You're Missing a Tooth — Now What?

Maybe it was extracted years ago and you've been living with the gap. Maybe it was recent, and you're still adjusting. Either way, missing a tooth affects more than your smile. The bone beneath that empty socket begins to resorb — slowly at first, then progressively — because there's no tooth root stimulating it. Adjacent teeth drift into the space. Your bite changes. Over time, facial structure can shift.

A dental implant is the closest thing modern dentistry has to replacing a natural tooth, root and all. But if you're like most patients at Stanton Smiles in Fort Lauderdale, you probably have questions about what the procedure actually involves. Let's walk through it step by step, the way Dr. Robert Stanton explains it to patients in the chair.

Step 1: The Consultation and Planning

This is where we do the homework. At your first implant consultation, Dr. Stanton will:

  • Review your medical and dental history — certain conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or heavy smoking can affect implant success
  • Perform a comprehensive oral exam to assess the health of your gums and remaining teeth
  • Take a 3D cone-beam CT scan, which gives us a millimeter-precise map of your jawbone density, nerve locations, and sinus position
  • Take digital impressions of your teeth for surgical guide fabrication

The CBCT scan is critical. Implant placement isn't guesswork — we need to know exactly how much bone you have, where nerves run, and the ideal angle and depth for the implant. If your bone is insufficient, we'll discuss bone grafting (more on that below).

Step 2: Pre-Surgical Preparation (If Needed)

Not everyone needs this step, but many do. If your tooth was extracted years ago, the jawbone in that area has likely thinned. A bone graft — using either your own bone, donor bone, or synthetic grafting material — is placed in the site and given time to integrate. This typically adds 3–6 months to the overall timeline.

Some patients also need a sinus lift if the implant is going in the upper back jaw where the sinus cavity sits close to the bone. Again, this extends the timeline but is essential for long-term success.

Dr. Stanton will tell you at your consultation whether you need grafting. Many patients don't — especially if the extraction was recent and the bone is still healthy.

Step 3: Implant Placement Surgery

The day of surgery, you'll receive local anesthesia. If you're anxious, we offer sedation options — nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or IV sedation through our network of anesthesiologists. You'll be comfortable. You won't feel pain.

Dr. Stanton makes a small incision in the gum to expose the bone, then uses a series of precisely-sized drills to create an osteotomy — a channel in the bone that exactly matches the implant dimensions. The implant, a titanium or zirconia screw-shaped post, is threaded into place. The gum is sutured closed over or around the implant, and a healing cap may be placed.

The surgery itself typically takes 60–90 minutes for a single implant. You'll go home with post-operative instructions: soft foods, no smoking, gentle rinsing, and possibly antibiotics and pain medication (though most patients manage fine with over-the-counter ibuprofen).

Step 4: Osseointegration — The Waiting Period

This is the phase where the magic happens, and it requires patience. Over the next 3–6 months, your jawbone grows directly onto the implant surface, fusing with it at a microscopic level. This process — osseointegration — is what makes implants so stable and long-lasting. A successful implant is literally part of your body.

During this time, you'll have a temporary restoration (a partial denture, a flipper, or a temporary crown) so you're never walking around with a visible gap. You'll come in for periodic checks to make sure healing is on track.

Step 5: Abutment Placement

Once osseointegration is confirmed, a minor second procedure exposes the top of the implant and attaches an abutment — a small connector post that will hold the final crown. This is a quick in-office procedure under local anesthesia. The gum is given a few weeks to heal around the abutment.

Step 6: The Final Crown

Digital impressions are taken of the abutment and surrounding teeth. A custom crown — color-matched, shape-matched, bite-matched — is fabricated in a dental lab. At your final appointment, Dr. Stanton checks the fit, the occlusion, and the aesthetics. The crown is either cemented or screwed onto the abutment. You now have a tooth that looks, feels, and functions like the real thing.

Does It Hurt?

Honestly — less than most patients expect. The implant surgery itself is painless because you're anesthetized. Post-operative discomfort is usually mild to moderate and peaks at 24–48 hours, manageable with ibuprofen and ice. Most patients return to work the next day. For comparison, many patients tell Dr. Stanton the implant surgery was easier than the extraction that preceded it.

How Long Does the Whole Process Take?

From consultation to final crown, a straightforward implant case takes 4–6 months. If bone grafting is needed, add 3–6 months. The beauty of implants is that they're measured in decades of service, not years — investing a few months now for 25+ years of function is a trade-off most patients are happy to make.

If you're considering dental implants in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County, explore implant options at Stanton Smiles or schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Stanton. We'll give you a clear plan, a realistic timeline, and no surprises.