One tooth, replaced properly, and nothing else touched.
An implant puts a missing tooth back without asking the teeth beside it to carry the work. It loads the bone the way a root did, and you clean it like a tooth.
A gap does not stay a gap
A missing back tooth feels like a non-issue for a year or two. By then it has already moved several other teeth.
Three ways to replace one tooth
They differ mainly in what they ask of the teeth around the gap.
| Implant | Bridge | Partial denture | Leave it | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthy teeth involved | None | Two, permanently | Two, as clasp anchors | None — but they drift |
| Preserves the bone | Yes, it loads it | No | No | No |
| Comes out | No | No | Yes, nightly | — |
| Typical lifespan | Decades; often lifelong | Ten to fifteen years | Five to eight years | — |
| Time to finish | Three to five months | Four to five weeks | Four to five weeks | — |
A bridge is the better call when the teeth either side already need crowns, or when bone or health rules out surgery. We will say so.
Are you a candidate?
Most people are. The scan answers it in about ten minutes, and we would rather tell you no than place an implant that fails.
Enough bone, in the right place
Width matters as much as height. Where the site is short, grafting is often straightforward.
Healthy gums
Active gum disease is treated first. The process that takes bone from teeth takes it from implants too.
A few honest risk factors
Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes affect success most, and grinding needs a nightguard in the plan. None is automatically disqualifying.
Modern implants succeed well over 95% of the time, and most failures are predictable from the factors above.
What actually happens
Roughly three to five months from scan to crown.
Consultation and 3D scan
The bone, the space and what the site will take, with written pricing before you decide anything.
Implant placement
Guided from the scan so the implant goes exactly where the crown needs it. A short procedure, usually under an hour.
Fusing, three to four months
The implant integrates with the bone. You wear a temporary if the gap shows when you smile.
Uncovery and crown
A brief visit to shape the gum, then the crown is built to match your neighboring teeth, fitted and adjusted to your bite.
Maintenance
Cleanings as usual, with a periodic x-ray to confirm the bone level is holding.
If the tooth is still in place, extraction and socket grafting come first and add three to four months of healing before the implant goes in.
Who is doing the surgery
Dr. Andrew Lisy completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency built around implant surgery and bone grafting.
An implant a millimeter out makes a crown that traps food or shows metal at the gumline. When the same person plans the crown and places the implant, that does not happen.
- AEGD residency in implant surgery and bone grafting
- Surgery and final crown by the same doctor, in one office
- 3D CBCT imaging and guided planning on site
- Full-size titanium implants only
Questions patients actually ask
Do you place dental implants in South Pittsburg, TN?
Yes. Dr. Andrew Lisy places and restores single-tooth implants at Arch Dental, 1904 S Cedar Ave in South Pittsburg, so the surgery and the final crown are handled by the same dentist in one office. Call (423) 837-8900 to book a consultation.
How much does a single dental implant cost?
The fee depends on the tooth, whether the site needs a bone graft and the type of crown. You will know the full cost before treatment begins, and insurance and financing can help; see our Financing page.
Does placing an implant hurt?
Done fully numb, and most patients report it was easier than the extraction before it. Expect some soreness for a few days. Sedation is available.
Why does it take months?
The implant has to fuse to the bone before it can carry a bite. Loading it early is one of the main ways implants fail, so the waiting is what makes it last decades.
Can an implant get a cavity?
No. But the gum and bone around it can get the equivalent of gum disease, which is the most common reason implants are lost. Cleaning matters as much as it did for the tooth.
Does insurance cover implants?
Coverage varies. Many plans contribute toward the crown even where they exclude the implant. We submit a pre-treatment estimate so you know your number beforehand.
Find out what the site will take
A consultation includes a 3D scan, a straight answer about whether an implant works here, and written pricing before you leave.
Candidacy is determined by clinical examination and 3D imaging. Grafting, sinus augmentation, extractions and sedation are additional when required and presented in writing beforehand. Success and lifespan figures reflect typical outcomes, not a guarantee.