Dental Implants in Redmond, WA
The Closest Thing to Getting the Tooth Back
A titanium post fuses to your jawbone and a custom crown goes on top. It stays put.
What a Dental Implant Actually Is
An implant is not a single object — it is three parts working together. A titanium post takes the place of the tooth root and is placed into the jawbone. An abutment connects that post to what you see. A custom crown sits on top, shaped and shaded to match the teeth on either side of it.
Titanium is used because bone genuinely bonds to it. Over the months after placement, the jawbone grows around the post and locks it in place — a process called osseointegration. That is what separates an implant from a bridge or a denture: it is anchored in bone rather than resting on top of it or hanging off neighboring teeth.
Why replacing a missing tooth matters
- Chewing force is what keeps jawbone healthy; where a tooth is missing, the bone begins to shrink away
- Neighboring teeth drift into the gap, which changes your bite over time
- The opposing tooth can over-erupt into the empty space
- Gaps toward the back of the mouth quietly shift how you chew, often onto teeth that were not built for it
- Bone loss in the jaw eventually changes the shape of the lower face
Which Kind of Implant Restoration You Need
A single implant
One post, one crown, replacing one missing tooth. It is the most common case we see, and it has a real advantage over a traditional bridge: the teeth on either side are left completely alone rather than being filed down to carry the restoration.
An implant-supported bridge
When several adjacent teeth are missing, a small number of implants can carry a bridge across the span. You get back a full row of teeth without placing an implant for every single one, and without involving the natural teeth at either end.
Full-arch restorations
For patients missing most or all of the teeth on an arch, a set of strategically placed implants can support a fixed full-arch bridge. These are larger cases that need careful planning and often a surgical specialist working alongside us. If this is your situation, we will map out the entire plan — including cost and timeline — before anything begins.
Stabilizing a denture you already have
Implants can also be used to secure an existing denture so it snaps firmly into place instead of relying on adhesive. This is often the least expensive route to a dramatic improvement in how a denture feels day to day.
The Implant Process, Step by Step
Step 1: Consultation and imaging
We review your medical and dental history, examine the site, and take X-rays or a 3D scan to see the bone you actually have to work with. This is where we confirm whether an implant is the right answer and what would need to happen first.
Step 2: Preliminary treatment, if needed
Some cases need groundwork before an implant can go in: extracting a failing tooth, treating gum disease, or building up bone with a graft. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons implants fail later, so we do not skip it.
Step 3: Placing the implant
The area is fully numbed and the titanium post is positioned in the bone at the planned angle and depth. Most patients are surprised by how manageable this appointment is — it is generally less involved than an extraction. Oral sedation is available if you would like it.
Learn more about Sedation Dentistry →
Step 4: Healing and osseointegration
The bone bonds to the post over several weeks to a few months. You are not walking around without a tooth during this time — a temporary restoration covers the gap while things heal.
Step 5: Abutment and final crown
Once the implant is stable, we attach the abutment and place your custom crown, then adjust the bite until it feels like it belongs there. We show you how to clean around it and see you back to confirm everything is settling well.
Living With an Implant
Implants are cared for almost exactly like natural teeth: brush twice a day, floss around the crown, keep your routine cleanings. There is no soaking, no adhesive, and nothing to take out at night.
The post itself is designed to last decades and frequently does. The crown on top is the part that wears — plan on replacing it somewhere in the ten-to-fifteen-year range, much like any other crown.
What puts an implant at risk
- Gum disease around the implant — the leading cause of late implant failure
- Smoking, which measurably reduces success rates
- Uncontrolled diabetes and certain other systemic conditions
- Grinding or clenching, which overloads the implant — a night guard solves this
- Skipping routine cleanings, which is where problems get caught early
Learn more about Custom Mouth Guards →
We will also tell you honestly when an implant is not your best option. Sometimes a bridge, a partial denture, or keeping and repairing the natural tooth is the better call.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of implants over a bridge or denture?
An implant is anchored in bone rather than resting on the gums or hanging off neighboring teeth. It stays put, so there is no adhesive and nothing to remove at night, and you can eat more or less anything. It also leaves the adjacent teeth untouched, and it is the only option that preserves the jawbone underneath the missing tooth.
How long do dental implants last?
The titanium post is designed to last decades and often does, provided the gums around it stay healthy. The crown on top is the part that wears — expect to replace it somewhere in the ten-to-fifteen-year range, much like any other crown.
Does getting an implant hurt?
The area is fully numbed, and most patients tell us the appointment was less involved than they expected — often easier than an extraction. Some tenderness for a few days afterward is normal and usually handled with over-the-counter pain relievers. Oral sedation is available if the procedure makes you anxious.
How long does the whole process take?
Usually several months from placement to final crown, because the bone needs time to bond to the post. Cases that need an extraction, gum treatment, or a bone graft first take longer. You are not left without a tooth in the meantime — a temporary restoration covers the gap while things heal.
Are implants hard to take care of?
No. You care for an implant much like a natural tooth: brush twice a day, floss around the crown, and keep your routine cleanings. Gum disease around an implant is the leading cause of late failure, so those cleanings genuinely matter.
Do implants prevent bone loss?
Largely, yes. Jawbone is maintained by the chewing force transmitted through tooth roots. When a tooth is lost, that stimulation stops and the bone begins to shrink. Because an implant is anchored in the bone, it restores that stimulation — which no bridge or denture does.
Who is a good candidate for dental implants?
Generally, someone with one or more missing teeth, healthy gums, and enough jawbone to hold an implant — or a willingness to have bone built up first. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and untreated gum disease all reduce success rates. We assess all of this at your consultation with imaging before recommending anything.
What if I do not have enough bone?
Bone can often be built up with a graft before the implant is placed, which adds time to the process but makes an implant possible for many people who are told they cannot have one. The 3D scan at your consultation tells us exactly what you are working with.
How much do dental implants cost?
It depends on how many teeth are involved, the type of restoration, and whether preliminary treatment like an extraction or bone graft is needed. We give you a written estimate after the consultation and imaging — an accurate number is not possible before we have looked at the bone. CareCredit financing is available.
Does insurance cover dental implants?
Coverage varies widely. Many PPO plans contribute toward the crown and some toward the implant itself, often subject to an annual maximum that a full case can exceed. We verify your specific benefits and lay out what your plan will and will not cover before treatment begins.
