Your Patient Journey by Dr Nikhil Oberai
From the moment you get in touch to the day your treatment is complete, I want you to know exactly what to expect at every stage. No surprises. No guesswork. Just a clear, honest process from start to finish.
Most patients feel a mix of hope and apprehension when they first get in touch. That is completely normal.
The decision to do something about your smile, whether it is a single missing tooth or a complete reconstruction, is rarely made quickly. By the time most patients contact me, they have already spent time researching, weighing up the cost, wondering whether their case is suitable, and talking themselves in and out of it more than once.
I understand that. My job from the very first contact is to make every stage of the process feel clear and manageable. You will always know what is coming next, what it costs, and what happens if at any point you decide you are not ready to proceed.
Nothing in my practice happens without your full understanding and agreement. That is not a policy. It is simply how I work.
- Why patients come to see me
Does any of this sound familiar?
Hiding your smile
You've developed habits you barely notice any more. The closed-lip smile. The head position in group photos. The way you hold your expression when something funny happens. It's become automatic but it wasn't always.
Changing what you eat
Crusty bread. Apples. A proper steak. There are foods you used to eat without thinking that you've quietly drifted away from. Not dramatically. Just gradually.
The low-level awareness
In meetings, on dates, in ordinary conversations. There's always a small part of your mind that wonders whether it's been noticed. It takes up mental space you'd rather use for something else.
Worry about the other teeth
A gap left untreated doesn't stay the same. Adjacent teeth shift into the space over time. The jawbone beneath begins to shrink. What starts as one missing tooth can quietly become a bigger problem. The sooner it's addressed, the simpler the solution.
The good news is, a single dental implant can fix all of this, for good.
Every single thing described above, the avoided foods, the closed-mouth smile, the low-level awareness that never quite switches off, is fixable. Permanently. Not with a workaround. Not with something you remove at night. With a tooth that replaces the one you lost, root and all, and gets on with the job without you having to think about it.
A single tooth dental implant is the only tooth-replacement solution that works the way a natural tooth does, from the root in your jawbone to the crown above your gumline. Once it has integrated and your permanent crown is fitted, it looks identical to the teeth around it, it handles the same biting forces, and it stimulates the jawbone the way a natural root does.
Most of our patients tell us one of two things when they’re done. Either they wish they hadn’t waited so long. Or they say they can’t believe how straightforward it was.
Usually both.
I’ve placed thousands of implants at my practices in Northwich and Wilmslow over more than a decade. The results speak for themselves but what I find most rewarding isn’t the clinical success rate. It’s watching someone look in the mirror at the end of treatment and realise they can smile freely again. That never gets old.
- Real Patient Results
Thousands of Smiles Transformed
Be our Next Success Story!
Experience personalised dental care designed to help you achieve your dream smile.
Here's what I actually do in plain English
I know “dental implant” can sound daunting before you understand what it involves. So let me explain it simply.
When a tooth is lost, two things are missing: the visible tooth above the gumline, and the root underneath it. Most replacement options only deal with the first part. An implant deals with both.
I place a small titanium post into the jawbone where your missing tooth was. That post acts as a new root. Over the following weeks it fuses with the surrounding bone, a completely natural process that creates a stable, permanent foundation. Once that’s done, I fit a custom-made porcelain crown on top. It’s designed to match the exact colour, shape, and size of the teeth around it.
The result is a permanent tooth. You brush it like a normal tooth. You eat with it like a normal tooth. You forget it’s there, which, honestly, is exactly the point.
Not sure where to begin? Speak to someone.
Explore Related Treatments
- Step by step
Here is exactly what your journey looks like
Getting in Touch
The first step is a phone call, a completed form, or an email. One of my team will respond within one working day, usually the same day, to have a brief conversation about what you are looking for and arrange your free 3D Smile Assessment. There is no commitment required at this stage and no clinical question is too basic or too complex to ask. You can reach us at Croft Dental in Wilmslow on 01625 523 524, or Brunner Court in Northwich on 01606 440 394. Alternatively, complete the form at the bottom of this page.
Call, email, or form · Response within one working dayYour Free 3D Smile Assessment
This is the most important appointment of your journey. It is also completely free. The assessment begins with a full cone beam CT scan of your jaw, which gives me a precise three-dimensional picture of your bone density, nerve positions, and the full anatomy of the area being treated. This level of detail is not available from a standard X-ray and it is what allows me to plan your treatment accurately rather than approximately. After the scan, I sit down with you and go through everything I have found. I explain what the options are for your specific situation, which approach I would recommend and why, and what the full process would involve from start to finish. You ask every question you have. There are no wrong questions and no pressure to make any decision in the room. You leave with a written treatment plan and a complete, itemised cost breakdown. Take it home. Read it in your own time. Come back with more questions if you need to. There is no deadline.
Free · Approximately 45 to 60 minutes · No pressureDeciding to Proceed
When you are ready to go ahead, you let us know. That might be the same day as your assessment. It might be weeks later. There is no pressure either way and your treatment plan and cost breakdown remain valid. At this stage we confirm your finance options if relevant, book your first treatment appointment, and go over what to expect on the day. Sedation options are confirmed for patients who would find treatment more comfortable with it.
At your pace · No pressure · Finance confirmed if neededYour Treatment
Every treatment is different. Whether you are having a single tooth implant placed in one appointment, or beginning a multi-stage full arch reconstruction, the principles are the same throughout. You will always know what is happening on the day before it happens. You will never be asked to make decisions in the chair. And if at any point you want to stop and ask a question, we stop. The clinical stages of your specific treatment are explained in full on the relevant treatment page. But regardless of what the procedure is, the experience in the practice is consistent: calm, unhurried, and with your comfort as the constant priority.
Every stage explained before it happensAftercare and Monitoring
After any procedure I give you detailed written aftercare guidance covering what to expect in the following days, what to do if anything does not feel right, and how to reach us. My team is available throughout the healing period for any questions that come up, and I schedule monitoring appointments at regular intervals to confirm that everything is progressing as it should. You are never left to manage the recovery on your own. If something does not feel right, you call us.
Detailed aftercare provided · My team available throughoutYour Completed Smile
The final appointment varies by treatment. For an implant it is the fitting of the permanent crown. For a full arch reconstruction it is the placement of the permanent bridge. For a smile design plan it is the completion of the final treatment in the sequence. What every final appointment shares is that the work you began with that first phone call is now complete, and you leave with the result you were looking for.
Your smile · Built to last- Our approach
A few things I want every patient to know before they come in
We treat the person, not just the case
Many patients who come to see me have had difficult dental experiences in the past. They are anxious, they are cautious, and they are often unsure whether to trust that this time will be different. I take that history seriously. The first consultation is as much about understanding what a patient has been through as it is about assessing what they need clinically.
Nothing proceeds without your written plan
You will never receive a treatment recommendation from me without a written plan attached to it. Every procedure, every cost, every stage of the timeline is written down before anything is agreed. You take that plan home. It is yours. There is no verbal-only quote in my practice.
We welcome complex cases
Patients who have been turned away elsewhere, told their bone is insufficient, told their case is too complicated, or told that nothing can be done. These are the cases I am most experienced in and the ones I find most rewarding to treat. If you have been given a discouraging assessment somewhere else, please come and get a second opinion before accepting it.
You will always know the true cost before you commit
There are no hidden costs in my practice. The written treatment plan you receive at your free assessment is the complete picture. Where finance is available, the monthly payments are shown alongside the total cost so you can make a properly informed decision.
- Transparent Pricing
How much does a single dental implant cost in the UK?
It’s the question I get asked most often before a first consultation and I think it’s a completely fair question. So here is a straight answer.
Single tooth implants at my practices in Northwich and Wilmslow start from £2,550. That is a complete treatment price it includes your free CT scan, the implant itself, the abutment, a temporary crown, your permanent custom porcelain crown, and all follow-up appointments during the treatment period. No hidden costs.
The honest caveat is this: every patient’s case is different. Bone density, anatomy, whether a bone graft is needed, these affect the final figure. A price quoted without seeing your scan is a guess. The precise, written cost for your specific situation is confirmed at your free 3D Smile Assessment, before you commit to anything.
From £2,550 includes:
- Free 3D CT scan and consultation with me personally
- Titanium implant placement, Osstem TSIII system, 99.5% success rate
- Healing abutment and temporary crown
- Custom porcelain crown, matched to your natural teeth
- All follow-up care during treatment
- Full written treatment plan to take home
0% finance through Tabeo
Spread the cost over 12 months with no interest added. Beyond 12 months, an APR applies. I’ll walk you through the exact monthly payment options at your consultation.
- Talk to Our Team
Not sure if you're suitable? Give us a call. There's no obligation.
We understand that choosing a dental implant is a significant decision. Our team is here to answer any questions, with no pressure, no sales tactics, and no obligation to proceed.
- START WITH A CONSULTATION
What Your Free 3D Smile Assessment Includes:
Full 3D CT Scan
A full cone beam CT scan of your jaw — included at no charge. This gives Dr Nikhil a precise picture of your bone density, nerve positions, and implant suitability.
Written Treatment Plan
You will leave with a full written treatment plan and a complete cost breakdown. Nothing is left vague or estimated.
An Honest Conversation
Dr Nikhil will take the time to understand your situation, answer every question, and give you an honest clinical opinion — with no pressure to proceed.
Finance Options Explained
If 0% finance is right for you, we will walk you through the options in detail so you can make a fully informed decision.
Response Within 1 Working Day
We respond to every enquiry within one working day. Often same day.
- Making the right choice
Is a dental implant better than a bridge or a denture for a missing tooth?
It is the question patients ask most often before booking. Here is the honest comparison.
| Replacement Option | Single Implant | Dental Bridge | Partial Denture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Looks like a natural tooth | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ Often obvious |
| Preserves jawbone | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| No damage to adjacent teeth | ✓ Yes | ✗ Teeth drilled | ✓ Yes |
| Permanent (does not need replacing) | ✓ Lifetime | ✗ 10–15 yrs | ✗ 5–7 yrs |
| Eat without restrictions | ✓ Yes | Some limits | ✗ No |
| No daily removal or adhesive | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✗ Daily removal |
- MEET YOUR CLINICIAN
I'm Dr Nikhil Oberai MSC & Dental Implants are all I do
I qualified from Manchester Dental School in 2008 and went straight back in 2014 to complete a Master’s Degree in Dental Implantology — because I wanted to do this properly, not incidentally. Since then I’ve placed thousands of implants at my two Cheshire practices and I now teach the same MSc programme as an Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow at the University of Manchester.
The cases I find most satisfying are the ones other practices have declined. Patients with lower bone density. Patients whose treatment abroad has failed. Patients who’ve been told it simply can’t be done. In the vast majority of cases, it can. It just needs someone willing to find out.
My success rate is 99.5%. I’m proud of that number — and I intend to keep it.
- BDS, University of Manchester (2008)
- MSc Dental Implantology, University of Manchester (2014)
- Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow — University of Manchester
- Key Opinion Leader — Osstem UK
- External Examiner, BAIRD Implant Course
- Award Winning dentistry
- GDC No. 150126
- Frequently Asked Questions
The questions patients ask most often before their first visit
No. You can contact either practice directly to arrange your free 3D Smile Assessment. No referral from a GP or dentist is needed.
If you have any recent dental X-rays or records from a previous dentist or from treatment you have had elsewhere, including overseas, these are useful but not essential. The CT scan I carry out at the assessment gives me the information I need regardless.
Yes, absolutely. Many of my patients have had difficult experiences with dentists in the past and arrive with a significant degree of anxiety. The consultation is a conversation, not a procedure. Nothing clinical happens until you are ready and nothing clinical happens at all without your full understanding and agreement.
Yes. The consultation and CT scan are both completely free. There is no hidden charge and no obligation to proceed with any treatment.
Contact us and we will find the earliest available appointment at whichever practice suits you. We aim to offer a consultation within two weeks of first contact in most cases.
A dental bridge fills a gap by crowning the two teeth on either side and suspending a false tooth between them. This requires drilling healthy adjacent teeth and does not prevent bone loss beneath the gap. A dental implant stands entirely independently, preserves the jawbone, and requires no modification to adjacent teeth. While the upfront cost of an implant is higher, it typically outlasts a bridge significantly and does not compromise neighbouring teeth.