IMPLANT

Dental Implants

We do not recommend implants without a thorough diagnosis. We first check the condition of your remaining teeth and bone, and proceed with an implant only when it is the most suitable option.

Dr. Jeong Jinwoo (board-certified prosthodontist · specialist in integrated dentistry) · written and reviewed · last reviewed 2026-10-19

The short answer

Do I really need an implant?

We first check whether the tooth can be saved. If a natural tooth can be kept with root canal treatment or a crown, we do not recommend extraction; an implant is considered when there is no other option. We do not suggest a number of implants before a diagnosis.

That is why an implant consultation at Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon starts not with "how many will be placed" but with "what is possible with the teeth and bone you have now." Only after sorting out which teeth can be saved, where a bone graft is needed, and where a denture or bridge would suit better than an implant are the number and order decided.

An implant combines surgery to place a post in the bone with the tooth (prosthesis) that goes on top of it. At Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon, Director Jeong Jinwoo, a board-certified prosthodontist and specialist in integrated dentistry, first decides the position and bite of the final tooth and then plans where to place the implant to match it. Before you decide on treatment, we look at your bone condition and options together on CT and photos, and the same director personally provides care from consultation through placement, fitting of the prosthesis and later checkups.

Our standards

How Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon approaches implants

These principles do not change from patient to patient. Individual plans such as the number, order and timeline are decided after the diagnosis.

We show you before you decide

The number and order are decided only after checking jawbone height and thickness and the positions of the nerve canal and maxillary sinus on 3D CT. We do not quote a number or a total cost before the diagnosis. Process →
When we tell you a bone graft is needed, we look together on screen at which area is short of bone and by how much on the CT. Bone grafts →

We recommend only what we have seen

Teeth that can be saved with root canal treatment or a crown are not extracted. When a denture or bridge suits better, we tell you so. When other treatment fits better →
A bone graft is done only when it makes an implant possible. If there is enough bone, we do not recommend one. Bone grafts →
The time for the implant to bond with the bone (osseointegration) cannot be shortened, so we do not rush it. Process →
The base fee includes the abutment and crown, and is quoted at the same amount as the fee schedule posted in the clinic. We do not run discounts or promotional prices. Costs →

We see it through

The director personally handles everything from diagnosis to placement, connecting the prosthesis and regular checkups. Our dentist →
One to two weeks after the prosthesis is connected, and then every 3–6 months, we check the gums and bone, screw loosening and changes in the bite. Process →

How does implant treatment proceed?

An implant is placed by setting an artificial root (fixture) in the jawbone, waiting for osseointegration, when it bonds firmly with the bone, and then connecting an abutment and crown on top. It is not done in one visit; it goes through the steps below.

Detailed diagnosis. 3D CT shows the height, thickness and density of the jawbone and the positions of the lower-jaw nerve canal and upper-jaw maxillary sinus in three dimensions. A single panoramic X-ray cannot show bone thickness or the distance to the nerve. An intraoral scanner (TRIOS 6) also records the shape of the teeth and gums digitally so the direction of the prosthesis can be planned in advance.
Treatment plan and explanation. We consider the condition of your remaining teeth, whether there is gum disease, systemic conditions such as diabetes or osteoporosis, and the medications you take, and judge whether an implant is the most suitable option. At this stage we explain whether a bone graft is needed, how many implants are needed, the total timeline and number of visits, and how the cost is made up, and we proceed only once you are satisfied.
First surgery — placing the fixture. Under local anesthesia, the gum is opened and the fixture is placed. For the anesthetic, we use a computer-controlled anesthesia device (i-JECT) that keeps injection speed and pressure steady, to reduce the burden of the injection itself. It takes roughly 30–60 minutes per implant, longer if a bone graft is done at the same time. When conditions allow, we also consider immediate implant placement (Korean), where extraction and placement are done on the same day.
Osseointegration period. This is the time for the fixture to bond with the bone. It is generally known to take about 2–3 months in the lower jaw and 3–6 months in the softer bone of the upper jaw, and longer if a bone graft was done. This is biological time that cannot be shortened; rushing it can lead to early failure.
Second surgery and gum shaping. A healing abutment (Korean) is connected to the fixture that was buried in the bone, to shape the gum. If the fixture was left exposed at the first surgery (one-stage method), this step is skipped. About 2–3 weeks are allowed for the gum to heal.
Making and connecting the prosthesis. An implant impression (Korean) is taken with the intraoral scanner, and the abutment (Korean) and crown are made and connected. Where the gum line matters, such as the front teeth, a custom abutment is used. The key to this step is adjusting the bite so that chewing force is distributed evenly.
Regular checkups and maintenance. One to two weeks after connection, and then every 3–6 months, we check the gums and bone, screw loosening and changes in the bite. How long an implant lasts depends more on the care that follows than on the placement itself.

The director personally handles everything from diagnosis and placement to connecting the prosthesis and regular maintenance. The overall period is about 3–4 months if the bone is in good condition, and 5–6 months or more if a bone graft is needed. The exact timeline is given individually after the detailed diagnosis.

I was told I lack bone — when is a bone graft needed?

Where a tooth has been lost, the bone is gradually resorbed over time. If the tooth was lost long ago, was extracted after gum disease had dissolved the bone, or the site is one where the bone is naturally thin, such as the upper molars, there may not be enough bone to hold the fixture securely. Whether a bone graft is needed is judged by measuring the bone height and width at the placement site and the distance to the nerve canal and maxillary sinus on 3D CT.

Situation	Treatment usually considered	Effect on timeline
Width or height slightly short	Bone graft (GBR) (Korean) at the same time as placement	Osseointegration may take 1–2 months longer
Right after extraction	Socket preservation (Korean) to reduce bone loss in advance	Wait 3–4 months before placement
Upper molars, short distance to the maxillary sinus	Sinus lift (Korean) (crestal approach or lateral approach (Korean), depending on how much bone is lacking)	The lateral approach may add 6 months or more
Bone severely lacking	Block bone graft, or the full-arch approach, supporting a wide area with fewer implants	Varies widely between individuals

* This is a general classification; the actual treatment and timeline are decided individually after diagnosis.

A bone graft is a procedure that makes an implant "possible," not one that makes it "better." It should be rare to recommend a graft when there is enough bone, and conversely it is risky to place an implant without a graft when bone is severely lacking. If you have been told a graft is needed, our principle is to show you directly on the CT which area is short of bone and by how much.

How do implants differ from bridges and dentures?

Item	Implant	Bridge	Denture
Grinding of neighboring teeth	None	Teeth on both sides must be ground	None
Stability	Close to a natural tooth	Relatively stable	May move
Treatment time	3–6 months (depending on bone)	About 2–3 weeks	About 3–4 weeks
Care	Brush and floss like a natural tooth	Floss is hard to pass; needs separate care	Removed for cleaning

* A general comparison; an accurate diagnosis and costs are given individually at the consultation. — As of September 2026

How is the cost determined?

The cost of implants does not come down neatly to "this much per implant." The total is made up of the four factors below.

Number of implants — This is not necessarily the same as the number of missing teeth. For example, a gap of three missing molars may be restored with two implants and a bridge.
Additional procedures — Bone grafts, sinus lifts, socket preservation and similar procedures are charged separately.
Prosthesis material and method — The cost varies with the crown material (zirconia, metal, etc.), stock versus custom abutments, and screw-retained versus cement-retained (Korean) designs.
Health insurance coverage — If you meet the conditions below, treatment is covered by Korean national health insurance.

Health insurance conditions for implants. If you are 65 or older and partially edentulous (at least one natural tooth remains), Korean national health insurance covers up to two implants per person in a lifetime, with a 30% co-payment.[1] People with no natural teeth left are not eligible, and additional procedures such as bone grafts and sinus lifts, as well as custom abutments, are not included in the coverage and are charged separately. Registration with the National Health Insurance Service is required before treatment begins. Detailed requirements may change, so please refer to implant insurance coverage conditions (Korean); we will check whether you qualify at the consultation.

Non-covered costs vary individually with the factors above, so they are explained item by item at the consultation after the detailed diagnosis. Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon does not quote a total before diagnosis, or give an estimate with the number of implants fixed without a diagnosis.

What you can know before the consultation

The base unit is one implant tooth, and the base fee includes the fixture, the abutment (including custom abutments) and the crown. The base fee differs by fixture manufacturer and line (Straumann BLX SLA·SLActive, Osstem SOI, Osstem BA, Neo).
Bone grafts, sinus lifts, socket preservation, and flapless or navigation-guided surgery are charged separately from the base fee.
If you are 65 or older and at least one natural tooth remains, Korean national health insurance covers up to two implants in a lifetime (30% co-payment).
Non-covered fees are quoted at the same amount as the fee schedule posted in the clinic, and we do not run discounts or promotional prices.

What is decided after examination

Number of implants — this may not equal the number of missing teeth, so it is decided after looking at bone condition and the distribution of chewing force on 3D CT.
Whether a bone graft or sinus lift is needed, and how extensive — confirmed after checking bone height, thickness and the position of the sinus on CT.
Crown material and abutment type — decided by the tooth position (front or back), gum line and bite.
When it is finalized — after the detailed diagnosis, the cost of each item is explained at the consultation, and treatment starts after your consent.

Fees for each non-covered item and their reference date are published on our non-covered fee notice. The amounts and item names on that page are the official notice in Korean.Non-covered treatment fees →

When other treatment may suit better

· When the jawbone is severely lacking and a bone graft would be a heavy burden — an implant denture that uses implants as support, or the full-arch approach, may be more realistic.
· When a systemic condition such as diabetes or osteoporosis is not under control — proceeding after blood sugar has stabilized is ultimately faster. If you receive osteoporosis injections (especially high-dose intravenous ones), consulting the prescribing doctor comes first.
· When the remaining natural teeth can be adequately saved with root canal treatment or crowns — we do not extract them.
· When it is hard to cut down on smoking — smoking is a major risk factor for implant failure and bone loss. If quitting is difficult, we plan with that in mind and explain the risks without hiding them.
· When it is hard to keep up regular checkups and daily hygiene — once care stops, peri-implantitis can progress faster than gum disease around natural teeth.

Nothing hidden

How long do implants last? Side effects and limitations

Lifespan. A systematic review that pooled studies following modern implant systems for 10 years or more reported a 10-year implant survival rate of about 96% (95% confidence interval 95–98%).[2] However, this means "still in the mouth," not "never had a problem," and in the same study the group aged 65 and over showed a somewhat lower survival rate. How long an implant lasts depends as much on later care, biting forces and general health as on placement technique.

Peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis (Korean), the implant equivalent of periodontitis around natural teeth, is the most common late complication. Pooling epidemiological studies from several countries, peri-implantitis was reported in about 22% of people with implants, and peri-implant mucositis, its earlier stage, in about 43%.[3] If it progresses, the supporting bone dissolves and the implant can be lost. Prevention means regular checkups, professional cleaning and cleaning between the teeth at home; at Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon, we check gum condition and changes in bone height at checkups.

Smoking. In a meta-analysis of more than 80,000 implants, the implant failure rate in smokers was about 6.4%, roughly twice that of non-smokers (about 3.2%), and bone loss was also greater.[4] Whether you stop smoking around the time of surgery does affect the outcome.

Diabetes. Having diabetes does not mean you cannot have implants. An analysis pooling 14 studies from 2000–2015 found no significant difference in failure rates between patients with and without diabetes, but poorly controlled blood sugar is a separate matter, and bone loss around the implant may be greater, so management is needed.[5] At Joy Dental Clinic, we check your recent HbA1c level and, if necessary, coordinate timing with your internal medicine doctor.

Nerve injury and sinus problems. For lower molars, the distance to the inferior alveolar nerve canal (Korean) is the key; for upper molars, the distance to the maxillary sinus. Measuring these distances on 3D CT and using a surgical guide (Korean) prevents most problems, but altered sensation or damage to the sinus lining can rarely occur, and we explain this possibility before surgery.

Early failure and re-placement. If osseointegration does not occur, the fixture may move or pain may continue. In that case it is removed, the cause (infection, overload, bone condition) is identified, and once the bone has healed, re-placement can be attempted. This is covered in causes of implant failure (Korean).

No treatment is free of side effects. We tell you the above first not because implants are a bad treatment, but because knowing it before you start is what makes proper care possible.

How common peri-implantitis, screw loosening, nerve and sinus problems are, what we check on CT before treatment and what we look at afterward, is covered separately in our implant side effects guide.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Q1 Is the pain severe on the day of implant surgery?

It is done under local anesthesia, so there is little pain during the procedure. Placement takes about 30–60 minutes per tooth, and swelling and discomfort afterward vary from person to person; we explain this at the consultation.

Q2 How long does implant treatment take?

Healing usually takes 3–4 months if no bone graft is needed, and about 5–6 months if a bone graft is needed. The exact timeline is given individually after the detailed diagnosis.

Q3 Does health insurance cover implants?

For people aged 65 and over, Korean national health insurance covers up to two implants in a lifetime (for the partially edentulous, 30% co-payment). The number and conditions follow National Health Insurance Service criteria, and we check them at the consultation.

Q4 Can I have an implant if I lack jawbone?

In many cases it is possible after building up the bone with a bone graft (GBR) or similar procedure. We check how much bone is lacking and where on 3D CT, then decide whether a graft is needed and how to do it.

Q5 Does the director perform the procedure personally?

The director takes personal responsibility for care from diagnosis through placement and follow-up.

Q6 I stopped treatment partway at another clinic. Can you continue it?

Yes. We check the state of the previous treatment carefully and then continue. We assess your current condition with a detailed diagnosis and draw up a new plan for the remaining treatment.

Q7 Do I have to quit smoking if I get an implant?

Quitting is better for the outcome. Smoking has been reported to roughly double the implant failure rate compared with non-smokers and to increase bone loss. If quitting completely is difficult, we recommend not smoking for at least a few weeks before and after surgery, and we plan with your smoking in mind.

Q8 Do I need one implant for every missing tooth?

No. A gap of several missing molars may be restored with fewer implants and a bridge, and when all teeth are missing there is also the full-arch approach supported by 4–8 implants. The number is decided by looking at bone condition and the distribution of chewing force.

Q9 What should I be careful about on the day of surgery and the next day?

On the day, avoid hot and hard foods, straws, strenuous exercise, smoking and alcohol, and take the prescribed medication. Swelling is usually greatest on day 2–3 and then subsides; new pain that appears later is a sign you need to be seen.

Q10 Does the implant brand matter?

Manufacturers differ in fixture surface treatment, connection design and component compatibility. With a well-established system, the accuracy of diagnosis, the placement position and later care affect the outcome more than the brand itself. We explain the system we use at the consultation.

Q11 How can I tell if I have peri-implantitis?

Suspect it if the gum swells or bleeds, or if it feels sensitive or pus comes out when you brush. Early on there are few symptoms, so it is often found at regular checkups. If caught at the mucositis stage, before bone dissolves, it can recover with cleaning and care.

Treatment cases and further reading

References

National Health Insurance Service (Korea). Dental implant coverage guide (in Korean) — Partially edentulous patients aged 65+, up to two implants per person in a lifetime, 30% co-payment.
Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: A systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9-21. — 10-year survival 96.4% (95% CI 95.2–97.5); 91.5% in patients aged 65+.
Derks J, Tomasi C. Peri-implant health and disease. A systematic review of current epidemiology. J Clin Periodontol. 2015;42(Suppl 16):S158-S171. — Peri-implant mucositis 43%, peri-implantitis 22% (weighted mean prevalence).
Chrcanovic BR, Albrektsson T, Wennerberg A. Smoking and dental implants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2015;43(5):487-498. — Failure rate 6.35% in smokers vs 3.18% in non-smokers.
Moraschini V, Barboza ES, Peixoto GA. The impact of diabetes on dental implant failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016;45(10):1237-1245. — No significant difference in failure rate between diabetic and non-diabetic patients; poorly controlled diabetes considered separately.

RESERVATION

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This page was written and reviewed by Director Jeong Jinwoo (board-certified prosthodontist and specialist in integrated dentistry) of Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon, based on standard dental knowledge and the literature above. The director personally handles everything from diagnosis and placement to connecting the prosthesis and regular maintenance. It is intended as general information; individual treatment plans and costs are given after a detailed diagnosis and consultation.

Last updated: 2026-10-19