A dental implant is a titanium post that’s surgically placed into your jawbone to replace a missing tooth root. Once the implant integrates with your bone (a process called osseointegration), it provides a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, implants don’t rely on adjacent teeth for support and actually help preserve your jawbone by stimulating it just like natural tooth roots. At Emergency Dental Services of Washington in Lakewood, we offer single tooth implants to replace one missing tooth, multiple implants to support bridges for several missing teeth, and implant-supported dentures for patients missing most or all teeth. Implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth.

The dental implant process typically happens in stages over several months. First, we’ll evaluate your oral health with X-rays and 3D imaging to ensure you have adequate bone density. During the surgical phase, we place the titanium implant post into your jawbone under local anesthesia. Over the next 3-6 months, the implant fuses with your bone in a process called osseointegration. Once integration is complete, we attach a small connector called an abutment to the implant. Finally, we attach your custom-made crown to the abutment, completing your restoration. The entire process requires patience, but the result is a permanent, stable tooth replacement that can last 25+ years or even a lifetime with proper care.