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. James Bodonyi
M.B.M.S (Adel), M.A.
Dr Vikas Bajaj
BDS, Invisalign Platinum Certified
Dr Sunil Mangla
BDS (Liverpool), PG Cert Sed and Pain Management (Lon)
Dr. Yasser El-Ali
DDS (GBG Sweden) 2001, GDC Nr: 79231
Dr. James Bodonyi
M.B.M.S (Adel), M.A.
Dr Vikas Bajaj
BDS, Invisalign Platinum Certified
Dr Sunil Mangla
BDS (Liverpool), PG Cert Sed and Pain Management (Lon)
Dr. Yasser El-Ali
DDS (GBG Sweden) 2001, GDC Nr: 79231
Dr. James Bodonyi
M.B.M.S (Adel), M.A.
Dr Vikas Bajaj
BDS, Invisalign Platinum Certified
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
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you, Nadezhda, for your five-star rating! We truly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back to Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London.
09/05/2026
Professional and competent staff. I found Dr Yaser very honest and knowledgeable person.
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you, Mir, for your kind review. We’re delighted that you found our team professional and competent, and that Dr Yaser made such a positive impression with his honest and knowledgeable approach. We truly appreciate your trust in Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London.
09/02/2026
Extremely professional and friendly. Highly recommend.
Response from Dental By Design
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08/28/2026
This refers to my consultation today. My whole experience from speaking to the receptionist and subsequent consultation with the dentist was very professional. The practice is ultra modern and exceptionally clean. I found my treatment plan to be detailed and well priced. I'm actually looking forward to my treatment.
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you, Roger. We are so pleased to hear you had a positive experience and found the practice professional, modern, and clean. It is great to know your treatment plan felt detailed and well priced. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
08/26/2026
Great first appointment. Professional, caring and friendly. Reception immediately put me at ease and all staff I met followed suit. I’ve decided to have my all on 6 implants here after an extensive search. Will update after treatment 🤞🏾
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Sharon! We’re delighted that our reception and clinical teams made you feel comfortable from the moment you arrived. Choosing where to have All-on-6 dental implants is a big decision, so it means a great deal that you chose Dental by Design in Hammersmith, London after such extensive research. We look forward to supporting you throughout your treatment!
08/26/2026
Consultation Visit, superb from start to finish, speed of scans, technology used, and discussion of treatment and the various steps was superb. Plenty of things to consider, but overall highly recommend
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Ian! We’re delighted your consultation was superb from start to finish. It’s wonderful to hear that the efficient scans, technology and clear explanation of your treatment options made such a positive impression. Take all the time you need to consider everything, and our team at Dental by Design in Hammersmith will be happy to answer any further questions. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
08/22/2026
I was very pleased with my visit yesterday. I will be able to give a fuller account when my treatment is finished. I had a very pleasant experience with all the staff who were so friendly and helpful.
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you so much, Mary! We’re delighted that your visit was such a positive experience and that our team made you feel welcome and supported. We look forward to caring for you throughout the rest of your treatment at Dental by Design in Hammersmith and hearing about your experience once it is complete.
08/20/2026
Great service with friendly staff
Response from Dental By Design
Thank you, Steve! We’re delighted you received great service and found our team friendly. We really appreciate your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to Dental by Design in Hammersmith.
08/20/2026
I was unable to attend the appointment so can't comment.
Response from Dental By Design
Hi Iain, thank you for letting us know. We’re sorry you were unable to attend your appointment. If you would like to rearrange, please contact our team and we’ll be happy to find another suitable time for you.
08/19/2026
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