When you choose a dental implant surgeon in Liverpool, the single biggest factor in your result is how often that person does this one thing. Richard Brookshaw, the implant surgeon at Ollie & Darsh in the heart of Liverpool’s business district, runs a practice limited exclusively to implants and oral surgery. As of June 2026, that focus is the quiet reason so many complex cases end up with him.
Here’s the thing most people never get told before they sit in the chair. A general dentist can place an implant. Whether they place implants every working week, for years, on cases simple and difficult alike, is a completely different question. And it’s the question that actually matters.
What “practice limited to implants” really means
It’s a phrase you’ll see on Richard Brookshaw’s profile, and it isn’t marketing fluff. It’s a precise description of how he works. His clinical days are not split between fillings in the morning, a hygiene review at lunch, and an implant in the afternoon. They are implants and oral surgery, and almost nothing else.
Why does that matter to you? Because surgical skill is built on repetition. Every bone graft, every sinus lift, every awkward angle near a nerve, every full-arch reconstruction adds to a body of judgement that only comes from volume. A surgeon who does this constantly has seen the unusual cases before, which means yours is far less likely to be the first of its kind he meets.
He holds a BDS from Dundee, an MMedSci in Oral Surgery from Sheffield, and the Diploma in Implant Dentistry from the Royal College of Surgeons. Those are among the most respected qualifications in the field. He also mentors other implant surgeons across the UK, which tells you something simple: other dentists send their hardest questions to him.
The qualifications, in plain English
Letters after a name can feel like alphabet soup. Let me translate the ones that count.
| Credential | What it actually tells you |
|---|---|
| BDS (Dundee) | The core dental degree, the starting line every dentist crosses. |
| MMedSci Oral Surgery (Sheffield) | A master’s level surgical qualification, well beyond standard training. |
| DIP IMP DENT RCS | A Royal College of Surgeons diploma focused purely on implant dentistry. |
| National mentor | He teaches other implant surgeons the techniques they then use. |
That last row is the one I’d weigh most heavily. A clinician trusted to train his peers has reached a level of competence that a single certificate can’t capture.
From soup-only to Sunday roast
There’s a moment that comes up again and again with full-arch implant patients. Someone who has lived on soft food for years, who has hidden their mouth in photographs, who has stopped accepting dinner invitations, suddenly bites into something they thought was gone for good.
That’s the human side of All-on-4, the technique where a full arch of fixed teeth is anchored on four implants. For the right patient, it can mean a fixed set of teeth rather than a denture that clicks and slips. Richard Brookshaw plans and places these cases regularly, and because his practice is limited to implants, the planning is unhurried and the surgery is something he has done many times over.
It isn’t right for everyone, and an honest surgeon will tell you so. But when it fits, the change is genuinely life-altering. The clinical word is “rehabilitation.” The patient word is usually closer to “relief.”
Single implants and the cases nobody else wanted
Not every case is a full arch. Plenty of people need one tooth replaced, often a tooth lost years ago that has left an awkward gap. A single implant, placed well, can sit there for decades and feel like it was always part of you.
The difficulty is rarely the tooth itself. It’s what’s around it: thin bone, a low sinus, a nerve that runs close, gum that has receded. This is exactly where focused experience earns its keep. A surgeon who only does implants has a fuller toolkit for these problems, from grafting to careful three dimensional planning using digital scanning, which Ollie & Darsh uses for implant treatment planning.
If your case has been called tricky, or you’ve been passed from one practice to another, that’s the situation a dedicated implant surgeon is built for.
How your first visit works at Ollie & Darsh
Nobody books surgery on day one. It starts with an assessment, and at Ollie & Darsh that assessment happens in a setting built around the patient, with a 7 PM finish on weekdays so city workers can come after work, and a zero-wait policy so you’re not sitting in a waiting room growing more anxious.
Richard Brookshaw examines the area, reviews any scans, and explains what’s realistic. If implants suit you, he sets out the plan, the timeline, and the cost before you commit to anything. If something simpler would serve you better, he’ll say that too. You can read more about the practice and its approach on the why Ollie & Darsh page.
What dental implants cost
Implant fees in the UK vary a lot with the case. As a general guide, a single dental implant typically runs from around £2,000 to £3,000, while full-arch treatments such as All-on-4 commonly sit between £10,000 and £15,000 per arch, sometimes more for complex reconstructions. Grafting or a sinus lift, where needed, adds to that.
Your exact figure depends on your bone, the number of implants, and the final teeth, so it’s confirmed after your assessment. Ollie & Darsh offers membership plans and is FCA authorised for 0% finance, so the cost can be spread. You can look at the options on the 0% finance page.
FAQ
What does “practice limited to implants” mean for a surgeon?
It means that clinician’s working life is devoted to implants and oral surgery rather than general dentistry. Richard Brookshaw at Ollie & Darsh in Liverpool works this way. The benefit to you is volume of experience: he places implants constantly, including difficult cases, which builds the surgical judgement that general practice simply cannot match.
How long do dental implants last?
With good care and regular hygiene visits, dental implants can last decades, and many last a lifetime. The implant itself fuses with the bone and rarely fails once it has integrated. The crown or bridge on top may need replacing eventually through normal wear. Keeping the gums healthy is the single biggest factor in long-term success.
Am I too old or do I have too little bone for implants?
Age alone rarely rules you out, and missing bone often isn’t the barrier people fear. Techniques such as bone grafting, sinus lifts, and All-on-4, which Richard Brookshaw places regularly, are designed for exactly these situations. The only way to know is an assessment, where your bone is checked properly using digital scanning before any decision is made.
Is implant surgery painful?
Most patients are surprised by how comfortable it is. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic so you feel no pain during it, and Ollie & Darsh also offers oral and IV sedation for anxious patients. Afterwards there’s usually mild soreness, well managed with standard painkillers, that settles within a few days.
Why choose a dedicated implant surgeon over my regular dentist?
For straightforward cases, an experienced general dentist may be fine. For anything complex, or where bone is limited, a surgeon whose practice is limited to implants brings far more focused experience. Richard Brookshaw also mentors other implant surgeons nationally, which is a strong signal of the level he works at.
What to do next
If you’re missing teeth, or you’ve been told your case is complicated, the sensible first step is an assessment with a surgeon who does this every day. Richard Brookshaw will examine the area, explain your realistic options, and set out a clear plan before you decide anything.
Call Ollie & Darsh in Liverpool on 0151 236 6578 or book through the contact page. Evening appointments are available, with a 7 PM finish Monday to Friday.