A single dental implant in the UK, with no bone grafting, typically costs around £3,500 by the time the treatment is finished. That figure is made up of several separate stages, and some clinics charge for parts of it that others include for free. Dr Andrew Fennell at Love Implants in Colchester breaks down where the money actually goes, so you can compare quotes properly and spot what’s been left out.
The assessment and CT scan come first
Before any implant goes in, you need a clinical assessment and a CT scan. This isn’t optional. A scan has to be done before implant surgery so the dentist can see the bone, the nerves and exactly where the implant should go.
Across the UK this typically costs £300 to £400 before anything else happens. And here’s the part patients often don’t realise: many clinics won’t offer a free consultation at all. You either pay for the assessment and scan up front, or you can’t be seen and can’t be treated. It’s very common, and it’s the first place the cost adds up before treatment has even started.
At Love Implants the consultation and CT scan are free, so this stage costs nothing (book your free CT scan here).
What the implant surgery costs
The implant surgery itself, with or without bone grafting, comes next. Most UK clinics charge around £1,500 per implant.
If you need bone grafting to build up the site before the implant can be placed, that’s an additional cost of roughly £700 to £800.
What the crown or bridge costs
The implant is the foundation. It’s not the tooth. A few months after the implant is placed and has integrated with the bone, you return to have the crown or bridge fitted on top. That final restoration is around £1,500.
This is why comparing quotes can be confusing. A price that looks low may be quoting only the implant, not the crown that goes on it.
What a single tooth implant costs in total
Put the stages together for a straightforward single tooth with no grafting:
- Consultation and CT scan: £300 to £400 at most clinics (free at Love Implants)
- Implant surgery: around £1,500
- Crown: around £1,500
That comes to roughly £3,500 for a single tooth implant, no grafting. Andrew describes that as the standard Colchester rate, broadly consistent across local clinics.
The same treatment at Love Implants is priced at around half the typical rate, without cutting the quality of the implant, the planning or the restoration.
Common questions about dental implant costs
Why are dental implants so expensive?
Because you’re paying for several stages: the assessment and scan, the surgery, sometimes bone grafting, and the crown or bridge on top. Each is a separate piece of skilled work, along with precision components which if they are of good quality adds to the price again, which is why the total adds up.
Do you have to pay for the consultation?
At many UK clinics, yes. The assessment and CT scan often cost £300 to £400 before treatment starts. At Love Implants the consultation and CT scan are free.
Is a cheaper quote always a worse deal?
Not always, but check exactly what it includes. A low figure sometimes covers only the implant and not the crown, or leaves out grafting you’ll turn out to need. Compare like for like across all the stages.
How much does bone grafting add?
Roughly £700 to £800 on top of the implant surgery, where it’s needed. Whether you need it is one of the things the CT scan shows. At Love Implants, simple grafts cost £600 and sinus grafts £950 (typically £1,400 to £1,500 elsewhere).