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Dr. Khalid AletaibiConservative Dentistry · Dubai

Replacing a missing tooth

Dental Implants in Dubai

An implant can be an excellent solution, but it is not always the only one, and nothing fully replaces a healthy natural tooth. This page explains how to make that decision well, starting with an honest, unbiased assessment.

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Open daily 9am-9pmEnglish & ArabicJumeirah, Dubai

Quick answer

A dental implant is a small titanium post placed in the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth, restored with a crown on top; in pooled systematic-review data, about 93% of implants remain in function at 10 years (PMID 30904559). Even so, nothing fully replaces a healthy natural tooth, so Dr. Khalid Aletaibi takes a conservative approach in Jumeirah, Dubai: the first goal is always to save your natural tooth. He gives an honest assessment of whether it can be preserved, and when an implant is genuinely the right choice he plans and oversees your care with a trusted team, so you have an unbiased guide rather than a sales pitch.

First goal

Save the natural tooth

Implant placement

Planned and overseen, not performed in-house

Role

Assessment, planning, and oversight

Languages

English & Arabic

Approach

Conservative, biomimetic, evidence-led

How Dr. Khalid helps

Dr. Khalid's approach is conservative: the first goal is always to save your natural tooth, because nothing replaces a healthy natural tooth. He gives you an honest, unbiased assessment of whether yours can be preserved. When a tooth is truly beyond saving and an implant is the right choice, he plans your case and oversees it with a trusted team, staying in charge of your care from the first assessment to the final result. You get a calm second opinion before committing to anything.

Why saving your own tooth comes first

A natural tooth has a root, a ligament, and a blood supply that no implant can fully reproduce, so the most conservative path is almost always to keep the tooth you already have. The evidence backs this up: a systematic review found no significant difference in long-term survival between a compromised natural tooth restored with root canal treatment and a crown and a single-tooth implant, which means a well-treated natural tooth can do just as well as a replacement. [1]

This holds even for teeth that look heavily worn down. Periodontally compromised molars, with proper treatment and ongoing maintenance, kept a pooled survival of 82% over a mean of about 15 years, fewer than one molar lost per decade. [2] Dr. Khalid reads your case with this conservative lens first, so an implant is discussed only once keeping the tooth is genuinely no longer sensible.

An implant is reliable, not permanent

When a tooth truly cannot be saved, a single implant is a strong and well-studied option. A systematic review estimated 10-year implant survival at about 96.4%, and a more realistic analysis that accounts for patients lost to follow-up lowered this to roughly 93.2%, with a higher chance of loss in older patients. [3] Over a longer horizon the picture stays honest: a 20-year meta-analysis found roughly 4 of 5 implants still in place, and the authors stress that follow-up and care do not end after placement. [5]

Reading these figures together is the point of an unbiased second opinion. An implant is dependable, but it is not a one-time, maintenance-free fix, which is exactly why a healthy tooth that can be kept usually deserves the benefit of the doubt.

The biology you should weigh before deciding

Implants can develop their own disease. Peri-implantitis, a destructive inflammation of the bone around an implant, affects about 19.5% of patients and 12.5% of implants. [4] That is a real biological reason to value a healthy natural tooth, because the gum and bone around a living tooth respond differently from the tissue around a titanium fixture.

Understanding this does not mean avoiding implants. It means choosing with clear eyes, knowing what long-term maintenance each path asks of you, and keeping the decision anchored in your own mouth rather than in a default.

How the case is planned and kept in trusted hands

Dr. Khalid does not place implants himself, and he is open about that. What he provides is the assessment, the diagnosis, and the full treatment plan, then he keeps the surgical step with a trusted team and stays in charge of your case from the first consultation through the final restoration.

This page is educational by design. It is here to help you understand the trade-offs and decide well, so that whether your tooth is saved or replaced, the choice is the right one for you and not simply the easiest one to sell.

Survival and risk, side by side
Periodontally treated molars kept (mean ~15 yrs)[2]82%
Implant 10-year survival (realistic estimate)[3]93.2%
Implants surviving at 20 years (~4 of 5)[5]80%
Patients affected by peri-implantitis[4]19.5%

Figures from systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PMID 38317331, 30904559, 39305362, 36261829).

Options for a missing or failing tooth

Options for a missing or failing tooth
 Saving your own toothDental implantDental bridge
What it involvesTreating and rebuilding the existing tooth, for example with root canal treatment and a bonded restoration or crown.A titanium root placed in the jaw with a crown on top, replacing one tooth without touching its neighbours.A false tooth held in place by crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap.
Keeps your natural toothYes, your own tooth stays in place.No, it replaces a tooth that has already been lost.No, and the neighbouring teeth are involved to support it.
Neighbouring teethLeft untouched.Left untouched.Usually reshaped to carry the bridge.
What the evidence suggestsA well-treated natural tooth can match a single implant for long-term survival.Reliable, with a realistic 10-year survival around 93 percent, though it needs ongoing monitoring.A long-standing option whose longevity depends on the health of the supporting teeth.
Ongoing careNormal brushing, flossing and regular reviews.Careful cleaning and monitoring, as the gum and bone around an implant can become inflamed.Extra care to clean under and around the false tooth.
Considered whenThe tooth can still be saved, which is always the first goal.The tooth genuinely cannot be saved and a standalone replacement is wanted.A fixed replacement is preferred, often when the neighbouring teeth already need crowns.

What to expect

Step by step

  • An honest, unbiased assessment of whether your tooth can be saved
  • A clear explanation of all your options, not just implants
  • A plan for your implant, overseen with a trusted team
  • One person in charge of your care, start to finish

You always get an honest opinion and a written plan before any treatment begins, with no pressure.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Do you place implants yourself?
Dr. Khalid focuses on saving natural teeth first. When an implant is genuinely the best option, he plans and oversees your care with a trusted team, so it is done well and stays joined up.
Why see a conservative dentist before getting an implant?
Because sometimes the natural tooth can still be saved, which is usually the better long-term outcome. An honest second opinion protects you from removing a tooth that did not need to come out.
Can I get a second opinion on an implant plan I was given?
Yes. Bring your plan and any X-rays. Dr. Khalid will review it and give you an honest, unbiased view of your options.
How do I start?
Book a consultation. You receive a clear assessment and a written plan before any decision, with no pressure.
Is a dental implant better than saving my own tooth?
Not automatically. A systematic review found no significant difference in long-term survival between a compromised natural tooth restored with root canal treatment and a crown and a single-tooth implant, so a tooth that can be saved is usually worth keeping. The decision should rest on the specifics of your case, not on the assumption that an implant is the stronger choice.
How long do dental implants last?
They are reliable but not permanent. Realistic estimates put 10-year survival at roughly 93.2%, and at 20 years about 4 of 5 implants are still in place, with older patients at slightly higher risk of loss. An implant also needs ongoing follow-up and care, which is part of why a healthy natural tooth is preferred when it can be retained.
If Dr. Khalid does not place the implant himself, who does, and who manages my care?
Dr. Khalid gives you the assessment, the diagnosis, and the complete treatment plan, then keeps the surgical placement with a trusted team while staying in charge of your case from start to finish. You get an unbiased second opinion and one person overseeing the whole journey, from deciding whether to save the tooth through to the final restoration.

Speak with Dr. Khalid directly

Call or message. Open daily, 9am to 9pm.

+971 55 764 3300WhatsApp