A missing tooth doesn’t have to stay that way

Replacing it sooner usually means simpler, better results

Losing a tooth affects more than your smile — it changes how you chew, how you speak, and over time, how your other teeth sit. Replacing it sooner rather than later usually means simpler, better results.

The right replacement depends on you: how many teeth, your health, your budget, and what matters most. Rather than push one option, Dr. Dillon will lay out what each choice involves — the time, the cost, the upkeep — and help you decide with the full picture in front of you.

Who dental implants are right for

You're likely a strong candidate if you're missing one or more teeth — or facing an extraction — you're in reasonably good general health, and you have (or can rebuild) enough bone to anchor the implant securely. Implants suit people who want the closest thing to a natural tooth: something that stands on its own without grinding down the neighbors, and that can last decades with normal care.

Who is not a good candidate — our honest take

We'll slow down, or steer you toward a different option first, if any of these apply:

• Heavy smoking you're not willing to pause around surgery — it's one of the biggest causes of implant failure, and we won't pretend otherwise.
• Uncontrolled diabetes or active gum disease — we treat the foundation first; placing an implant into inflammation sets it up to fail.
• Still growing (usually under about 18) — the jaw isn't ready.
• Budget is the priority and the gap is bounded by healthy teeth — a bridge may serve you better, and we'll say so.

If an implant isn't right for you, you'll hear it at the consult — not after you've paid for one.

Benefits, risks, and the alternatives we'd weigh

Why patients choose implants: they don't touch the neighboring teeth, they preserve the jawbone that otherwise shrinks after tooth loss, they don't slip or click, and they brush and floss like a natural tooth.

The honest trade-offs: every surgical procedure carries some risk — infection, an implant that doesn't integrate, or, rarely, nerve or sinus involvement in specific spots. That is exactly why we plan every case in CBCT 3D before we touch anything. Implants also take time, and cost more up front than the alternatives — they're an investment that pays back over years.

Alternatives we'll genuinely consider first: a fixed bridge (faster and lower up-front cost when the gap is bounded by healthy teeth — the trade-off is reshaping those neighbors); a partial or full denture (most economical, removable); or, sometimes, waiting — though we'll explain what shifting and bone loss can cost you later. The right answer depends on your mouth, your health, and your budget — not on what's most profitable to place.

Recovery and timeline

Most people are back to normal daily life the next day, with mild soreness managed by over-the-counter medication. The implant then needs time to fuse to the bone — typically about three to six months — before the final crown goes on. Some cases qualify for faster or same-day provisional options; we'll tell you honestly whether yours does at the consult.

What it costs — and what actually drives the number

The biggest factor is whether the site needs work before the implant. A straightforward case — implant, abutment, and crown — is the most affordable scenario. When a tooth has to be removed first, or the bone needs grafting to hold the implant securely, that's added, planned work we price as part of your specific case. Implant pricing is genuinely case-by-case — it depends on whether the site needs an extraction or bone graft first, the restoration your case calls for, your goals, and the lab and materials we choose. Rather than quote a one-size figure that could mislead you, we price it around your specific case.

Your implant consultation is complimentary. We take a 3D scan, tell you exactly whether grafting or extraction is needed, and hand you an itemized, all-in figure before anything begins — no surprise line items. Ask us about financing and our in-house membership plan.

Common misconceptions

• "Implants are just for older people." The most common case we treat is a single failed or knocked-out tooth — at any age.
• "The procedure is unbearable." Most patients say it was easier than the extraction that preceded it.
• "Implants can get cavities." The implant can't decay — but the gum around it still needs care, so hygiene matters as much as with a natural tooth.
• "All implants are the same." Planning and placement accuracy — 3D-guided versus freehand — meaningfully affect long-term success.