From Self-Conscious to Confident: A Single Tooth Implant Story
When you’re only 21, the last thing you expect is to feel embarrassed about your smile. But for this young woman, one front tooth had been bothering her for a long-time. She told us she tried to hide it in photos, avoided smiling too widely, and just felt fed up with worrying about how it looked. That kind of thing can really take the shine out of everyday life.
At the practice, we see this more often than people realise. It doesn’t matter if it’s one tooth or several - if it affects your confidence, it matters. A big part of our job is simply listening and helping people feel at ease before we even think about treatment.
This case study shares her journey with us and how one small implant made a huge difference to her confidence.
Background
When she first came to see us, she was really open about how much her front tooth was bothering her. It wasn’t a small thing for her at all - she said it knocked her confidence every single day, especially in photos or when meeting new people. She just wanted something that looked like a real tooth, blended in properly, and wasn’t going to be a constant worry.
We talked through several options, but once we looked closely at the tooth and the surrounding bone, it became clear that replacing it with a single implant and crown would give her the most reliable result - both functionally and aesthetically.
Planning & Early Stages
The first step was removing the damaged tooth in a gentle, straightforward appointment. After that, we needed to let the area heal. This part takes a bit of patience, but it’s vital for a good long-term outcome.
While everything settled, she wore a temporary denture. Not the final answer, of course, but it meant she could get on with her day-to-day life without feeling self-conscious about a gap. We checked in regularly to make sure she was happy and that the healing was progressing exactly as it should.
Implant Placement
After giving the area time to heal properly, we were finally able to place the implant. The appointment itself was very straightforward. Everything went exactly as planned and once the implant was in, we left it to do what it naturally does - settle in and fuse with the bone. It’s not the quickest stage of treatment, but it’s the bit that makes the whole thing strong and long-lasting, so it’s always worth letting it take the time it needs.
Three months later, once everything had fully integrated, we fitted her new crown. It was custom-made to match her other teeth - the shade, the shape, the tiny details that make a tooth look like it’s yours. The entire treatment took around six months from start to finish, and the overall cost was roughly £3,000.
Outcome
Not every implant case is dramatic or complex. Sometimes it’s just one tooth. But the difference that one tooth can make to someone’s confidence is huge.
If you’re struggling with a front tooth that doesn’t look or feel right, or you’re considering a single implant but are unsure what’s involved, we’re always happy to talk it through. You don’t have to put up with something that knocks your confidence - there are solutions, and we can guide you through them at your own pace.