Losing a tooth affects more than how you look. It changes how you laugh, what you eat, and how confident you feel walking into a room. At Morgan Dental Care in Gorham, Dr. Brett Morgan, DMD knows what that loss costs you, and dental implants are how he helps you get it back. Permanently rooted, completely natural-looking, and built to last a lifetime, they are the closest thing to your original tooth that modern dentistry can offer. Call our office today to find out if implants are right for you.
What a Dental Implant Actually Is
A dental implant replaces the whole tooth, root included. A small titanium post is placed in the jawbone where the missing tooth used to sit. Over the next few months the bone grows tightly around it, the same way it held your natural root. Once that bond is solid, Dr. Morgan attaches a custom crown, a bridge or a denture to the post.
That root is the reason implants feel different from every other option. A bridge rests on the teeth beside the gap. A denture rests on the gums. An implant is anchored in bone, so it does not slip when you laugh, it does not need adhesive, and it keeps working the jawbone the way a natural tooth does. Bone that is not being used slowly shrinks, which is why the face can look older after several teeth are lost. An implant helps stop that.
If you’re considering dental implants, you probably have two questions on your mind: how does it work, and how long will it take? Listen to Dr. Brett Morgan walk through both.
“The timeline varies based on the health of the bone. The maximum, from extraction to a final tooth, is about eight months.”
– Dr. Brett Morgan, DMD
Am I a Candidate?
Most adults who are missing a tooth, or who have a tooth that cannot be saved, can be considered for an implant. The things that matter most are the health of your gums, how much bone is left where the tooth was, and your general health. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes slow healing, so we talk about both honestly before any plan is made.
Dr. Brett Morgan puts it plainly: “I’m not sure if there’s a way to say, oh, XYZ, you’re an implant candidate. But it’s certainly easy to find out, with a consult. If you’re missing some teeth, if you’ve got broken teeth, if you’re afraid that there’s unrestorable teeth or your whole mouth’s unrestorable, it never hurts to come in.”
If there is not enough bone, it can often be rebuilt with a bone graft before or during placement. Some patients wait a few extra months for a graft to heal. Others do not need one at all. Your consultation tells you which group you are in.
Implant, Bridge or Denture: Which Fits Your Gap?
Every one of these replaces missing teeth. They do it in different ways, and the right answer depends on your mouth, your budget and how long you want the result to last.
- Single implant with a crown. Replaces one tooth without touching the teeth beside it. Longest-lasting option and the most natural to chew with. Takes the longest from start to finish.
- Dental bridge. Fills a gap by placing crowns on the teeth on either side and suspending a false tooth between them. Finished in a few weeks. The neighboring teeth have to be reshaped, which matters most when those teeth are healthy and untouched.
- Implant bridge. Two implants hold a bridge across three or more missing teeth in a row, so you do not need an implant for every tooth.
- Implant-supported denture. Two to four implants snap a denture firmly in place. For patients who already wear a denture, this is often the single biggest improvement in comfort and confidence: no slipping, no adhesive, and a much stronger bite.
- Traditional denture or partial. The lowest cost and the fastest result. Rests on the gums and does not stop bone loss.
Because we are an independent practice, nobody here is measured on how many implants we place. If a bridge or a partial is the better answer for you, we will tell you so.
How the Process Works at Morgan Dental Care
1. Consultation. Dr. Morgan examines the area, reviews your health history and takes X-rays to see the bone. You leave with a written plan, a timeline and the cost.
2. Tooth removal, if needed. If a damaged tooth is still in place, it comes out first. Sometimes the implant can go in the same day. More often the site heals for a few weeks first.
3. Implant placement. The area is numbed fully. Nitrous oxide or oral sedation is available if you are anxious; Dr. Morgan has completed additional training in oral sedation. Most patients tell us placement was easier than they expected, with soreness for a few days that over-the-counter pain relievers handle.
4. Healing. The bone bonds to the implant over the next few months. You are not left with a gap while you wait; a temporary tooth or your current denture covers it.
5. Your final tooth. Once the implant is solid, we take a scan of your bite and attach your custom crown, bridge or denture, matched in shape and shade to the teeth around it.
How long does all of that take? In Dr. Morgan’s words: “The timeline varies based on the health of the bone. The maximum, from extraction to a final tooth, is about eight months.” Many patients finish sooner.
What Dental Implants Cost in Gorham
The cost depends on how many teeth are being replaced, whether you need a graft, and what goes on top of the implant (a single crown, a bridge or a denture). We give you the full figure at your consultation, before any work starts, so nothing arrives as a surprise.
A few things help:
- Many dental insurance plans cover part of the crown or denture even when they do not cover the implant itself. We check your benefits and file the claims.
- Our DenVantage membership plan reduces fees on restorative work for patients without traditional insurance.
- Financing lets you spread the cost over monthly payments.
An implant usually costs more at the start than a bridge or a denture. Over twenty years it is often the less expensive choice, because a well-cared-for implant rarely needs replacing.
Caring for Your Implant
Brush and floss around an implant exactly as you would a natural tooth, and keep your regular cleanings. An implant cannot get a cavity, but the gum around it can still become inflamed, and that is the main reason implants fail. At each checkup our hygienists clean around your implant with instruments made for implant surfaces and watch the gum line closely. If you grind your teeth, a custom night guard protects your new crown.
Questions We Hear About Dental Implants
The area is fully numbed before placement, and sedation is available. Most patients describe the next few days as mild soreness, less than they felt from the tooth that was causing the problem.
The implant post itself can last a lifetime with good care. The crown on top typically lasts fifteen years or more before it may need replacing.
Often, yes. Long-time denture wearers may have lost some bone, so we check first. Many can have implants placed to hold their denture firmly in place, sometimes using the denture they already have.
Age alone is not the deciding factor. Healthy patients in their seventies and eighties have implants placed regularly. Your bone and your general health matter more than your birthday.
Yes. Your crown is shaped and shaded to match the teeth beside it, and because it comes out of the gum the way a natural tooth does, most people cannot tell which tooth is the implant.
We believe in dentistry that gives you your life back. Not a workaround, not a compromise. The real thing, built to last.
Rediscover Your Smile
Missing teeth do not get easier to replace with time, because the bone under the gap keeps shrinking. If you have been putting this off, the consultation costs you nothing but an hour, and you leave knowing exactly what is possible. Call Morgan Dental Care at (207) 839-2655 to schedule your implant consultation in Gorham. You deserve to bite into an apple without thinking about it.