Single Dental Implants
A permanent replacement for one missing tooth — a titanium implant acts as an artificial root, topped with a custom abutment and natural-looking porcelain crown, without grinding down healthy neighboring teeth.
A CBCT scan and iTero digital impression are merged to plan implant position; a 3D printed surgical guide directs a Straumann implant with sub-millimeter accuracy, often through a small flapless opening. After 2–4 months of integration, a custom crown is attached.
Adults missing a single tooth from decay, fracture, injury, or a failed root canal, with adequate (or graftable) bone.
- Looks/feels/functions like a natural tooth
- Preserves jawbone and adjacent teeth
- Long-term solution, excellent success rates
- Fully digital, guided, gentler surgery.
CBCT + iTero create a virtual patient; a 3D printed guide transfers the plan to the mouth; Straumann provides world-leading integration and longevity.
What to Expect for a Single Implant
A single implant is the most predictable procedure in implant dentistry, and most of the work happens before surgery. A CBCT scan measures the bone at the site and locates the nerve and sinus; an intraoral scan captures the neighbouring teeth and the opposing bite. The implant is then positioned digitally so the future crown sits in line with the rest of the arch.
Surgery is usually a single visit of about 30 to 45 minutes under local anesthesia, with sedation available. A printed guide is seated over the adjacent teeth, the implant is placed through it, and the gum is closed with one or two sutures. Where the gap is visible, a temporary tooth is provided the same day.
After integration, a short second appointment connects the abutment and fits the final crown, which is adjusted so it shares chewing force evenly with the teeth around it.
A Realistic Recovery Timeline
Most patients describe the first two days as milder than the extraction that preceded them. Minor swelling and tenderness respond to ice and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, and normal work activity resumes the next day.
The gum closes over the first week to ten days, and sutures are removed or dissolve in that window. Chewing on the opposite side is advised for the first couple of weeks.
Integration typically takes three to four months in the lower jaw and four to six in the upper, after which the crown is placed. From then on the implant is maintained exactly like a natural tooth — brushing, flossing around it, and routine cleanings.
Why a Single Implant Still Gets the Full Digital Treatment
Single-tooth sites are unforgiving aesthetically: the crown has to match the teeth on either side, and the implant position determines whether that is achievable. Merging the CBCT with the intraoral scan lets us confirm the implant can be placed where the crown needs it, not merely where bone is easiest.
Straumann implant systems are used because their long-term survival data is well documented, and the guided workflow means the placement matches the plan closely enough for the crown to be designed in advance rather than compromised afterward.
Common Questions
- Is an implant better than a bridge for one missing tooth?
- In most cases yes, because an implant replaces the tooth without altering the healthy teeth on either side, and it maintains the bone in the gap. A bridge requires preparing two adjacent teeth and does not preserve bone underneath.
- How soon after losing a tooth should I get an implant?
- Bone begins to shrink within months of losing a tooth, so earlier evaluation preserves more options. In many cases an implant can be placed at the time of extraction, or a socket-preservation graft can hold the site for later placement.
- Will I be without a tooth while it heals?
- Not in a visible location. A temporary tooth — a small bonded restoration or a removable provisional — covers the gap while the implant integrates.
- How do I care for a single implant long term?
- Brush and floss it like a natural tooth, keep up routine professional cleanings, and mention any bleeding or tenderness around it promptly. Gum health around the implant is the strongest predictor of how long it lasts.
Ready to plan your treatment?
Every consultation at our Cambria Heights office starts with a 3D scan and a clear, written plan.
Wondering what treatment costs? See cost & financing options.