01 · Dental implants
Restorative dentistry

Dental Implants

A long-term replacement, planned in two careful steps.

02 · What it is
What it is

Natural tooth replacement, designed to last.

A dental implant replaces a missing tooth by recreating both parts of its structure: the root beneath the gums and the tooth you see when you smile. A small titanium post is placed in the jaw to act like the natural root, then a custom porcelain restoration is attached above it to complete the tooth.

The result is fixed, comfortable, and designed to function like a natural tooth. Treatment happens in two main phases: implant placement and final restoration. Both are planned together from the start, so the final tooth is strong, lasting, and shaped to look right in your smile.

03 · The two phases

How an implant comes together.

  1. i.

    Placement — the foundation.

    A small titanium post is placed into the jawbone, in the position once held by the natural root. Over the months that follow, the bone fuses to the post in a biological process called osseointegration — creating a foundation as stable as the tooth it replaces.

  2. ii.

    Restoration — the visible tooth.

    Once the foundation has fully healed, a custom porcelain crown is crafted to match the shape, shade, and translucency of the surrounding teeth — then secured to the implant. The result is a single tooth that looks, feels, and functions like it belongs.

04 · Implant vs bridge
Choosing

Two paths for a missing tooth.

Both are excellent restorations, chosen carefully for the situation. The difference is in how the tooth is supported, what's asked of the teeth beside it, and how it lives over time.

 
Implant
Bridge
How it's supported
Anchored by a titanium post placed into the jawbone — standing on its own, like the natural root.
Supported by the two teeth on either side, which are prepared to carry crowns linked to the replacement.
Adjacent teeth
Left untouched. The implant works independently of the teeth around it.
Reshaped to receive crowns to support the bridge.
Bone & gum
Preserves the jawbone beneath the site — the implant stimulates the bone the way a natural root does.
Bone beneath the missing tooth gradually recedes over time, with no root to keep it active.
Timeline
Staged over several months to allow the bone to integrate before the final crown is placed.
Completed in two to three visits over a few weeks — faster from start to finish.
Longevity
Designed to last decades — often a lifetime, with good care.
Typically lasts ten to fifteen years before replacement is considered.
Care at home
Brushed and flossed like a natural tooth.
Requires special flossing beneath the bridge to keep the supporting teeth healthy.
When it's right
A single missing tooth, healthy adjacent teeth, and sufficient bone — or a site that can be prepared for the long term.
Adjacent teeth that already need restoration, when a faster timeline matters, or when an implant isn't possible.
05 · Cosmetic consultation
Begin

Begin with a conversation.

Every relationship at Tillinger Dental begins with a conversation in our office on the Mount Sinai Medical Center Miami Beach. We would be glad to meet you.

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Endnotes