Dental implants in Vernon, planned in plain English.

What a dental implant is

A dental implant is a small post, usually titanium, placed in the jawbone where a tooth is missing. Once the bone has healed around it, it supports a crown, or, where several teeth are missing, a bridge or a denture. Unlike a bridge on its own, it doesn't rely on the teeth on either side for support.

Is an implant the right option for you?

Not always, and it isn't the only option. Whether an implant suits you depends on the bone and gums where the tooth is missing, your general health, habits such as smoking, and what you want from the result. Other ways to replace a tooth include a bridge or a removable partial denture, and sometimes leaving a space is a reasonable choice.

Working that out takes an exam and imaging, so we won't tell you over the phone whether you're a candidate. What we will do is sit down with you, look at it together on the screen, and lay out every option side by side, including what each costs and how long it takes.

How implant treatment is staged

Implant treatment happens in stages over a number of months, mostly because bone needs time to heal. A typical sequence looks like this:

1. Planning. An exam, x-rays or other imaging, and a written plan with every step and fee.
2. Preparation, if needed. Sometimes a tooth has to be removed first, or the bone needs building up before an implant can be placed.
3. Placing the implant. The post is placed in the jaw under local anaesthetic.
4. Healing. The bone bonds to the implant over a period of months.
5. The tooth on top. Once healed, the final crown, bridge or denture is made and fitted.

Not every case needs every stage, and the timing varies from person to person. Your plan shows what applies to you.

Planned around your life and budget

Implants are a bigger investment than most dental work, so the plan is written to be read at home, not decided in the chair. It's in plain English with every fee on it before you agree to anything, and if the numbers change, it comes back to the screen before we continue. Stages can be timed around your calendar and your budget, with one person guiding the whole route.

Implant fees vary with what each case needs, so they're quoted in writing after an exam, never over the phone or from a website. Exam and x-ray fees are published on our fees page. Where your plan allows it, we bill your insurance directly; implant coverage varies a lot between plans, so bring your card and we'll go through it together before treatment. To book a consultation, call (250) 545-2169.