dental implants
Dental implants, from first consult to final tooth.
A dental implant replaces the whole tooth, not just the visible part: a small titanium post takes the place of the root, and a crown built for your bite goes on top. Done well, it is a durable tooth-replacement option designed to restore function and appearance.
Before anything starts, you sit down with your doctor and see the full picture — how many visits, how many months, and what it will cost and why. Most single implants take three to six months from placement to final crown, largely because the bone needs time to fuse to the post. You leave the first visit knowing the plan, not guessing at it.
Who implants are for
One missing tooth, several, or a full arch — the approach scales. A single gap gets a single post and crown. Several missing teeth may need an implant-supported bridge instead of one post per tooth. A full arch has its own page: All-on-4.
The honest prerequisite is bone. An implant needs enough healthy jawbone to hold, and bone starts receding once a tooth is gone — which is why the conversation is easier the sooner you have it. If you were told years ago you weren't a candidate, that answer may have changed; ask again.
How it works here
Your first visit is diagnostic, not a sales pitch. We scan with the iTero Lumina — no impression trays — examine the site, and walk through your options, including the ones that aren't implants. A bridge or a partial denture is sometimes the right call, and we will say so.
Placement itself is a shorter appointment than most patients expect, done with local anesthetic. Then the quiet months: the bone fuses to the post while you live your life. When it's solid, we attach the final crown, matched to the teeth around it.
What it costs
The number depends on what your mouth actually needs: how many posts, whether the site needs bone support first, and what goes on top — a crown, a bridge, or a full arch. That is why we give you a written figure at the consult instead of an estimate on a website.
Insurance often covers part of the restoration, and our Virginia Dental Club helps if you have no insurance at all. Either way, you see the complete cost before you commit to anything.
Healing, and what the months in between look like
An implant earns its permanence from healing time. After placement, the post fuses with the bone over roughly three to six months — you leave with a temporary in any visible gap, eat carefully for a few days, and most people are back at work the next morning. Soreness typically runs shorter than patients expect and is managed with over-the-counter medication.
During the fusion months you'll come in briefly so we can confirm the bone is doing its job. The final crown goes on only when the foundation has proven itself — that patience is why implants last decades instead of years.
Questions we hear in the chair
- How long does the whole implant process take?
- Plan on three to six months from placement to final crown for a straightforward case, driven almost entirely by bone healing time. Cases that need extractions or grafting first run longer. You'll get a written timeline at your consult before anything starts.
- What can I eat while an implant heals?
- Soft foods for the first few days, then most normal meals within a week — you'll just chew away from the site early on. You leave with the specifics in writing, so nobody is guessing at dinner.
- Does getting an implant hurt?
- Placement is done with local anesthetic, and most patients tell us the recovery felt closer to a filling than an extraction — a few days of soreness managed with over-the-counter medication. You will be given straight answers about what to expect at your consult, not a brochure.
- How long does a dental implant last?
- The titanium post can last decades — often the rest of your life — with normal brushing, flossing, and regular cleanings. The crown on top typically lasts ten to fifteen years before it may need replacement, like any crown.
- How long will I go without a tooth?
- You won't be left with a visible gap. Depending on the site, we place a temporary tooth or retainer while the bone heals, and the timing of each step is laid out at your first visit.
- Can you do the whole thing in Crozet?
- Consultation, planning, and restoration happen here on Three Notch'd Road, with at least two full-time doctors in the building Monday through Friday. If your case needs a surgical specialist for placement, we tell you at the consult and coordinate it — you will never be left to arrange your own care between offices.
Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.
Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday.