A missing tooth changes how you chew, how your jawbone holds up over time, and eventually how your smile looks — our Dental Implants process starts with a CBCT scan so the plan is exact before any surgery happens.
Every Smile Center Dentistry office offering Dental Implants is held to the same four standards, verified before the office ever joins our network.
Surgical placement is performed under full malpractice coverage and current state licensure, verified before any procedure is scheduled.
A cone-beam CT scan maps bone volume and nerve position before we ever pick up a drill, which is how we avoid surprises mid-surgery.
Bone grafting, if needed, is quoted separately and explained clearly, not bundled into a vague lump sum.
If an implant fails to integrate within the normal healing window, revision options are discussed at no additional consultation fee.
Here's the range of Dental Implants our Lansing team handles most, described the way we'd explain it chairside rather than in marketing language.
For an isolated gap, we place a single implant post and let it heal for several months before attaching the final crown. Most single-tooth cases need two to three visits total, spaced around the healing timeline.
For patients missing most or all of their teeth, four to six strategically angled implants can anchor a full arch of fixed replacement teeth. The final, permanent bridge is fitted once the implants have fully integrated.
Ridge preservation grafting at the time of extraction helps prevent the bone loss that makes future implant placement harder. We'll tell you honestly if grafting is optional or necessary for your specific case.
Which approach we use depends on bone quality and where in the mouth the implant is going. We'll explain which method applies to your case and why during the planning visit.
The final restoration is custom-shaded and shaped to match your bite and the teeth around it. We check occlusion carefully so the new tooth doesn't take on more bite force than it should.
Catching early gum inflammation around an implant is far easier to treat than waiting until bone loss has started. Recall visits for implant patients often run a little differently than a standard cleaning.
No mystery about what happens between calling us and walking out with the problem addressed.
A quick call gets you booked for imaging and a first look at whether implants are the right fit.
The CBCT scan and a same-visit review let you see your own bone structure and hear the plan explained on-screen.
Surgery gets scheduled once you've reviewed and approved the written plan and price.
We track integration at set intervals and only proceed to the final restoration once the implant has properly fused.
These are unedited, from patients who've actually been through Dental Implants treatment with us in the past year.
“I'd put off replacing a molar for three years out of fear of surgery. The CBCT scan showed me exactly what was happening before anything was decided.”
“Full-arch implants gave my mother her bite back. The temporary teeth the same day as surgery made all the difference psychologically.”
“They explained bone grafting clearly instead of just adding it to the invoice. I appreciated knowing why it was actually necessary.”
“Recovery was easier than I expected. Mild soreness for two days, and the follow-up checks caught nothing unusual.”
“The quote covered every stage upfront, so there were no surprise charges when it came time for the crown months later.”
Straight answers to what people actually want to know before committing to Dental Implants.
Most patients complete treatment within four to eight months, with the implant integration phase taking up most of that time.
Placement is done under local anesthesia, and most patients describe recovery as mild soreness manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
Failed integration is uncommon but possible; if it happens, we discuss revision options at no additional consultation charge.
Not every patient needs grafting; the CBCT scan tells us definitively before we recommend it.
We quote implant, abutment, and crown stages separately so you can see exactly where the cost comes from.
The final crown is custom-shaded to match surrounding teeth, and most patients report it feels like their natural tooth within weeks.
We can usually confirm same-week availability for Dental Implants before you even finish describing your situation.
Our Dental Implants team serves Lansing and the surrounding area, with CBCT imaging available on-site so scans don't require a separate trip. If you're outside our immediate service area, call anyway — we can often still schedule your consultation.
