Dental Implants in Malaysia


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If you have teeth which are extremely decayed, or have any teeth missing, you may want to consider having dental implants (after first consulting with your UK dentist). Dental implants are simply titanium bolts, a metal chosen for its strength and durability, which then act as substitute tooth roots; they are screwed directly into the jawbone and thus create a secure foundation for a denture or crown. Then a lengthy process known as osseointegration will begin between the jawbone and the implant, which results in a fusion of the two. Once this is complete the denture or crown can be fitted to the implant, resulting in the appearance of a healthy new tooth. In many of the top clinics worldwide it is now possible for a patient to undergo a treatment known as immediate loading, wherein the denture is fitted directly after the implant. Dental implants are very popular in Malaysia on account of a level of care on par with that available in the UK or other European countries for a fraction of the price. Furthermore the majority of dental centres tailored to medical tourists are concentrated in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and many of the major tourist destinations, such as Penang, a fact which should reduce any concerns you might have about security once abroad. One of the advantages of this treatment is that it does not affect the surrounding teeth, so your new denture or crown can perfectly integrate with the rest of your teeth to create a convincing new smile.

As many Malaysian dental clinics are considered state-of-the-art, the procedure for dental implants is similar to other top-end dental implant treatments worldwide.


The first step in a Malaysian dental implant treatment is a computer map. This simply means that your mouth will be digitally scanned and the layout reproduced on a computer monitor so the dentist can assess the optimal course of action for the procedure, including working out the precise orientation for the implant to be effective. As well as this initial computer map, you may also have to undergo a CT (computer tomography) scan which combines various 2D X-ray images into a 3D model. If this is done it will only be used to ensure accuracy in the treatment.

The preliminary steps are crucial because it may not be possible to immediately fit the implants, and the dentist may have to perform some complementary procedures on your mouth to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. In the vast majority of cases there will only be two possible procedures you may have to undergo: gum (gingival) grafting and bone grafting. Gum grafting simply involves the removal of gum tissue from non-essential areas of the mouth and then fitting it to the area immediately surrounding the dental implant site. This is necessary if you have insufficient gum tissue, as it strengthens the gum and ultimately gives the implant a stronger foundation, making the osseointegration process more reliable.

If you do not have enough bone in the jaw around the dental implant site, or if the bone is not strong enough, then the dentist will have to perform bone grafting. Although formerly bone would be taken from non-essentially areas in the body, modern technology has produced synthetic materials that can be just as strong and effective to augment the area around the implant, and these are grafted onto the jawbone at this location. These materials osseointegrate in the same fashion as bone and negate the need to use real bone for grafting. Once you have had any necessary complementary procedures, your dentist will be in a position to start the treatment proper.

You will be put under local anaesthetic which numbs the target area but does not render you unconscious, as this precludes any difficulties that can result from working on a sleeping patient during this procedure. A cooling saline spray is employed throughout the treatment to maintain a steady temperature of your jawbone, as overheating can lead to complications. A ‘pilot hole’ is drilled into the target area, which is then followed by a progressively increasing size of drill bit, until a hole large enough for the implant has been created. To finish this stage of the procedure, the implant is screwed into this gap, and is then left to osseointegrate with the bone. Unless you are have opted for immediate loading of the implant, you will then be dismissed to return home, or remain in the country for a short while before heading back.

Completing your dental implant treatment in Malaysia

There is no consensus among dentists as to how long the osseointegration process actually takes, but most agree that six months is a safe estimate for the upper jaw; it can be quicker in the lower jaw, however. You must be sure to enquire of the dentist how long he or she expects the process will last, and be cautious if you are offered a notably quicker time period. If this is the case be sure to fully ratify all the details and qualifications of the dentist and clinic to prevent any potential qualifications. This is not to say that undergoing the procedure here is inherently risky, but it is still best to be careful.

If you have opted for immediate loading then your dentures or crowns will be fitted shortly after the implant has been screwed into the jawbone; at the latest this will be done within a couple of days. By choosing this alternative you can run the additional risk of having damage done to the osseointegration process, but once again if you have properly checked the Malaysian dentist qualifications and clinic accreditation this should be minimal. The advantages are often preferable: you can have the entire process done in a period of days, necessitating only one trip to Malaysia, instead of the two that would otherwise be required. This can save you all kinds of costs, including accommodation and flights, as well as taking up less of your time.

If however you do not wish to go for immediate loading then you will return to the Malaysian dentist after the osseointegration process has completed; he or she will have specify when to complete the treatment. Once you are back in the clinic the dentist will need to move or remove any gum tissue which has grown over the implant in order to expose it; then supports can be fitted to it in preparation for the denture. Finally, the denture will be attached to these supports and the treatment will be complete.

Regardless of the method you choose, you will still be advised to remain in Malaysia for several days once the denture has been fitted, in case of any complications. Consequently be sure to fit this into your travel plans.

Advantages of dental implants in Malaysia

English is a widely-spoken language in Malaysia, and any of the top dental clinics you may be considering will almost certainly be fluent due to the importance of English as a method of international communication as well as excellent business that medical tourism from the West brings to Malaysian clinics.

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