The dentist who never stopped training, and what that means for your implant in Camberley
If you’re weighing up dental implants in Camberley, one useful question is simple: how recently did the person placing them last update their training? At Blackwater Dental Practice in Blackwater, Dr Pretam Gharat has added a new implant qualification in almost every year since 2008, most recently in 2024.
Most people don’t ask that question. They ask about price, or how long it takes, or whether it will hurt. Fair enough, those matter too, and we’ll get to them. But training currency is the one thing that quietly separates a good implant outcome from a difficult one, and it’s worth understanding before you book anything.
What a search for an implant dentist actually turns up
Search “dental implants Camberley” and you’ll get a wall of practices that all say roughly the same thing: natural-looking results, advanced technology, free consultation. It’s hard to tell them apart from the outside, because most of that language is generic and could sit on any dental website in the country.
Here’s a more useful filter. Ask who is actually doing the planning and the surgery, what they trained in, and when they last trained in it. Implant dentistry moves fast. Techniques from ten years ago have often been superseded by better bone-grafting methods, better scanning, and better implant systems. A dentist who stopped learning after qualifying is working from an older playbook.
The dentist who kept training long after he didn’t have to
Dr Pretam Gharat qualified with a BDS from Maharashtra University of Health Sciences between 1998 and 2003. That alone would have let him practise general dentistry for the rest of his career. He didn’t stop there.
An MSc in Dental Public Health from University College London followed in 2008 and 2009. Then came a Diploma in Dental Public Health, a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Public Health, and, through the 2010s, a run of advanced courses covering orthodontic systems, facial aesthetics, sinus lifting, soft tissue augmentation, and bone grafting. In 2022 he added a Fellowship of the College of General Dentistry. In 2024, a Membership in Implant Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
A timeline like that doesn’t happen by accident.
What “special interest in dental implants” actually means
You’ll see Dr Gharat’s role listed at Blackwater Dental as “Dentist with Special Interest in Dental Implants.” That’s a precise, honest title, and it’s worth being precise back. It isn’t the same as being on the General Dental Council’s specialist list for a surgical specialism, and Blackwater Dental doesn’t claim that it is. What it does mean is a dentist who has chosen, repeatedly and voluntarily, to keep training specifically in implant dentistry, complex bone and soft tissue work, and full mouth rehabilitation, long after the point where most dentists would have considered themselves qualified enough.
He’s trained in the Nobel Biocare All-on-4 implant system, in smile design, and in full mouth oral rehabilitation. His case work has been featured by Geistlich BioBrief for minor bone augmentation and published in the International Case Study Book by Ethoss. None of that replaces a proper consultation, but it does tell you something concrete about the depth behind the treatment plan you’ll be offered.
The wider implant team
Dr Gharat isn’t working in isolation. Dr Hamza Ijaz, Blackwater Dental’s Principal Dentist, qualified with distinction and a gold medal in surgery in 2010 and has extensive experience placing implants from single teeth through to full mouth restorations and All-on-4/Teeth in a Day cases. Dr Ahmed Amer, an Associate Dentist known for a calming manner with anxious patients, is currently training towards a Diploma in more advanced implant placement, and has handled full upper and lower arch cases for patients at the practice.
That’s three clinicians actively invested in implant dentistry at one practice in Blackwater, rather than one name attached to a marketing page.
What actually happens at a first implant consultation
An implant consultation at Blackwater Dental starts with a proper look at what you actually need. That typically means examining the site of the missing tooth or teeth, reviewing your general oral health, and, where needed, a CBCT scan to assess the bone available for the implant. CBCT imaging gives a three dimensional view that a standard X-ray can’t, which matters for planning exactly where an implant should sit.
From there you’ll get an honest answer about whether you’re a straightforward case or one that needs bone grafting or a sinus lift first. Nobody benefits from a plan that skips that step.
What dental implants cost
UK dental implant prices vary considerably depending on how many teeth are involved and whether any preparatory work like bone grafting is needed. As a general guide, a single implant (including the fixture, abutment and crown) often falls somewhere between £1,000 and £2,500, while full-arch solutions such as All-on-4 or Teeth in a Day run considerably higher given the surgical planning and materials involved. Blackwater Dental’s own published fee guide lists a single implant package (fixture, abutment, crown and radiographs) at £1,495, with Teeth in a Day starting from £7,995 for a single arch. Bone grafting, where required, adds to the total.
Because every case is different, your exact quote will only be confirmed after a consultation, which Blackwater Dental offers free of charge for implant enquiries.
| OPTION | WHAT IT INVOLVES | APPROXIMATE STARTING COST |
|---|---|---|
| Single tooth implant | Fixture, abutment and crown for one missing tooth | From around £1,495 |
| Teeth in a Day (single arch) | Full-arch implant solution with extractions and CBCT scan included | From around £7,995 |
| Bone graft | Preparatory procedure where bone volume is insufficient | From around £500 |
FAQ
Is Dr Pretam Gharat a specialist in dental implants?
He holds the role of Dentist with Special Interest in Dental Implants at Blackwater Dental, alongside an extensive and continuing record of postgraduate implant training running from 2008 to 2024. This is not the same as GDC specialist-list registration, and Blackwater Dental does not claim that status. It does reflect a genuinely deep and current training history in implant dentistry.
How much do dental implants cost in Camberley?
Costs vary by case. At Blackwater Dental, a single implant package starts from £1,495, and full-arch Teeth in a Day treatment starts from £7,995 for one arch. General UK pricing for a single implant typically sits between £1,000 and £2,500, with full-arch cases considerably higher. A consultation confirms your exact cost.
Do I need enough jawbone for an implant?
Not necessarily at the outset. If a CBCT scan shows insufficient bone, a bone graft or sinus lift can often build up the site before or during implant placement. This adds time and cost but doesn’t rule out treatment.
How long does implant treatment take?
A single implant typically involves a placement appointment followed by a healing period of a few months before the crown is fitted, though timescales vary by case. Full-arch Teeth in a Day treatment is designed to deliver a functional smile the same day as extractions, with further refinement afterwards.
Is an implant consultation free at Blackwater Dental?
Yes. Implant consultations at Blackwater Dental are offered free of charge, giving you the chance to have your case assessed, including a CBCT scan where needed, before committing to any treatment plan.
What to do next
As of October 2026, Blackwater Dental Practice is accepting new implant enquiries at its Blackwater surgery on the Surrey side of Camberley. If you’re missing one tooth or several, the sensible first step is a free consultation with the team, including Dr Pretam Gharat or Dr Hamza Ijaz, to find out exactly what your case needs.
Call 01252 861 027 to book, or read more about single tooth implants, All-on-4 and Teeth in a Day, or Dr Pretam Gharat’s full background before you come in.