Losing a tooth feels permanent. It doesn't have to be. Dental implants are the most advanced solution available today for replacing a missing tooth and the one that most closely replicates what you had before. Not in appearance only. In function, in feel, and in the way your jawbone responds to it.
If you've been putting off a decision about a missing tooth, this guide explains exactly what implants involve, what the process looks like step by step, and who qualifies. No jargon. No pressure. Just the information you need to make an informed choice.
What a Dental Implant Actually Is?
An implant is not a denture. It is not a bridge. It is a titanium post roughly the size of a small screw — that is placed into the jawbone to act as an artificial root. Once it integrates with the bone, a custom crown is attached on top. The result is a tooth that looks, feels, and functions like your natural one.
The science behind why this works is called osseointegration, the biological process by which titanium bonds directly with living bone tissue. It is one of the most well-documented phenomena in modern dentistry. Dental implants achieve osseointegration success rates of 95 to 98% under optimal conditions, making them among the most predictable restorations in all of medicine.
A large-scale retrospective analysis of 158,824 dental implants placed between 2014 and 2022, published in a peer-reviewed journal, found an overall clinical success rate of 97.83% confirming that simultaneous bone augmentation, when needed, does not inherently increase failure risk.
Those numbers reflect something important: when planned correctly and placed by a qualified clinician, dental implants are not experimental. They are exceptionally reliable.
The Process — Step by Step
The most common reason people delay implant treatment is not the procedure itself. It's uncertain about what the process involves. Here is exactly what to expect.
Step 1 — Consultation and 3D Evaluation
Your first visit at Jonari Dental includes a comprehensive clinical evaluation, digital X-rays, and a cone beam CT scan (CBCT) , a 3D imaging technology that maps your bone structure in precise detail. This allows Dr. Streett to plan implant placement with surgical precision before a single incision is made.
Step 2 — Implant Placement
The surgical appointment is performed under local anesthesia and typically takes approximately one hour per implant. The titanium post is placed into the prepared bone site. Most patients describe the experience as significantly less uncomfortable than they anticipated.
Step 3 — Osseointegration (3 to 6 months)
The implant fuses with the surrounding bone during a healing period that typically lasts three to six months. During this time, you wear a temporary restoration — you are never without a functional tooth.
Step 4 — Final Crown Placement
Once osseointegration is confirmed, the abutment and your permanent custom crown are placed. The crown is matched precisely to the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth.
The result: a tooth that is indistinguishable from your natural ones — to you and to anyone else.
Why Implants Preserve More Than Just Your Smile?
There is a consequence of tooth loss that most patients don't know about until years after it happens.
When a tooth is lost, the jawbone beneath it begins to resorb it literally shrinks, because there is no longer a root transmitting chewing forces into the bone. Over time, this affects the shape of the face, the stability of neighboring teeth, and the candidacy for future implants.
A dental implant prevents this. Because the titanium post functions as an artificial root, it continues to stimulate the bone the same way a natural tooth does. The bone is preserved. The facial structure is maintained. Neighboring teeth remain stable.
This is the functional case for implants that goes beyond aesthetics and it becomes more clinically relevant with every year a missing tooth goes untreated.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
The majority of healthy adults with adequate bone volume are candidates for dental implants. The most important factors are:
→ Overall general health without conditions that significantly impair healing
→ Sufficient bone density at the implant site
→ Healthy gum tissue free of active periodontal disease
→ Non-smoking status (or willingness to cease smoking, which significantly improves outcomes)
Patients who initially lack sufficient bone volume may still qualify bone grafting procedures and can rebuild the site before implant placement. At Jonari Dental, Dr. Rosario Streett, D.D.S., FICOI, evaluates every case individually. Her Fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantology, the highest clinical credentialing level in implantology means she is equipped to manage complex cases that general dentists routinely refer to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do dental implants last?
With proper care, dental implants are designed to be a lifelong restoration. The titanium post itself can last decades — studies have followed implants over 10, 15, and 20 years with consistently high survival rates. The crown may need replacement after 10 to 15 years due to normal wear.
Is the implant procedure painful?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Most patients report that post-surgical discomfort is manageable with over-the-counter pain relief and resolves within a few days. The experience is generally described as less uncomfortable than a tooth extraction.
Does dental insurance cover implants in Florida?
Coverage varies significantly by plan. Some plans classify implants as a restorative procedure and provide partial coverage. Jonari Dental performs a complete benefits verification before your appointment so you understand your coverage clearly. Flexible financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Alphaeon is also available.
Why choose Jonari Dental for implants in Broward County?
Dr. Streett holds a Fellowship from the International Congress of Oral Implantology, a credential that requires hundreds of hours of advanced clinical training, complex case documentation, and peer evaluation. Most practices in Broward County refer complex implant cases to specialists. At Jonari Dental, that level of expertise is available in-house, in Cooper City.
If you lost a tooth recently or have been living with a gap for years the time to act is now, not later. The longer a tooth remains missing, the more the surrounding bone changes. An evaluation costs nothing and tells you everything.
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