Single-tooth implants
When one tooth is gone, an implant replaces the root as well as the part you see. It stands on its own, so the healthy teeth on either side of the gap stay untouched.
- Visits
- 4 to 6 visits
- Time to final teeth
- About 3 to 6 months
- Comfort
- Numbing, with oral or IV sedation available
- Example price
- $3,900 to $5,600 per tooth
- 1. Crown: the tooth you see, made in our lab
- 2. Abutment: the connector
- 3. Implant: a titanium root in the jawbone
- 4. Gum tissue
- 5. Jawbone
Illustration of a single implant in the jaw, side view. Not a patient.
Who it's for
This may be worth asking about if
- A tooth was lost to a crack, decay or an injury
- A tooth is failing and your dentist says it can't be saved
- You have a gap and would rather not cut down two healthy teeth for a bridge
- A back tooth is missing and chewing on that side has become hard
- An old bridge needs replacing and the teeth under it are still healthy
In plain words
What single implants are
One missing tooth replaced with a titanium root, a connector and a custom crown, without filing down the teeth beside it.
A dental implant has three parts. The implant itself is a small titanium post placed in your jawbone, where the root used to be. The abutment is a connector that sits on top of it. The crown is the tooth you see, made in our own lab to match the teeth beside it.
After the implant is placed, the bone slowly grows onto its surface and holds it firmly. Dentists call this osseointegration. It usually takes three to four months, and the crown goes on after that.
If the failing tooth is still there, we can often remove it and place the implant in the same visit. Whether that is safe for you depends on the bone around it, which the CT scan shows.
How it works
4 to 6 visits, step by step
Typical timing. Bone, healing and grafting can change it, and your plan gives your own dates.
-
Phase 1 Day 1
Consult and 3D CT scan
An exam, a 3D scan of the bone, and a talk about every option, including the ones that aren't implants.
-
Phase 2 1 to 2 weeks later
Your written plan
Where the implant will go, whether bone grafting is needed, and the price in writing.
-
Phase 3 Surgery day
The implant is placed
About an hour with numbing, or with sedation if you'd like. Most people are back at work in a day or two.
-
Phase 4 3 to 4 months
Healing
The bone bonds to the implant. A temporary tooth can fill a visible gap while you wait.
-
Phase 5 Final visit
Your crown goes on
The lab-made crown is attached, your bite is checked, and you get a cleaning routine to keep it healthy.
Is it right for you?
A CT scan and an exam decide
We can't tell from a website whether this treatment fits you, and nobody should. At your consult a specialist looks at your 3D scan, your gums and your health history, then tells you what is and isn't possible.
The consult is $95, includes the scan, and is credited to treatment if you go ahead. A 20-minute video chat first is free.
What we look at
- Enough bone height and width, measured on your CT scan. If there isn't, grafting may come first.
- Healthy gums. Gum disease is treated before an implant goes in.
- Smoking raises the chance an implant fails. We'll talk honestly about cutting back around surgery.
- Diabetes that is well managed. Uncontrolled blood sugar slows healing.
- Some medicines, like bone-density drugs or blood thinners, need a plan made with your doctor.
- A jaw that has finished growing. For teens, we usually wait.
Example prices
What single implants typically cost
Examples in USD, not quotes. Your written price comes after the CT scan and exam.
-
Implant, abutment and crown
The most common single-tooth case
$3,900 to $5,600 per tooth
-
Tooth removal on the same day
When the failing tooth is still in place
$250 to $650 per tooth
-
Socket graft at removal
Keeps the bone full for the implant
$450 to $900 per site
-
Temporary tooth while you heal
A removable flipper or a bonded temporary
$350 to $800 per tooth
Included in the example price
- Your consult and 3D CT scan fee, credited to treatment
- A surgical guide printed from your digital plan
- The implant, the abutment and a lab-made crown
- Follow-up visits for the first 12 months
What can change the price
- Bone grafting, if the scan shows too little bone
- A sinus lift for some upper back teeth
- IV sedation instead of numbing alone
- A front tooth that needs extra shade matching
Your options
Implant, bridge or partial denture?
There is no single right answer. This is how they usually compare; your scan may change it.
| Feature | Single implantThis page | Bridge | Partial denture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teeth beside the gap are cut down | No | Yes | No |
| Comes out at home | No | No | Yes |
| Helps keep the bone in that spot | Yes | No | No |
| Typical visits | 4 to 6 | 2 to 3 | 3 to 5 |
| Time to finish | 3 to 6 months | 2 to 4 weeks | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Example price | $3,900 to $5,600 | $3,600 to $5,400 | $1,200 to $2,600 |
Risks, said plainly
What can go wrong
None of these are common. All of them are possible, and you should hear about them before you decide, not after.
How long it lasts
Many implants last for decades with good care. Crowns wear and are often replaced after 10 to 15 years. Nothing is guaranteed.
- Infection
- The area around a new implant can become infected. It is usually treated with cleaning and antibiotics, and we check you closely in the first weeks.
- Implant failure
- Sometimes the bone does not bond to the implant. It is uncommon. If it happens, the implant is removed, the site heals, and another attempt is often possible.
- Bone loss over time
- Gum infection around an implant (peri-implantitis) can wear away the bone holding it. Smoking and skipped cleanings raise the risk.
- Nerve irritation
- In the lower jaw, a nerve runs close to where implants go. Tingling or numbness is usually temporary and rarely lasting. Planning on the CT scan keeps a safe distance.
- Sinus problems
- Upper back implants sit near the sinus. If the sinus lining is disturbed, it may need extra care while it heals.
Questions people ask
All questions and the glossaryDoes getting an implant hurt?
The area is fully numbed, so most people feel pressure, not pain. Afterward, expect soreness and some swelling for two or three days. Most patients manage it with over-the-counter pain relief, and we call you the next day to check.
Can I leave with a tooth the same day?
Sometimes. For a front tooth, a temporary crown can often go on the implant the same day if it is firm enough when placed. If it isn't, you'll wear a removable temporary while it heals. We decide on the day, not in advance.
Will my insurance pay for it?
Many dental plans pay something toward the crown, and some toward the implant. Most have a yearly maximum, often $1,000 to $2,000. We check your benefits and file the claims for you.
Often considered alongside
-
Bone grafting and sinus lifts
Told there isn't enough bone
-
Crowns and bridges
Cracked tooth or failing bridge
-
Implant dentures (snap-on)
Loose or sore denture
Resources
Things you can do next
-
Book a CT scan consult
75 to 90 minutes, $95, credited to treatment if you go ahead.
-
See costs and financing
Insurance, paying by phase, and a tool to split a total by month.
-
Meet the doctors
Who designs your teeth, who places the implants, and who runs the lab.
Not sure you're a candidate? The scan will tell us.
A CT scan consult takes 75 to 90 minutes. You'll see your own scan, hear every option with example prices, and go home with a plan. No pressure to decide that day.