A dental implant sounds like a single thing you get. In reality it’s a process that unfolds over a few months, with a few different people involved, and the part that decides how well it lasts happens long before the implant goes in.
Most people come to us already knowing the word “implant.” What they don’t know is what actually happens between deciding to get one and chewing on it comfortably a year later. So here is the whole arc, start to finish, the way we walk patients through it here in Lone Tree.
What a dental implant actually is
An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. It’s a small titanium post placed into your jawbone, which your bone then grows around and locks in place. On top of that sits a crown, the part you see and chew with.
That two-part design is the whole point. A bridge fills a gap a different way: it caps the healthy teeth on either side of the space and suspends a replacement tooth between them, so it borrows its support from those neighbors. An implant stands on its own, anchored in the bone where the root used to be, which is why it can last decades and helps keep the jawbone underneath it healthy. You can read more about the full range of implant options we offer, but the process below is the part worth understanding before you commit.
Step one: the consultation and the plan
The first visit is not a sales pitch. It’s a diagnosis. We take a 3D scan of your jaw, look at the bone where the tooth is missing, check the health of the gums and teeth around it, and map out what your specific case needs.
And we look at the whole mouth, not just the gap. We treat the mouth and the body as one connected system, so everything else going on shapes the plan. An active infection somewhere else, even in a far corner from where the implant will go, is something we’d want to clear up first. If you’re thinking about orthodontic treatment, we map that out before placing anything, because moving teeth afterward changes the whole layout. And if you’re living with diabetes that isn’t well controlled, we’ll have an honest talk about the long-term risks and the maintenance it takes to keep an implant healthy. The goal is to understand the full picture before we commit to a plan.
This is also where we talk to your dentist. If you have a general dentist you see regularly, we want them in the loop from the start. In most cases the periodontist places the implant and your dentist (or our team, depending on what you prefer) handles the crown on top. Getting everyone aligned early, on the timeline, the tooth shape, the bite, means the final result fits the rest of your smile instead of standing out. A good implant is a team effort, and the planning is where that team gets on the same page.
Step two: building the foundation
Here’s the part most people don’t expect. Often the bone isn’t ready for an implant yet.
When a tooth has been missing for a while, the bone that used to support it shrinks. Sometimes there isn’t enough left to hold an implant securely. So before anything goes in, we may need to rebuild that base. That’s implant site development, which can mean a bone graft to restore width and height, or, for upper back teeth, a sinus lift to make room above the jaw.
It sounds like a detour. It’s actually the most important part. An implant placed into strong, well-shaped bone is an implant that lasts. One rushed into thin bone is the kind that fails years later. We’d rather take the extra step now.
Step three: placing the implant
Placement itself is usually less dramatic than people brace for. It’s a focused procedure, done with local anesthesia (and sedation if you’d like it), and most patients are surprised by how manageable the recovery is. Some swelling and tenderness for a few days, managed with simple measures, and then you’re through the hard part.
Then comes the quiet phase: healing. Over the next few months, your bone grows around the titanium post and fuses to it, a process called osseointegration. There’s no shortcut here. This is your body doing the work of making the implant part of you, and it’s what gives the implant its strength. We check in along the way to make sure it’s integrating the way it should.
Step four: the crown
Once the implant is solidly fused, the visible tooth goes on. An abutment connects the post to a custom crown, shaped and shaded to match your natural teeth.
This is where coordinating with your dentist pays off again. The crown has to fit your bite and look right next to the teeth around it, so the placement and the restoration have to speak the same language. When the periodontist who placed the implant and the dentist who designs the crown have planned it together from day one, you get a tooth that feels like it was always there. If you’d like to talk through how that coordination works for your situation, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Cherry and we’ll map it out with you.
A realistic timeline
Patients always want a number, so here’s an honest one: from first consult to final crown, a straightforward case often runs three to six months. Cases that need bone grafting or a sinus lift first can run longer, sometimes closer to nine months to a year, because you’re giving the foundation time to heal before you build on it.
That can feel long. But an implant is meant to last decades, and the months you spend getting the foundation right are what buy you those decades. Rushing the timeline is how you end up redoing it.
What this looks like in our office, and why a periodontist
Periodontists are the specialists who focus on the gums and the bone, the foundation that holds teeth and implants in place. That’s the extra training beyond dental school: years spent specifically on the structures an implant depends on. We also tend to manage the harder cases, the ones with bone loss, gum disease, or failed implants from elsewhere.
What that means for you is simple. We’re looking at the whole picture, not just the gap. We coordinate with your dentist, we rebuild the foundation when it needs it, and we follow you long after the crown is in. If you’re weighing your options, you can read more about what sets a periodontist apart, or just come in and see how we think.
Caring for your implant so it lasts
An implant can’t get a cavity, but the gum and bone around it can still get infected if plaque builds up, a condition called peri-implantitis. The care is refreshingly ordinary: brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, and keep your regular cleanings. One thing Dr. Cherry recommends to every single implant patient is a water flosser, used alongside regular flossing. The gentle stream of water is excellent at clearing debris around the implant where it meets the gum, and it’s an easy habit that pays off for years. We also check the implant at your maintenance visits, because catching irritation early around an implant works the same way as catching gum disease early around a natural tooth.
A couple of things raise the risk worth knowing about. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes both make implants more likely to struggle, so if either applies to you, we’ll build a closer follow-up schedule rather than leave it to chance. Treat the foundation well and a good implant quietly does its job for decades, which is exactly the point of going through the process carefully in the first place.
When to come in
It’s worth a consultation if you’re dealing with any of these:
- A missing tooth, or one your dentist says needs to come out
- An old bridge or denture that’s no longer comfortable
- A tooth that’s been missing long enough that you’ve been told there “isn’t enough bone”
- An implant placed elsewhere that feels loose or has you worried
The sooner you look at it, the more options you usually have, especially before bone loss narrows the choices.
Ready to Book Your Consultation?
If you’re missing a tooth or facing an extraction, the best first step is a clear look at your specific situation. We have spent over 10 years supporting our patients’ periodontal and systemic health here in Lone Tree, and a consultation is an unhurried conversation about what your case actually needs, with no pressure to decide on the spot. Dr. Cherry will walk you through the plan, coordinate with your dentist, and answer every question. Call us at (303) 799-3949 or book your consultation here in the south Denver area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do dental implants last?
A: With healthy gums and regular care, implants can last decades, and many last a lifetime. The foundation and your ongoing maintenance matter more than anything for longevity.
Q: Does getting an implant hurt?
A: The placement is done with local anesthesia, and sedation is available if you’re anxious. Most patients describe the recovery as more manageable than they expected, with some tenderness for a few days.
Q: Why does it take several months?
A: The implant has to fuse to your bone before the crown goes on, and if the bone needs rebuilding first, that heals before placement. Those healing windows are what make the implant last.
Q: Do you work with my regular dentist?
A: Yes. We coordinate with your dentist throughout, so the placement and the final crown are planned together and the result fits the rest of your smile.
Q: What if I was told I don’t have enough bone?
A: That’s common, and often solvable. Bone grafting or a sinus lift can rebuild the foundation so an implant becomes an option again. It’s worth a second look.
Talk it through with Dr. Cherry
A calm, unhurried look at where your gums stand, here in Lone Tree.
