Replace a missing tooth with a solution that looks, feels, and functions like your own, built on decades of combined implant experience.
Restorative Dentistry
A single missing tooth does more than affect your smile. It shifts how you chew, how neighboring teeth drift over time, and how your jawbone holds its shape. At Promenade Center for Dentistry, single tooth implants and implant-supported bridges give you a permanent, independent replacement that doesn't rely on grinding down healthy adjacent teeth, the way a traditional bridge once did.
As part of our broader dental implant program, this treatment is one of the most predictable and well-researched procedures in modern dentistry. A titanium or zirconia post is placed directly into the jawbone, where it fuses with the bone over several months, creating an anchor every bit as stable as a natural tooth root. A custom-crafted crown is then attached, matched to the shape, shade, and translucency of the teeth around it.
For patients missing two or more adjacent teeth, we also design implant-supported bridges, which use a smaller number of implants to support multiple replacement teeth in a row. This gives you the stability of implants without needing one post for every single missing tooth.
Patients often live with a gap for longer than they realize, assuming it's purely cosmetic. In reality, an untreated missing tooth creates a chain reaction throughout your bite. Recognizing these warning signs early lets us address the issue before it becomes more complex or costly to treat.
Most healthy adults missing one or more teeth are reasonable candidates for a single tooth implant or implant-supported bridge. What matters most is the condition of your gum tissue, the density of the bone at the implant site, and your overall health. Our team completes a thorough evaluation, including digital imaging, before recommending any treatment plan, so you know exactly what to expect from the start.
If your jawbone has thinned from years without a tooth in place, that doesn't rule you out. Bone grafting can rebuild the foundation needed to support a stable implant, and we'll walk you through whether that extra step applies to your situation.
Not every gap calls for the same solution. The right approach depends on how many teeth are missing, where they're located, and the condition of your existing bone and gum tissue. We review each option with you in plain language, including the trade-offs in cost, timeline, and long-term maintenance, so you can choose with confidence.
The value of a single tooth implant or bridge goes well beyond appearance. Because the implant replaces the entire tooth root, it preserves your bite function and protects your jawbone in ways that other tooth replacement methods simply cannot match.
Replacing a missing tooth with an implant happens in stages, spaced out to allow proper healing at each step. Here's what the process typically looks like from your first visit to your final restoration.
We examine your mouth, review your health history, and take cone-beam 3D scans to map bone density and identify the ideal implant position before any treatment begins.
If bone volume is low, we perform grafting to rebuild the foundation. This step adds healing time but ensures a strong, lasting base for your implant.
The implant post is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia. Over the following three to six months, it fuses with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration.
Once integration is complete, a small connector piece called an abutment is attached to the implant, forming the base that will hold your crown or bridge in place.
We take precise impressions or digital scans to design a crown or bridge matched to your bite, tooth shape, and shade, fabricated by a trusted dental lab.
Your finished restoration is secured in place, and we fine-tune the fit and bite alignment so it feels comfortable and natural from the very first bite.
Healing after implant placement is generally straightforward, with most patients returning to normal activities within a few days. Mild soreness or swelling near the surgical site is common and typically fades within a week. Following our aftercare instructions closely gives the implant the best chance of integrating successfully with the bone.
Once your crown or bridge is in place, maintaining it is simpler than many patients expect. Implants don't develop cavities, but the gum tissue around them still needs attention to stay healthy over the long run.
We use digital 3D imaging to plan implant placement with precision, mapping bone density and anatomy before we ever pick up a handpiece.
Every restoration is custom-shaded and shaped to blend with your natural teeth, so your implant disappears into your smile rather than standing out.
We walk you through every stage, cost, and timeline up front, including financing options, so there are no surprises along the way.
Our clinicians have placed and restored hundreds of implants for Charlotte-area patients, from single crowns to full-arch cases.
We take time to manage anxiety and discomfort at every visit, with sedation options available for patients who want extra ease during treatment.
Serving Charlotte and the surrounding area, our office offers flexible scheduling to fit implant consultations and follow-ups around your life.
From the initial consultation through the final crown placement, treatment typically spans three to six months. Most of that time is dedicated to osseointegration, the natural process where the implant fuses with your jawbone, which can vary depending on bone density and whether grafting is needed.
The implant placement itself is done under local anesthesia, so you shouldn't feel pain during the procedure. Afterward, mild soreness or swelling is normal for a few days and is usually well managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, similar to what you'd experience after a tooth extraction.
A traditional bridge relies on crowning the teeth on either side of the gap to support a false tooth in between, which means healthy tooth structure is removed from those neighbors. A single tooth implant stands on its own, anchored directly into the jawbone, so adjacent teeth stay untouched and the implant also helps preserve bone volume.
With good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, the implant post itself can last a lifetime, while the crown on top typically lasts 15 to 25 years before it may need replacement due to normal wear. This makes implants one of the most durable tooth replacement options available.
A thinner jawbone doesn't automatically rule you out. Bone grafting procedures can rebuild the volume and density needed to support a stable implant. We'll evaluate your bone structure with 3D imaging during your consultation and recommend grafting only if it's genuinely needed for a successful outcome.
Coverage varies widely by plan, with some policies covering a portion of implant treatment and others treating it as elective. Our team reviews your benefits with you ahead of time and discusses financing options, so you understand your out-of-pocket costs before any treatment begins.
Learn more about Single Tooth Implants & Bridges with our expert articles, preparation tips, and aftercare insights.
Oral Health
Learn about single tooth implants in Charlotte, their benefits, and how they can restore your smile with expert care.
Promenade Center for Dentistry
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