Dental Implants

Tooth Replacement Options

A missing tooth can affect your bite, speech, and ability to eat. When you rely more on your remaining teeth, you increase the chance they wear out, become damaged, or are lost. You can select from a number of options to replace missing teeth, from temporary to long-lasting solutions. Your dentist and implant surgeon will review these with you so you can make the most informed decision.

A good candidate is anyone missing one or more teeth, or who is unhappy with their dentures. Smoking, diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis (bone disease), and radiation therapy to the area can lower the success rate of implant placement. X-rays of your jaw are taken to evaluate whether it can accommodate implants.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

Implants are the only tooth replacement option that also preserves the jawbone. When a tooth root is missing, the surrounding bone begins to shrink and deteriorate, up to 30% in the first year, leading to loss of cleaning efficiency, damage to other teeth, and  a sunken facial appearance over time.

This can also create increased difficulty to ultimately replace these teeth with time. Implants prevent this by integrating with the bone.

Compared to dentures and bridges, implants offer:

• A long-term fit — no slipping, pinching, or adhesives
• No damage to adjacent teeth (unlike a traditional bridge)
• Better chewing strength and natural speech
• Long-term cost savings — dentures require replacement every 5–10 years; implants can last a lifetime
• Preservation of facial structure and bone health
• Less dietary restrictions and the ability to socialize comfortably with teeth that look and function naturally

Implant Options

We offer a full range of implant solutions, from a single tooth to a complete arch restoration:

The Implant Process

Dental implant treatment is a collaboration between our oral surgeons and your dentist or prosthodontist. Drs. Torio, Decoteau, Burk, Madden, or Farr handle the surgical placement, initial extractions, and bone grafting if needed; your dentist designs and fits the final crown or prosthesis. We pride ourselves on seamless communication between our offices throughout your treatment.

When Are Implants Placed & How Many Do I Need?

Implants are often placed several months after extraction, though in some cases an implant can be placed immediately after a tooth is removed. This can expedite the process, but may not be recommended when infection or bone problems are present. If a tooth has been missing for some time, the supporting bone thins and shrinks; as much as one third of the jaw’s thickness can be lost in the first year, which may make bone grafting necessary before placement.

Most frequently, one implant is placed per missing tooth. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of the jaw have two or three roots, missing back teeth are commonly replaced with larger implants.

Replacing All Upper or Lower Teeth

Several implant-supported replacement options are available if you are missing all of your teeth in an arch. While many patients wear an upper denture comfortably, lower dentures can be harder to wear and eat with — implants provide far greater stability.

Ball Attachment Denture

Two-four implants are placed in the lower jaw and a denture is made to snap onto them. This makes the lower denture more stable while chewing, though some movement remains and periodic adjustments are needed.

Bar Attachment Denture

Four to six implants are placed in the lower jaw and connected with a custom support bar. The denture has internal retention clips that snap firmly onto the bar (an “overdenture”). This is much more stable than the ball attachment option, with very little movement, and remains removable for easy cleaning.

Individual Implants

All teeth are replaced individually so they appear to grow out of the gum tissue, most closely resembling natural teeth. This usually requires eight or more implants with individual abutments and crowns. It is the most costly option, and may be limited by the size and shape of your jawbone.

Upper Teeth Options

A similar range of options is available for the upper jaw, though more implants are often needed because the upper bone is softer. An Implant Retained Upper Denture can, depending on the number of implants, eliminate the need to cover the roof of your mouth. This lets you fully taste and feel the temperature of food while keeping the denture removable for cleaning. For a fixed, natural-feeling result, eight to ten individual upper implants can be placed, followed by abutments and crowns.

Am I a Candidate?

Most adults missing one or more teeth are good candidates. During your consultation, our surgeons will evaluate:

• Bone density and volume (bone grafting can address deficiencies)
• Location of sinuses and nerves
• Overall health, including smoking history, diabetes, osteoporosis, or history of radiation/cancer treatment
• Immune status, certain immune disorders or blood conditions may affect candidacy

Even patients who have been told they are “not candidates” elsewhere may have options. Our surgeons are trained to manage complex cases, including medically complex patients requiring specialized anesthesia.

Why Apex Oral Maxillofacial Surgery?

Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the advanced surgical training to handle the full spectrum of implant cases, from routine single-tooth placements to complex cases involving significant bone loss or medically involved patients.

• 3D CT imaging and computer-guided implant placement for precision and predictability
• In-house bone grafting expertise for patients with compromised jawbone
• Specialized anesthesia and sedation options for patient comfort
• Seamless coordination with your referring dentist or prosthodontist
• Thousands of successful implant surgeries across all levels of complexity