An implant is a titanium post placed in the jaw where a tooth root used to be, with a ceramic crown on top. It's the closest thing dentistry has to a tooth that grows back.
Unlike a bridge, an implant doesn't lean on neighbouring teeth, and unlike a denture, it doesn't move. It stimulates the bone the way a natural root does, which keeps the jaw from shrinking where a tooth is missing. You brush and floss it like any other tooth, and with reasonable care it can last for decades.
Implants replace a single tooth, several teeth, or anchor a full arch. They can also stabilize an existing denture so it stops moving when you eat and speak.
It begins with a consultation and a 3D scan so we can see exactly how much bone is available and plan the implant position digitally before anything is done. Placement itself is a minor surgical procedure under local anesthetic, usually taking under an hour, with most patients back to normal activities the next day.
The implant then heals and bonds with the bone over roughly three to four months. During that time a temporary tooth keeps the gap filled where it would show. Once the implant is solid, an impression is taken and the final crown is made and fitted. If a tooth needs to be removed first, we can sometimes place the implant the same day.
Most healthy adults are. You need enough bone to hold the implant, and where there isn't, grafting can rebuild it. Uncontrolled diabetes, heavy smoking, and some medications affect healing and need to be discussed. The consultation is where we work all of this out, and we'll tell you plainly if an implant isn't the best option for you.
It depends on how many teeth are involved and whether grafting is needed. We'll give you a written, itemized plan after the consultation, with no pressure to proceed. Many dental plans now contribute toward implants and we'll help you check yours.
Placement is done under local anesthetic and most patients report less discomfort than they expected, comparable to a tooth extraction. Mild soreness for a few days is managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
From placement to final crown, usually four to six months, most of which is quiet healing time. You'll have a temporary tooth throughout if the gap is visible.
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