What to expect at your dental implants consultation

Before your appointment

Most New Zealand dentist or oral surgeon practices send a new-patient form before your first visit. Complete this in advance so the dentist or oral surgeon can read it before you arrive — it includes your medical history, current medications, allergies and the specific concern you want assessed.

• • A list of current medications and dosages
• • Any recent imaging (x-ray, MRI, CT) or specialist letters
• • Your ACC claim number if your problem follows an injury
• • Your health-insurance details if you have cover (Southern Cross, nib etc.)
• • Comfortable clothing that lets the dentist or oral surgeon assess the affected area

During the consultation

Duration: Initial consultations and CBCT planning take 60–90 minutes; surgical placement 60–90 minutes per implant; crown fitting 30–60 minutes.

A dental implant is a titanium or zirconia screw placed into the jawbone to replace a missing tooth root, with a custom crown attached on top once the implant has integrated. A typical pathway includes a consultation and CBCT scan, a surgical placement appointment, a 3–6 month osseointegration period, and a final crown fitting. Some patients are candidates for immediate-load implants placed and crowned at the same visit; others need preparatory work such as bone grafting or sinus lift.

Questions worth asking

• • What is your working diagnosis, and what else are you considering?
• • What is the recommended treatment plan and how long should it take?
• • What does the evidence show about success rates for this approach?
• • What is the total expected cost — including imaging, equipment or follow-ups?
• • What should improve, and by when, before we change approach?
• • When should I contact you between visits, and how?

Verifying your dentist or oral surgeon

Dentist or oral surgeon services in New Zealand are a regulated dental procedure in New Zealand. Every dentist and oral and maxillofacial surgeon practising must hold an Annual Practising Certificate from the Dental Council of New Zealand. Implant placement is generally performed by general dentists with implant training, by periodontists, or by oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Verify the practitioner on the Dental Council of New Zealand register and check their scope of practice. General dentists placing implants should hold postgraduate implant qualifications or extensive structured training; periodontists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons hold formal specialist registration. Ask how many implants they place per year, what implant system they use, and what is included in the quoted fee — some quotes exclude the crown or imaging. You can search the public register at dcnz.org.nz at any time.

Plan your dental implants treatment

• Overview →
• Cost & funding →
• Recovery & follow-up →

Related care

Other health services frequently considered alongside dental implants:

• sleep apnoea and snoring assessment → $300–$2,500 for assessment; CPAP from $2,000

Find dental implants in your city

City-specific clinic listings, pricing and funding options:

Some smaller-city variants link to the closest main centre where no dedicated providers exist locally.