Join thousands of patients who have trusted Dr Mahesh Nagpal at The Smiles Studio in Chandler’s Ford and Lymington for comfortable, reassuring dental implant treatment with minimal pain.
Replace missing teeth in around 3 months
The dental implant procedure at our Hampshire practices is carefully planned and typically completed in three stages by Dr Mahesh Nagpal, who has placed more than 5,000 dental implants over 36+ years, including same-day full-mouth implants.
In non-complex missing-teeth cases, placing the implant itself can take just one surgical appointment, with most of the overall treatment time coming afterwards as we wait for the implant to heal and integrate with the bone before fitting permanent teeth.
- 3D planning & CBCT imaging for precise placement
- Titanium implants placed in one appointment
- Digitally guided placement under local aneasthetic
- Pain controlled, fully numbed & sedation available
- Typically 3 months from start to finish
- Custom crown, bridge or denture attached after healing
Why choose The Smiles Studio for your implant procedure?
Successful dental implant treatment takes much more than simply placing a screw into your jaw. The implant’s position, angle, and depth must align with your available bone, adjacent teeth, bite, and final restoration. That’s why we put a tremendous amount of planning into your treatment before surgery begins.
Our implantologist, Dr Nagpal, uses an in-house 3D CBCT scanner to view your bone and surrounding anatomy to accurately determine the precise placement of your implant. In complex cases, he also uses the TUPEL 3D implant scanning system to locate each implant after positioning, so your final teeth fit more accurately.
Dr Nagpal is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and an ADI UK-accredited implant mentor. His postgraduate implant training has included the University of Toronto and international training across North America and Europe.
Dental implant patients benefit from:
- Dr Mahesh Nagpal’s 36+ years of implant experience
- More than 5,000 implants placed
- In-house 3D CBCT implant planning
- Single, multiple, and full-mouth implant options
- Bone grafting and sinus lifts where required
- Same-day temporary teeth for suitable cases
- Oral and IV sedation for nervous patients
- 500+ patient reviews across our Hampshire practices
- Finance up to five years
- New patient £500 discount off single implant treatment
The dental implant procedure step by step
The dental implant process from start to finish:
Begin with an implant consultation
Your journey to replacing missing teeth begins with an assessment of the gap, existing teeth, available bone and a discussion around your goals and budget. Dr Nagpal will carry out an oral exam, review your dental and medical history, and examine your existing teeth, gums, and bite to determine whether an implant is suitable.
During this appointment, after your exam, Dr Nagpal will break down your implant options, expected timeline, costs, financing, sedation options, and whether you’ll need any additional procedures to be a suitable candidate.
Treatment planning and scans
To determine the best place for your implant, we need to understand your anatomy. We use in-house CBCT scanners to produce a 3D view of your jaw, allowing Dr Nagpal to assess available bone and nearby anatomical structures and plan the exact placement of your implant for maximum long-term strength and stability.
Preparing for treatment
Not everybody needs pre-implant procedures. If the tooth has already been removed and you have enough healthy bone, you’ll likely be ready for implant placement right away. In some cases, when patients don’t have enough bone (a common consequence of sustained tooth loss), they may first need bone grafting or sinus augmentation.
If you have been told you have insufficient bone, Dr Nagpal has experience in complex cases and can help assess whether grafting or an alternative implant option is more appropriate.
Some patients may also need gum disease treatment, a hygiene clean, or a tooth extraction before the dental implant surgery.
Placing the dental implant
Although it’s called dental implant surgery, the procedure is done in a standard dental room, chairside, under local anaesthetic that numbs your mouth before treatment begins (dental sedation is available for nervous or anxious patients).
It will typically take around one hour to place a single implant. You’ll remain awake and won’t feel any pain during the procedure, but you might notice pressure, movement, or vibration.
Once the procedure is completed, you can return home to recover, and as the anaesthetic wears off, it’s normal to experience tenderness, swelling, and bruising. These sensations are postoperative healing rather than pain from the implant procedure itself.
Some patients manage with simple pain relief, but many of our patients report surprisingly little discomfort with no need to take over-the-counter medications at all.
Healing and osseointegration
After we place the implant, the bone around the jaw fuses with it in an essential process called osseointegration.
In typical cases, this biological process takes about 3 months before we fit a final crown or bridge, although healing times vary by case. In some cases, patients can wear temporary teeth.
Fitting the final tooth
After integration, we can restore the final part of your missing tooth. The dental implant (the tooth root) connects to an abutment, which then connects the implant to your final crown (for one missing tooth), a bridge (for several missing teeth), or an implant denture or fixed full-arch bridge (for full-mouth cases). Your final prosthetic teeth are designed beforehand, designed around your smile, goals, bite, and surrounding natural teeth.
What patients had to say about the procedure at The Smiles Studio
It’s normal for patients to worry about implant placement because it sounds complex and scary, but they often discover that this isn’t the case.
One patient described her implant operation as:
“I was incredibly nervous, but I have to say it was fine; it was actually less uncomfortable than some of the other work I have had done.”
Another patient undergoing implant treatment with Dr Nagpal said:
“After the local anaesthetic, I felt no pain at all. It didn’t take as long as I thought it would.”
These are verified patient experiences published by The Smiles Studio’s Google Reviews, although individual experiences and recovery naturally vary.
Your implant dentist completing the procedure
Dr Mahesh Nagpal
Principal Dentist & Implantologist
GDC: 100880
Dr Nagpal has extensive experience across multiple dental implant systems, including single and multiple implants, implant-supported bridgework, implant-retained dentures, All-on-4/6, same-day implants, pterygoid implants, bone grafting and sinus lifts. He has particular experience and success restoring teeth in complex cases and full-mouth rehabilitation.
A single dental implant and crown at The Smiles Studio with Dr Nagpal currently starts from £2,500, including the current £500 new-patient discount. Or £54.21 per month.
Placing the implant and fake tooth the same day
Sometimes it’s possible to place the implant and tooth on the same day, especially if the implant is stable enough for Dr Nagpal to attach a temporary tooth immediately. This is called immediate loading and is typically possible in full-mouth cases that use angled implants, like All-on-4 dental implant treatment.
But same-day loading isn’t appropriate for every patient or every implant. If the implant doesn’t have enough stability, it’s best to allow it to heal before loading temporary teeth to reduce unnecessary risk. We’ll discuss immediate loading during your consultation.
Located in the heart of Hampshire
The Smiles Studio, Chandler's Ford
The Smiles Studio, Lymington
Dental implant procedure FAQs
How long does dental implant placement take?
The implant is placed in a single surgical appointment. The full treatment usually takes around three months because the implant needs time to heal before the permanent tooth is fitted.
Does a dental implant hurt?
It shouldn’t hurt during placement. Local anaesthetic completely numbs the treatment area, though you may still feel pressure, vibration, or movement.
Will I be awake?
Yes. Most implants are placed under local anaesthesia. We can use oral or IV sedation for nervous patients.
Why does it take around 3 months?
The implant needs time to integrate with your jawbone through a healing process called osseointegration.
Can I have a temporary tooth?
Often, yes. The temporary option depends on the implant’s position, your bite, and how stable the implant is when placed.
Can the implant and tooth be fitted the same day?
Sometimes. We can attach a temporary tooth immediately if the implant achieves sufficient stability. It is not suitable for every case.
Can I have an implant straight after an extraction?
Sometimes. Dr Nagpal will assess the bone, gum, infection risk, and available stability before deciding whether immediate placement is appropriate.
What if I don’t have enough bone?
You may still be suitable. Bone grafting, sinus augmentation or alternative implant techniques can sometimes make treatment possible.
Will I need stitches?
Sometimes. This depends on how the implant is placed and how the gum heals.
How sore will I be afterwards?
Some tenderness, swelling, or soreness is normal for the first few days, though the amount varies considerably among patients.
Can I eat afterwards?
Yes, although you will normally be advised to avoid chewing directly on the implant site while it heals.
Can I go back to work?
Many patients return to normal activities quickly after straightforward implant placement, although this depends on the extent of surgery and how you feel.
Can I drive home?
Usually, after local anaesthetic alone. If you have sedation, you will need to follow specific instructions regarding transport and supervision.
Where is implant surgery carried out?
Dr Mahesh Nagpal offers dental implant procedures at The Smiles Studio in Chandler’s Ford and Lymington, Hampshire.