Implant Dentistry

The planning happens before anything is placed

Implants are planned from a three-dimensional view of the jaw rather than a flat X-ray. A regular film shows the tooth in two dimensions; a CT scan shows the height and width of the bone, where the sinus sits, and where the nerve runs. That is what determines whether an implant can be placed directly, whether the site needs grafting first, and what length of post will hold — which is why the scan comes before any decision about treatment.

The shape of the tooth is captured with our 3Shape digital scanner, which records the neighbouring teeth and how you bite down, so the final crown meets the opposing tooth the way the original did. For patients who have gagged their way through a tray of impression material in the past, this is usually the part they notice first.

If the scan shows the bone is thin, we will say so before you commit to anything. Grafting adds months to the timeline, and it is better to know that at the consultation than halfway through.

What the process actually looks like

The surgical step is a single appointment under local anaesthetic. Most people go back to work the next day and describe the soreness as milder than having a tooth out. Nearly all of the timeline that follows is healing rather than appointments.

The post needs to fuse with the bone, which takes roughly three to six months depending on where in the mouth it sits and how dense the bone is. Lower jaw tends to be faster than upper. If the gap is somewhere that shows when you smile, ask at the consultation about a temporary to wear while it heals — in most cases one can be made.

Once it has fused, the site is scanned again and the permanent crown is fitted. From the first appointment to the finished tooth, a straightforward case runs four to six months. A case that needs grafting runs closer to nine.

What changes the cost

The number that varies most is not the implant itself but everything around it. Whether the site needs a bone graft or a sinus lift, whether the tooth still has to come out first, and what the crown is made of all move the total. Replacing several teeth in a row is often less per tooth than replacing them separately, because a bridge can be carried on two implants rather than four.

Most dental plans treat implants differently from fillings and crowns, and coverage varies more than patients expect. We take BCBS, Delta Dental and Altus, and we will check what your specific plan allows before treatment rather than after. If the plan covers little, we would rather discuss that at the consultation.

Coming to us from across the Cape

We are in Sandwich, close enough to the Sagamore Bridge that patients from Plymouth and the South Shore often find us quicker to reach than practices further down the Cape. Patients travel to us regularly from Barnstable, Mashpee, Bourne and Falmouth.

Because implant treatment is spread over several months, we try to group the scanning and planning appointments so you are not driving over for fifteen minutes of chair time.

Common Questions

How long does the whole thing take?

Four to six months for a straightforward single implant, most of which is healing time rather than appointments. If the site needs a bone graft first, expect closer to nine months.

Does placing an implant hurt?

The placement is done under local anaesthetic, so you should not feel the procedure itself. Afterwards most patients describe it as less uncomfortable than having a tooth pulled, and manage with over-the-counter pain relief for a day or two.

I lost the tooth years ago. Is it too late?

Not usually, but bone shrinks where a tooth has been missing for a long time, so there is a reasonable chance the site will need grafting before an implant can be placed. The CT scan at your consultation will tell us which of the two situations you are in.

Will my insurance pay for it?

Some plans contribute toward the crown but not the implant post, some cover a share of both, and some exclude implants entirely. We check your plan before treatment starts so the figure you are given is the figure you pay.

How long will an implant last?

The post is designed to be permanent and often outlives the crown attached to it. What shortens its life is gum disease around the implant, so the cleaning appointments afterwards matter more than most people expect.