Most of the anxiety around dental implants has little to do with the implant itself… it's about the unknown. What does the surgery actually involve? Will it hurt? How long before you can eat normally again?
At FMS Dental, we believe patients make calmer, better decisions when they know exactly what's ahead, which is why we walk them through the entire journey: how the surgery is performed, how anaesthesia is chosen, what recovery really looks like week by week and how our follow-up protocol protects your implant for the long term.
Every implant placed at FMS Dental is planned and performed under the direct clinical oversight of Dr. Shailaja Reddy, Chief Implantologist, who has placed over 25,000 implants along with her team across more than 26 years of practice. Combined with our in-house FMS CAD-CAM dental laboratory, which designs and fabricates implant components without outsourcing delays, every case moves from diagnosis to surgery to final restoration under one roof, with one team accountable for the outcome.
Most patients who assume they aren't candidates for implants turn out to be… modern bone grafting and full-arch techniques have widened eligibility considerably. Candidacy is assessed on a combination of factors, not any single one:
Adequate jawbone density and volume to anchor the implant, or willingness to undergo bone grafting first.
Healthy gums, free of active, untreated periodontal disease.
Chronic conditions such as diabetes that are medically controlled, not necessarily absent.
Smoking status… smoking measurably slows osseointegration, so patients are advised to pause around the surgical window.
General fitness for minor surgery under local or general anaesthesia.
Age by itself is not disqualifying… FMS Dental has successfully placed implants for patients well into their 70s and 80s with appropriate planning.
The only way to confirm candidacy is a clinical evaluation and CBCT scan during consultation. This comprehensive assessment allows our implant team to evaluate bone quality, gum health and overall oral condition before creating a personalised treatment plan.
Not every implant case looks the same. The right surgical approach depends on how many teeth are missing and the condition of the underlying bone.
Replaces one missing tooth without affecting adjacent teeth.
Replaces several adjacent missing teeth on fewer implants than teeth.
replaces an entire arch of teeth on four to six strategically placed implants
For patients with good jaw bone, 6–8 straight implants per jaw are placed to replace missing teeth.
Replaces an entire arch of teeth on four to five strategically placed implants.
Designed for patients with severe upper-jaw bone loss who would otherwise require extensive bone grafting before treatment.
A fixed provisional prosthesis is fitted on the same day surgery is performed, where clinically appropriate.
Bone augmentation is performed before or during implant placement to create sufficient bone volume for long-term implant stability.
Preparation reduces both surgical risk and day-of anxiety. A typical pre-surgical pathway includes:
Initial consultation and clinical examination of teeth, gums and bite.
3D CBCT scan and digital treatment planning to accurately map the bone, nerves and sinus position before implant placement.
Medical history review, including current medications and chronic conditions, with medical clearance obtained where required.
Anaesthesia-specific instructions are provided, including fasting before general anaesthesia and arranging for someone to drive you home after the procedure.
A final review of the treatment timeline and anaesthesia choice is completed before the surgery date is confirmed.
Dental implant surgery follows a structured, staged process. While the exact protocol is customised to each patient's bone quality, missing-tooth count and medical history, the core steps are consistent.
3D CBCT (Cone Beam CT) imaging maps bone density, nerve position and sinus location to plan implant size, angle and position with precision.
The surgical site is numbed using local anaesthesia, or the patient is sedated under general anaesthesia for more extensive or multi-implant cases.
A small access point is created in the gum to expose the jawbone at the planned implant position.
A titanium implant engineered to fuse with bone is precisely positioned into the jawbone using the pre-planned trajectory.
The gum tissue is closed around or over the implant, depending on the protocol (single-stage vs two-stage surgery).
Over the following weeks to months, the implant fuses biologically with the surrounding bone, forming the stable foundation for the final crown, bridge or denture.
: Once integration is confirmed abutment and the final prosthetic (crown / bridge / denture) are fitted. – in select cases, this can happen the same day (see our Teeth-in-a-Day protocol).
For patients requiring immediate function—such as full-arch rehabilitation with All-on-4 or Zygomatic implants—the sequence is adapted so a temporary prosthetic can be fitted on the day of surgery.
Our clinical team evaluates each case individually to determine whether immediate loading is appropriate, as this depends on the implant stability achieved at placement, not on patient preference alone.
Anaesthesia choice is one of the most common questions patients bring to a consultation, and it genuinely changes how the day feels. FMS Dental offers both options, with the right choice depending on the number of implants, the complexity of the case, and the patient's anxiety levels or medical history.
Local anaesthesia numbs only the surgical area while the patient remains fully awake and aware throughout. It is the standard approach for:
Most single-tooth and small multi-tooth implant cases at FMS Dental are comfortably completed under local anaesthesia alone.
General anaesthesia puts the patient in a controlled, unconscious or deeply relaxed state for the duration of surgery. It is typically recommended for:
GA cases are administered and monitored by qualified anaesthesia specialists, with pre-operative medical clearance to confirm the patient is a safe candidate. This is always discussed and agreed upon during the consultation, never decided on the day of surgery.
Some patients don't have enough bone volume to support an implant right away… usually the result of long-term tooth loss, gum disease, or in the upper back jaw, natural sinus proximity. In these cases, treatment is staged.
Bone grafting adds material to build up width or height in the jaw before (or sometimes during) implant placement.
A sinus lift raises the floor of the sinus to create enough vertical bone for implants in the upper back jaw.
For eligible patients, these implants can avoid grafting altogether by anchoring into denser bone elsewhere in the skull.
Whether grafting is needed and which alternative fits best is determined from the CBCT scan during planning, not guessed at chairside.
This is one of the most misunderstood parts of implant treatment, largely because "same-day teeth" is used loosely in marketing. In reality:
Delayed loading is the standard, most predictable protocol. The implant is left undisturbed to fully osseointegrate before the final crown, bridge or denture is attached.
Immediate loading fits a temporary prosthetic on the day of surgery or within 72 hours. It is only appropriate when the implant achieves sufficient primary stability at placement—a clinical measurement, not a patient preference.
The senior Implantologists at FMS Dental, led by Dr. Shailaja Reddy, determine which protocol applies to your case based on bone quality, implant position and stability readings taken during surgery itself.
Recovery timelines vary by case complexity, number of implants and individual healing response, but most patients follow a broadly predictable curve.
Mild swelling, tenderness and minor bleeding are normal. Prescribed pain management and a soft-food diet help keep this period comfortable.
Swelling and discomfort steadily reduce. Most patients return to normal daily activity within a few days, while avoiding strenuous exercise.
Initial soft-tissue healing is complete and the implant begins osseointegration, gradually fusing with the jawbone.
Full osseointegration is typically confirmed before the final crown or bridge is fitted. This period is usually shorter for the lower jaw and may extend for upper-jaw or grafted sites.
For edentulous patients receiving a full-arch implant-supported denture, or cases using a pre-planned surgical guide, a provisional prosthesis can be fitted immediately or within 72 hours. This protocol does not apply to isolated posterior single-tooth cases, which always follow the standard healing protocol.
Following these instructions carefully supports uneventful healing, promotes successful osseointegration, and helps reduce the risk of avoidable complications. Every patient at FMS Dental receives detailed written post-operative instructions and scheduled follow-up reviews to monitor healing and ensure the implant integrates successfully.
Implant success is determined as much by post-operative care as by the surgery itself. FMS follow-up protocol includes:
Same-day post-op instructions covering diet, oral hygiene, medication schedule and warning signs to watch for.
A scheduled follow-up visit within first week to check healing and address any discomfort.
Periodic review appointments throughout the osseointegration period to confirm that the implant is integrating as expected.
A CBCT or OPG imaging review before the final restoration is placed, to confirm the implant is ready to bear load.
Long-term maintenance guidance, since implants, like natural teeth depend on consistent hygiene and periodic professional check-ups (at least once in 6 months) to last.
Because diagnosis, surgery and restoration all happen within the same clinical team, follow-up care isn't handed off between providers... the Implantologist / Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon who placed the implant is part of the team reviewing your recovery.
Complications are uncommon when post-operative instructions are followed, but knowing the warning signs means small issues get caught before they become bigger ones. Contact your dental team if you notice:
Pain or swelling that increases rather than decreases after the first few days.
Bleeding that continues beyond the first 24 hours.
Any looseness or movement in the implant should be assessed immediately.
A fever may indicate infection and should be reported promptly.
Pus, discharge or a persistent bad taste at the surgical site.
None of these are common outcomes, but they are worth same-day attention rather than waiting for your next scheduled visit.
Implant costs vary meaningfully from patient to patient, which is why FMS Dental doesn't quote a flat number without an examination. The main factors are:
Number of implants required.
Single-tooth vs. full-arch treatment.
Whether bone grafting or a sinus lift is needed beforehand.
The implant brand and material used.
Whether CT-guided digital surgery is used for implant placement.
Anaesthesia type - local vs. general
Complexity of the final prosthetic (crown, bridge or full-arch denture)
A personalised quote is provided after your consultation and CBCT scan, once your specific treatment plan is clear.
3D CBCT imaging for accurate pre-surgical mapping of bone, nerves and sinus position
Digital planning and guided surgery protocols that improve implant placement precision and can reduce surgical time.
In-house FMS CAD-CAM dental lab for same-roof design and fabrication of implant components and prosthetics.
NABH-accredited sterilization and surgical protocols across the FMS International Dental Center, an advanced dental implant clinic in Hyderabad, India.
At FMS Dental, the first implant was placed in 1999 by Dr. Shailaja Reddy. Since then, thousands of dental implants have been placed by her team of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and Implantologists.
26+ years of dedicated implantology experience under Dr. Shailaja Reddy, with more than 25,000 implants placed.
Precision implant components and prosthetics are designed and fabricated in the FMS CAD-CAM Lab without third-party turnaround delays.
NABH-accredited surgical protocols at the FMS International Dental Center, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, India.
Ranked #1 in India and #5 globally by the Global Clinic Ratings (GCR).
13 branches across Hyderabad and Kochi, with a single accountable clinical team managing diagnosis, surgery, restoration and follow-up.
From advanced 3D CBCT planning and digital guided implant surgery to an in-house CAD-CAM laboratory, NABH-accredited surgical protocols and one experienced clinical team that stays with you from diagnosis through follow-up, FMS Dental delivers predictable, evidence-based implant treatment with precision, safety and long-term accountability.
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