The only replacement that also replaces the root

A bridge replaces the part of the tooth you can see. An implant replaces the part you can’t. That distinction sounds academic until you understand what happens to a jaw after a tooth comes out: the bone that used to support the root has nothing to do, and it begins to resorb. Over years that shows up as a change in the shape of the face, and it makes future treatment harder.

An implant post is loaded like a root, so the bone around it keeps working. It also means the teeth on either side are left alone — a conventional bridge requires cutting down two healthy neighbors to carry the replacement.

Implant dentistry is planning-heavy work. Most of the decisions that determine whether an implant lasts twenty years are made before anything is placed: bone volume, sinus position, nerve location, the angle the final crown needs to come out at. That planning is where we spend the time.

How the process runs

Consultation and 3D imaging

We scan the jaw to measure bone volume and map the nerve and sinus anatomy. This is what tells us whether a graft is needed.

Grafting, if the bone needs it

Where a tooth has been missing a long time, we rebuild the site first and let it heal before placing anything.

Placement

The post is placed under local anesthetic, with sedation available. Most patients return to normal activity the next day.

Integration

Three to six months while the bone fuses to the post. You are not toothless during this — a temporary restoration bridges the gap where appearance matters.

The final crown

Once integrated, we restore the implant with a custom crown matched to your teeth. This is the part that makes it disappear.

Maintenance

Implants don’t decay, but the gum and bone around them still need care. They get checked like any other tooth at your cleanings.

Implant and restorative care at our North Austin office

Implants sit inside a broader restorative plan. These are the pages patients read next.