A missing tooth changes how you chew, how your jawbone holds up over time, and eventually how your smile looks — our Dental Implants process starts with a CBCT scan so the plan is exact before any surgery happens.
Every Smile Center Dentistry office offering Dental Implants is held to the same four standards, verified before the office ever joins our network.
Every implant case is planned or reviewed by a licensed dentist with documented implant training, not a general assistant.
Digital planning software lets us preview implant angle and depth on-screen before the surgical guide is even printed.
Bone grafting, if needed, is quoted separately and explained clearly, not bundled into a vague lump sum.
Osseointegration is checked at defined intervals, and we won't load a crown onto an implant that hasn't properly fused.
Here's the range of Dental Implants our Richmond team handles most, described the way we'd explain it chairside rather than in marketing language.
One missing tooth, one titanium post, one custom crown — planned from a single CBCT scan and placed under local anesthesia. Temporary options are available so you're never without a visible tooth during healing.
Full-arch implant bridges are planned around available bone, often avoiding the need for grafting even in patients with some bone loss. The final, permanent bridge is fitted once the implants have fully integrated.
Ridge preservation grafting at the time of extraction helps prevent the bone loss that makes future implant placement harder. Grafting adds healing time but significantly improves long-term implant stability.
Two-stage placement buries the implant under the gum to heal before a second minor procedure exposes it; single-stage keeps it visible from day one. We'll explain which method applies to your case and why during the planning visit.
The final restoration is custom-shaded and shaped to match your bite and the teeth around it. Impressions are taken digitally in most cases, avoiding the old-style tray and putty process.
Catching early gum inflammation around an implant is far easier to treat than waiting until bone loss has started. Recall visits for implant patients often run a little differently than a standard cleaning.
Here's exactly what to expect, start to finish, for Dental Implants at any of our affiliated offices.
A quick call gets you booked for imaging and a first look at whether implants are the right fit.
The CBCT scan and a same-visit review let you see your own bone structure and hear the plan explained on-screen.
You'll get a full cost breakdown covering every stage — implant, any grafting, abutment, and crown — before signing off.
Implant placement is followed by a monitored healing period, then final crown, bridge, or denture attachment.
These are unedited, from patients who've actually been through Dental Implants treatment with us in the past year.
“I'd put off replacing a molar for three years out of fear of surgery. The CBCT scan showed me exactly what was happening before anything was decided.”
“Full-arch implants gave my mother her bite back. The temporary teeth the same day as surgery made all the difference psychologically.”
“They explained bone grafting clearly instead of just adding it to the invoice. I appreciated knowing why it was actually necessary.”
“Recovery was easier than I expected. Mild soreness for two days, and the follow-up checks caught nothing unusual.”
“The quote covered every stage upfront, so there were no surprise charges when it came time for the crown months later.”
Straight answers to what people actually want to know before committing to Dental Implants.
Single-tooth cases typically run three to six months including healing; full-arch cases can run longer depending on grafting needs.
Discomfort is typically less than patients expect — a few days of soreness rather than significant pain.
Failed integration is uncommon but possible; if it happens, we discuss revision options at no additional consultation charge.
Only if imaging shows insufficient bone volume — we'll show you the scan and explain the reasoning either way.
We quote implant, abutment, and crown stages separately so you can see exactly where the cost comes from.
Fit and shade are checked at delivery, and adjustments are made until the bite feels right.
If you're unsure whether your part of Richmond is covered, a quick call settles it faster than searching online.
Our Dental Implants team serves Richmond and the surrounding area, with CBCT imaging available on-site so scans don't require a separate trip. Parking and accessibility were considered when we set up our imaging suite for implant patients.
