A dental implant is a titanium screw placed into the jawbone where the root of a lost tooth used to be. A crown is fitted on top, and it looks and works like a natural tooth. Unlike a bridge, an implant does not require grinding down the neighbouring teeth, and unlike a removable denture, it does not move in the mouth.
What a dental implant costs in Tallinn
The price is made up of several stages, so there is no single figure. From the Unidenta price list:
- First consultation with examination and diagnostic imaging — €30
- Written treatment plan — €55
- Implant placement surgery, stage 1 — from €600
- Healing abutment placement, stage 2 — €100
- Implant crown — from €550
Restoring one tooth with an implant therefore starts at around €1,250 including the consultation and plan. If bone volume is reduced, a bone graft material and membrane kit from €400, or an autogenous bone graft from €100, is added.
How long treatment takes
Implant treatment is not a single-visit procedure — the implant has to fuse with the bone. A typical schedule:
- Visit 1 — diagnostics. Examination and imaging, assessment of bone volume. We draw up a treatment plan with the schedule and final cost.
- Visit 2 — surgery. Implant placement under local anaesthetic, usually 30–60 minutes per implant.
- Healing. Osseointegration takes about 3 months in the lower jaw and 4–6 months in the upper.
- Visit 3 — healing abutment. A small procedure that shapes the gum for the crown.
- Visits 4–5 — the crown. Impressions and fitting of the finished crown.
Who an implant suits
- One or more teeth are missing and you want a permanent solution.
- You do not want neighbouring teeth ground down for a bridge.
- A removable denture will not stay in place or is uncomfortable.
- Gums are healthy, or periodontitis has been treated and is under control.
Implants are not placed during active gum inflammation — periodontitis must be treated first, because an implant will not hold in inflamed tissue. Smoking slows healing and raises the risk of losing the implant.
How long an implant lasts
The implant itself is titanium and does not decay. Its lifespan depends on the surrounding bone and gum. The main threat is peri-implantitis — inflammation around the implant caused by plaque, which leads to bone loss. It is prevented by daily cleaning with an interdental brush or water flosser and professional hygiene twice a year (hygienist cleaning €100).
What the price depends on
- Bone volume. If bone is lacking, grafting or a sinus lift is added.
- Number of implants. For several teeth, a bridge on two implants can sometimes replace three.
- Crown material. Zirconia costs more than metal-ceramic but looks better and holds its colour.
- Preparatory procedures. Tooth extraction, gum surgery, treating existing inflammation.
The exact cost is determined after an examination and 3D scan and is fixed in a written treatment plan before work begins. Book a consultation at Unidenta dental studio in Tallinn, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 24.