Checklist
For dental implant planning, send recent dental X-rays, any 3D jaw scan, clear photos of your teeth and gums, notes from your own dentist and a list of health conditions and medicines. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust explains that X-rays and moulds are used to plan implants, and that a bone graft may be needed if bone is insufficient.
Implant treatment usually happens in stages: assessment, sometimes bone grafting, placing the implant, and later fitting the crown, bridge or denture. Guy’s and St Thomas’ describes several visits for assessment and several more appointments to fit the replacement teeth. This staged process is why implant treatment may need more than one trip to India. Good reports from home let the dentist say early whether implants look possible, whether bone grafting might be needed and how many visits to plan. The dentist confirms all of this after examining you.
Which X-rays and scans should you send?
- A full-mouth panoramic X-ray, if you have a recent one.
- Smaller dental X-rays of the area where implants are planned.
- Any 3D jaw scan (CBCT) as files, with the report.
- The date of each image, clearly marked.
Which photos help?
- Front view of your smile with teeth together.
- Upper and lower teeth photographed from above and below.
- Close-up of the gap or failing teeth.
- Photos of any current denture or bridge in place.
What dental history should you include?
- Which teeth are missing, and when they were lost.
- Gum disease treatment you have had.
- Previous implants, bone grafts or sinus surgery.
- Your dentist’s notes or treatment plan, if they have made one.
Which health details matter?
- Diabetes, heart conditions or other long-term illness.
- All medicines with generic names, including any for bones or blood thinning.
- Smoking habits, stated honestly.
- Allergies, including to local anaesthetic.
- Any radiotherapy to the head or neck.
What should you ask before planning trips?
- How many visits does the dentist expect, and what happens at each?
- Is a bone graft likely, and would it change the timeline?
- What temporary teeth will I have between visits?
- Who can check the implants at home between trips?
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The dentist decides
Photos and X-rays give a first view only. The treating dentist decides whether implants are suitable, how many and when, after examining your mouth and taking their own images.
Questions people ask
Why might I need two trips for dental implants?
Implants are placed in the jaw bone and usually left to settle before replacement teeth are fitted. Guy’s and St Thomas’ describes a wait after placement before the teeth are attached. Ask the dentist to explain the plan for your case.
What is a bone graft and will I need one?
A bone graft adds bone volume where the jaw is too thin to hold an implant. Guy’s and St Thomas’ notes it can add months to treatment. Only the dentist can judge from scans and examination whether you need one.
Can I send photos taken on my phone?
Yes. Clear, well-lit phone photos are helpful for a first view. Use daylight, avoid filters and take each angle separately. Send X-ray and scan files as originals, not photos of a screen.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.