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 Saul Pineiro Amado
Lic Odont Santiago de Compostela 2014 Dentist, MSC Imp. Dent (Barcelona)
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 Saul Pineiro Amado
Lic Odont Santiago de Compostela 2014 Dentist, MSC Imp. Dent (Barcelona)
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 Saul Pineiro Amado
Lic Odont Santiago de Compostela 2014 Dentist, MSC Imp. Dent (Barcelona)
From Gum Disease to a New Smile
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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
Very good doctor . He has explained my problems with teeth, have an advice regarding implants and much more , actually he explained me what to do in my situation. I will recommend to fix your teeth problem in this clinic. Thank you very much
05/22/2026
Having priced up the same implants on the South Coast I found Dental by Design a lot cheaper . I had my whole top jaw teeth replaced by Dr. Mechoui having been worried by the process I found him and the surgery excellent at making me feel relaxed and informed at all stages. The finished result has exceeded my expectations and I would thoroughly recommend Dental by design to anybody who is thinking about the process. Ps they don’t look anything like’Turkey’ teeth, very natural looking and feeling.
05/20/2026
Absolutely amazing cant recommend dental by design enough from the receptionists to the doctors all are very welcoming and top tier of there profession 11/10 service they have changed my life.
05/14/2026
I visited plenty of dental practice before I came to see DBD. They all gave me the sweet talk and complications in having it done. I felt like, with all the complications, it’s not worth going through it. For every complications, there’s a corresponding charge. With DBD, everything was straight forward. On my free assessment, Dr Rob gave me lots of encouragement and reassurance. On the day of my procedure, nurse Elisa and Dr Rob made me feel at home and the feeling of outmost care. The receptionist were all very nice and they new my name as I entered the door. Isabella was so caring even with the aftercare calls. Overall, my experience with them has been well worth it in terms of affordability, skills, quality of care and the friendly and clean atmosphere. I will definitely spread the news about DBD. Mother in law
05/13/2026
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