Maybe it's a back tooth you've quietly stopped chewing on. Maybe it's a front gap you angle away from in photos. A single tooth implant replaces the whole tooth — root and all — without touching the healthy teeth either side. We'll talk you through whether it's the right fit for your tooth before anything is decided.
A single missing tooth rarely feels urgent at first. It tends to show up as small workarounds you've stopped noticing — until you actually list them out.
A single tooth implant replaces the whole tooth, not just the visible part. A small titanium post is placed into the jawbone where the root used to be, and given time to integrate with the bone — a process that takes some months and varies between individuals. Once that's stable, a custom crown is fitted on top, shaped and shaded to sit naturally alongside your own teeth.
Because the implant stands on its own, the teeth either side don't need to be reshaped or involved at all — a genuine point of difference from a bridge, which relies on the neighbouring teeth for support. That makes a single implant a common first choice when those teeth are otherwise healthy.
Two questions usually shape the details of a single implant plan — how much bone is at the site, and what the crown is made from. Here's the honest version of both.
A tooth that's been missing for a while can mean the jawbone at that site has thinned over time. 3D imaging tells us exactly how much bone is there, and whether bone grafting is worth discussing first — covered in full further down this page.
The final crown is custom-shaped and shaded to the tooth it's replacing, using materials such as porcelain or zirconia. We'll talk through which suits the tooth's position and the bite it needs to handle.
Suitability, healing time and results vary between individuals. We'll go through your specific tooth and jaw together at your consultation, before anything is decided.
A single implant comes together over a handful of appointments, spaced out to let healing happen properly.
Consultation & 3D imaging
We assess the site, take 3D imaging to measure bone volume, and talk through whether a single implant is the right starting point.
Any preparation needed
If bone grafting or a sinus lift is recommended, that happens first and is given time to heal before the implant is placed.
Placing the implant
The titanium post is placed into the jawbone at the site, then given time — typically some months — to integrate before it's restored.
Fitting the crown
Once the implant has integrated, a custom crown is scanned, made and fitted, checked carefully for fit, bite and shade.
Review & ongoing care
Regular reviews check the implant is settled and comfortable, and help catch any early signs of peri-implantitis.
When a tooth has been missing for a while, the jawbone underneath it can gradually thin — the bone simply doesn't need to do as much work without a tooth root to support, so it resorbs over time. That's not a problem in itself, but it can mean there isn't quite enough bone volume at the site to anchor an implant securely.
Bone grafting adds material to that site to rebuild volume, creating a stable foundation. It's typically given time to integrate with your existing bone before, or sometimes at the same time as, the implant is placed. Not every single tooth implant needs this step — it comes down to what your 3D imaging actually shows.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, please seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
If your missing tooth is at the back of the upper jaw, there's an extra factor to consider: the maxillary sinus, an air-filled space that sits just above the roots of your upper back teeth. In some people, especially after a tooth's been missing for a long time, the sinus floor can sit quite close to the available bone, leaving too little height for an implant.
A sinus lift addresses this directly — the sinus membrane is gently lifted, and graft material is placed underneath it to build up the bone height needed. It's a well-established, specific type of bone grafting used only in this part of the jaw, and it's only ever recommended if your imaging shows it's genuinely required for your implant to have a stable foundation.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, please seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
An implant doesn't get decay the way a natural tooth can, but the gum and bone around it can still become inflamed — a condition called peri-implantitis, similar in principle to gum disease around a natural tooth. It's usually picked up early at routine review appointments, well before it becomes noticeable day to day.
If it is found, treatment can include laser-assisted decontamination of the implant surface, alongside a review of your home care and bite. We offer dedicated peri-implantitis management across all three clinics — read the full peri-implantitis page for the detail →
The real barrier for a lot of people was never wanting the gap fixed — it was not knowing what to expect cost-wise. That's why we lay out the range in plain English first, and why we work with payment options that spread cost across smaller, regular amounts.
Know the numbers before you decide anything.
Curious what a single tooth implant might cost? Open the repayment estimator →
Estimate only — not a quote or credit approval. Your actual cost is confirmed at consultation, and depends on whether bone grafting or a sinus lift is needed.
We accept
About the estimator: it gives an indicative figure only, based on typical per-implant pricing — it is not a quote. Every implant is priced individually once we've assessed the site with 3D imaging, and bone grafting or a sinus lift, if needed, is costed separately. You'll always see the exact cost in writing before agreeing to treatment. Repayment figures are illustrative, calculated by spreading the estimated total evenly across a Humm plan, and exclude any fees or charges Humm may apply; finance is subject to Humm's own eligibility criteria and approval, and is not guaranteed.
Bone volume is measured properly before any recommendation, including whether grafting is genuinely needed for your tooth.
A single implant stands on its own, so the healthy teeth either side of your gap aren't reshaped or involved.
Regular reviews help catch early signs of peri-implantitis, with laser-assisted care available if it's ever needed.
A short consultation with 3D imaging is usually enough to know. If you'd like to ask a few things first, give us a call — we're happy to talk it through.
Book a consultation (03) 8358 2565Information on this page is general in nature. Treatment outcomes, timelines and suitability vary between individuals — we'll examine your jaw and explain what's realistic for your situation before you decide anything.
Major health funds
A short consultation with 3D imaging is usually enough to tell whether a single tooth implant is the right fit for you, with a clear, written cost estimate before you decide anything.