluated for healing and stability before the final crown is placed

When to contact the clinic without waiting

• Bleeding that does not settle
• Swelling that is getting worse rather than better
• Fever
• Severe pain
• Discharge from the surgical site
• Altered sensation in the lip, chin or tongue

Frequently asked questions