Dental Implants with Gum Disease:
Yes, It's Possible
Gum disease doesn't mean you can't have implants. It means the disease needs treating first. Once your gums are healthy, implant success rates are excellent.
93-97%
success rate after periodontal treatment
3-6 mo
typical treatment-to-implant timeline
From £28
per month with finance
The honest answer about gum disease and implants
If you've been told you have gum disease and you're wondering whether dental implants are still an option, the answer is yes, with the right preparation.
Active gum disease and implants don't mix. Placing an implant into infected tissue would be setting it up to fail. But once the disease is treated and your gums are stable, implants work just as well as they do for anyone else.
The process takes a bit longer because we treat the gum disease first, let everything heal, and then place the implants into healthy tissue. It's a sequential approach, not a compromise. If you also smoke, that's another factor we address as part of the plan.
The Path from Gum Disease to Implants
Treatment happens in phases. Here's what to expect.
Assessment and diagnosis
We assess the severity of your gum disease with a full examination, X-rays, and probing measurements. This tells us exactly what level of treatment is needed before implants can be considered.
Periodontal treatment
For mild to moderate cases, deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) removes bacteria below the gum line. More advanced cases may need gum surgery to access deeper pockets. The goal is to eliminate active infection completely.
Healing and stabilisation
Your gums need time to heal and demonstrate stability. We monitor your progress with follow-up appointments. Good oral hygiene during this phase is critical for long-term success.
Implant planning
A 3D CBCT scan assesses your bone levels. If gum disease caused bone loss, we plan accordingly. All-on-4 techniques often work without separate grafting.
Implant placement
Implants are placed into healthy, disease-free tissue. The procedure is the same as for any other patient. With Vivo Bridge, permanent teeth can be fitted within 48 hours.
Ongoing maintenance
Regular hygiene appointments (typically every 3-4 months rather than 6) help prevent peri-implantitis. Good maintenance is especially important for patients with a history of gum disease.
Total estimated treatment time: 6-12 months from first visit to final teeth, depending on disease severity
93-97% implant success rate in patients with treated periodontal disease
A systematic review in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that implants placed after successful gum disease treatment have high success rates. The critical factor is eliminating active disease before implant placement, not whether you ever had gum disease.
Source: Journal of Clinical Periodontology
Concerns Specific to Gum Disease Patients
"I lost teeth because of gum disease. Won't the same thing happen to implants?"
This is a reasonable worry. If gum disease destroyed natural teeth, it's logical to wonder whether implants would face the same fate.
Implants can develop peri-implantitis, but it's preventable. The key differences: we treat the underlying disease before placing implants, we provide a tailored maintenance schedule (typically 3-4 monthly hygiene visits), and implants don't have the same vulnerabilities as natural teeth. With proper care, they last decades.
"I've been told I have significant bone loss"
Advanced gum disease erodes the bone that supports teeth. Some patients have been told by other dentists that they don't have enough bone for implants.
Bone loss is manageable. Techniques like All-on-4 use angled implants to work with available bone. Bone grafting can rebuild lost bone where needed. Even patients told 'no' elsewhere often qualify with us. A 3D scan gives us the definitive answer.
"How do I stop gum disease from affecting my implants?"
Patients with a history of gum disease are at higher risk of peri-implantitis if maintenance is neglected.
A structured maintenance programme is the answer. We schedule hygiene appointments every 3-4 months (rather than the standard 6). We teach you targeted cleaning techniques for around your implants. Patients who follow the programme have excellent long-term outcomes. If you also have diabetes, maintenance is especially important as both conditions affect gum health.
"The gum treatment itself sounds painful"
Deep cleaning and gum surgery sound intimidating. Many patients have avoided treating their gum disease because they're worried about the discomfort.
Modern periodontal treatment is far more comfortable than you'd expect. Deep cleaning is done under local anaesthesia. Sedation is available for patients who feel anxious. Most patients say the anticipation was worse than the reality.
UK's Top Rated Dentists
Dr Sunil Mangla
BDS (Liverpool), PG Cert Sed and Pain Management (Lon)
Dr. Yasser El-Ali
DDS (GBG Sweden) 2001, GDC Nr: 79231
Dr. Nasim Mechoui
BDS (Bristol), MSc Implant Dentistry (Rome)
Dr. James Bodonyi
M.B.M.S (Adel), M.A.
Dr Sunil Mangla
BDS (Liverpool), PG Cert Sed and Pain Management (Lon)
Dr. Yasser El-Ali
DDS (GBG Sweden) 2001, GDC Nr: 79231
Dr. Nasim Mechoui
BDS (Bristol), MSc Implant Dentistry (Rome)
Dr. James Bodonyi
M.B.M.S (Adel), M.A.
Dr Sunil Mangla
BDS (Liverpool), PG Cert Sed and Pain Management (Lon)
Dr. Yasser El-Ali
DDS (GBG Sweden) 2001, GDC Nr: 79231
Dr. Nasim Mechoui
BDS (Bristol), MSc Implant Dentistry (Rome)
Dr. James Bodonyi
M.B.M.S (Adel), M.A.
From Gum Disease to a New Smile
Hear from patients who overcame gum disease and received dental implants
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Gum Disease and Implants: Your Questions Answered
Can you get dental implants if you have gum disease?
Yes, but not while gum disease is active. The infection must be treated and stabilised first. Once your gums are healthy, implant success rates are comparable to patients who never had gum disease. The key is proper treatment sequencing.
How long after gum disease treatment can I get implants?
Typically 3-6 months after periodontal treatment, depending on the severity. Mild cases may only need a deep clean and a few weeks of healing. More advanced cases may require gum surgery followed by a longer stabilisation period. We monitor your progress and place implants only when conditions are right.
Will gum disease come back after I get implants?
Implants can develop peri-implantitis, which is similar to gum disease around natural teeth. However, with proper oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits, this risk is very manageable. We provide a personalised maintenance plan to protect your investment.
What if I've already lost teeth from gum disease?
Tooth loss from gum disease is one of the most common reasons patients come to us. The bone loss that accompanies gum disease can be addressed with techniques like All-on-4, which uses angled implants to maximise available bone.
Is the implant procedure different for gum disease patients?
The implant placement itself is the same. The difference is in the preparation: we ensure your gums are completely healthy before proceeding. Some patients also need bone grafting if gum disease has caused significant bone loss. Your treatment plan is tailored to your specific situation.
How much do implants cost for gum disease patients?
Implant costs are the same regardless of gum disease history. Single implants from £1,695, full arch from £6,995. You may have additional costs for periodontal treatment beforehand (deep cleaning, gum surgery). We provide a full cost breakdown at your consultation. 0% finance from £28/month. See our funding options.
What Our Patients Say
Real stories from real patients who transformed their smiles with Dental By Design
Great experience at Dental by Design. The reception staff are friendly and welcoming with lovely smiles. Dr. Yasser is brilliant at his job, very professional and gentle as was his assistant nurse, Adriana, so kind and reassuring when I got nervous. She put me at ease. My smile is back. Would definitely for sure recommend them. Thank you.
08/08/2026
The whole experience was even better than I expected. As someone who has always been afraid of visiting the dentist, Dr. Rob Jung immediately made me feel at ease. The professional care and attention I received from him and his entire team were truly exceptional. The smile that Dr. Rob gave me has genuinely changed my life, and I cannot thank him enough for his skill, kindness, and dedication. I am so grateful for the outstanding treatment and support I received throughout the process. I would highly recommend Dr. Rob Jung and his team to anyone looking for excellent dental care. Varsha Mehta
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Varsha. We are delighted to hear that your experience was even better than expected, especially knowing that visiting the dentist has not always been easy for you.
Dr Rob Jung and the whole team will be so pleased to know they helped you feel at ease and supported throughout your treatment. It means a great deal to hear that your new smile has made such a positive difference to your life.
Thank you again for your kind words and recommendation. We are truly grateful you chose Dental by Design.
08/06/2026
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Dagmara, for your 5-star review! We’re delighted you had a positive experience with the team at Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London. Your support means a lot to us.
08/04/2026
From the moment I entered I felt at east here. Having had a lot of dental issues since being young, Dr Nistor made me completely at ease. He talked me through the whole procedure and was reassuring and kind. His expertise shown through and his explanation of the procedure was excellent.
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much for your kind review, Kathleen. We understand how daunting dental treatment can feel, especially after experiencing dental problems from a young age, so we’re delighted that Dr Nistor helped you feel comfortable and reassured from the moment you arrived.
He will be very pleased to hear that his clear explanations, kindness and expertise made such a positive difference to your experience. Thank you for trusting Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London, with your care. We look forward to welcoming you back and supporting you throughout the rest of your treatment journey! 😊
08/01/2026
I was made to feel very comfortable from the start of my consultation. Robert was able to make me feel relaxed and talked me through all my options. Then on to the business manager Livi who was so kind and explained what the next steps were very patient with me while I was working everything out Look forward to my next visit where I won’t have to have teeth envy anymore cause I’ll be the one smiling from ear to ear .
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much for your lovely review, Susan. We’re delighted that Robert helped you feel relaxed and clearly explained all the options available to you, and that Livi made the next steps feel easier with her kindness and patience.
Everyone at Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London, is looking forward to welcoming you back and helping you achieve the smile you’ve been waiting for. It won’t be long before you’re the one smiling from ear to ear! 😊
07/30/2026
Since breaking most of my front teeth and damaging the rest as a teenager in Leeds and living around the country since leaving home in the late 70s, I’m pretty familiar with dentists! I discovered over a year ago that old implants had failed and become infected. I needed complete replacements (and more!). Two other practices I contacted failed me too: difficultly getting appointments, expensive and overly protracted processes - that didn’t really get anywhere . . . etc. But, they say you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince or princess - and I eventually found both, in Dr Yasser and nurse Adriana at Dental by Design! Complete double arch implant surgery and badly infected bone was never going to be easy - but the whole team, from reception and initial interview to surgery made it the smoothest-running dentistry I have ever experienced. Walking in, It’s more like a design office reception than a dental surgery! Dr Yasser is jovial, good-humoured, even avuncular - but there’s no nonsense. Definitely, no BS! I felt very confident I was in the right hands. Nurse Adriana clearly knew what she was doing and the two, working as a great team, maintained very good contact with me through the longest surgery I’d ever had. I came out exhausted but smiling, with my temporary bridges - fitted the same day. That was a week ago - and after-care has been great . . . I’m so glad I kissed those first two frogs before finding this place! Thank you.
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful and detailed review, Nick. We’re sorry your journey before finding us was so difficult, but we’re delighted that you finally felt confident and well cared for at Dental by Design.
Dr Yasser, Adriana and the entire team will be so pleased to hear your kind words. Complete double-arch dental implant surgery, particularly following failed implants and infection, can feel overwhelming, so it means a great deal to know that everything from your first consultation through to surgery and aftercare felt organised, reassuring and supportive.
We’re especially pleased that you left smiling with your temporary bridges fitted on the same day. Thank you for trusting our team in Hammersmith, London, with your care. We look forward to supporting you throughout the rest of your smile journey, and we’re very glad those frogs eventually led you to us!
07/29/2026
My experience of my consultation. I had a lovely experience at dental design although I was very nervous there was no need to be i was treated so well and given all the information I needed could not have been happier and so well inform of the whole process. Looking forward to returning for the treatment.
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Sarah! We’re delighted to hear that our team helped you feel comfortable and well informed during your consultation, especially as you were feeling nervous beforehand. We look forward to welcoming you back to Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London, and supporting you throughout your treatment journey.
07/29/2026
Felt very welcome all the journey, and the service done by Rob and Oleg was top notch ! Thank you
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Ederaldo! We’re delighted that you felt welcome throughout your journey with us. Rob and Oleg will be so pleased to hear your kind words. It was a pleasure looking after you at Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London, and we really appreciate your support.
07/27/2026
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Gum Disease Doesn't Have to Be the End of the Story
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