Dental Implants
A missing tooth is easy to work around and hard to stop noticing. Left alone, the jawbone underneath starts to change and neighboring teeth begin to drift, so the fix only gets bigger the longer it waits. Dental implants replace the tooth from the root up, and as part of our Restorative Dentistry services, they’re built to be a decision you make once instead of something you keep working around. Emerald Dental places and restores implants at both our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
Curious what your smile could look like in six months?
Smile Fact
Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, yet it cannot repair itself once it is lost.
What Are Dental Implants
A dental implant is a titanium post placed into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth and support a custom crown or other dental restoration. After placement, the implant gradually integrates with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration, creating the stable foundation that sets implants apart from removable tooth replacement options. Once healed and restored, the implant can function much like a natural tooth, helping you bite, chew, speak, and smile comfortably. Because the support comes from within the jaw rather than neighboring teeth or adhesive, the finished restoration is designed to feel secure during everyday use.
How Dental Implants Work
Consultation and Exam.
This is where the guessing stops. You’ll talk through how the missing tooth has affected your daily life, get a full exam of your jawbone and bite, and leave with a clear answer on whether an implant is the right fit, not a vague “we’ll see.”
Treatment Planning.
Your plan is built around your situation: one implant, several, or a full-arch restoration. If bone loss has already started, this is also where a step like bone grafting gets discussed as part of the path forward, not a dealbreaker.
Implant Placement.
The post goes into the jawbone under local anesthesia, and the fusing process that follows is what gives the finished implant its strength. Most patients are back to normal eating and talking within days to a couple weeks, well before that fusion is even complete.
Final Restoration.
Once the implant has fused with the bone, a custom crown is attached to finish the job. From here, it functions like your own tooth, not something you maintain differently or think about separately from the rest of your mouth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
A lot of people know they need this the same way they’d know they need surgery on a bad knee, and put it off for the same reason: they’re picturing months of recovery that implants don’t actually require.
Back to normal meals and conversation within days, not months
No ongoing routine to manage, just a tooth that works like the rest of them
Preserves the jawbone instead of letting it shrink the way an empty socket does
Keeps neighboring teeth from drifting into a space that was never meant to stay open
Holds up for decades under normal brushing, flossing, and checkups
Why Emerald Dental for Dental Implants
Every implant case at Emerald Dental starts with a real conversation, not a script. You’ll know what the procedure involves, what recovery feels like day by day, and what it costs before anything gets scheduled, so there’s no walking in on faith. Advanced imaging plans the exact placement before any procedure begins, and if bone loss has occurred, we’ll talk through what’s needed instead of springing it on you mid-treatment. Both our dentists in Lakewood and Littleton offer the same level of care. Meet our doctors on our About Us page.
What Patients Are Saying
Real feedback from real patients across our Lakewood and Littleton offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal to feel nervous about getting an implant?
It’s common, and it’s usually less about the implant itself and more about the unknown of what the day involves. Once patients hear that placement is done under local anesthesia and most of the process is just healing time in the background, the nerves tend to settle faster than expected.
How long until eating and speaking feel normal again?
Most patients are back to normal eating and speaking within a few days to a couple of weeks after placement, well before the implant has fully fused with the jawbone. The final crown comes later, but day-to-day function usually returns faster than people assume going in.
What actually happens if I just leave a missing tooth alone?
The jawbone underneath starts losing density without a tooth root to stimulate it, and neighboring teeth can gradually drift into the open space. Neither happens overnight, which is exactly why a gap that doesn’t bother you today can turn into a bigger, more involved fix a few years from now.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
Most candidates have healthy gums, enough jawbone to support the implant, and want a permanent alternative to a removable denture or bridge. If you’ve experienced bone loss, you may still qualify with a step like bone grafting first, something your dentist evaluates during a consultation rather than ruling out upfront.
Is the implant procedure painful?
The placement itself is done under local anesthesia, so patients typically don’t feel pain during the procedure. Some soreness and swelling for a few days afterward is normal and manageable, generally less uncomfortable than the tooth loss or decay that led to needing the implant in the first place.
Get Your Whole Smile Back, Sooner Than You Think
Replacing a missing tooth is about getting back to eating, speaking, and smiling without constantly adjusting around what’s missing. Dental implants provide a stable, natural-looking replacement designed to feel like part of your smile rather than something you have to work around. Emerald Dental places and restores dental implants at our Lakewood and Littleton offices. Schedule a consultation to explore your options and see what getting your complete smile back could look like.
Find Us
Two Convenient Locations
Both offices are open Monday through Thursday and accept new patients of all ages.
Lakewood
Emerald Dental Lakewood
12093-A West Alameda Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80228
Littleton
Emerald Dental Littleton
2731 W Belleview Ave, Littleton, CO 80123