""There is nothing you can possibly change. I love my new tooth! Great job." By Lesley L., November 17, 2011"
Nothing You Can Change Patient review
- Maria Rhode, D.M.D.
- Vivien Mesina, D.M.D.
- Sara Siddiqui, D.M.D.
- Jared Levin, D.D.S.
Single Tooth Implant
One missing tooth is never just a gap. The neighboring teeth drift, the bite shifts, and the jawbone under the space begins to shrink. A single dental implant replaces the whole tooth - root and crown - and at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts in Lawrenceville, NJ, Dr. Maria Rhode places and restores it in our own office, with no referral to an outside surgeon.
Implant or Bridge? An Honest Comparison
The traditional fix for one missing tooth is a dental bridge, which works well but requires reshaping the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap and does nothing to stop bone loss underneath. An implant stands on its own root, preserves the bone, and is cleaned like a natural tooth. It costs more up front, but it typically outlasts a bridge and never gets a cavity. We lay out both options - with real numbers - at your consultation, and our article on choosing between an implant and a bridge covers the decision in depth.
| Feature | Dental Bridge | Single Implant |
|---|---|---|
| Neighboring teeth | Ground down to anchor the bridge | Untouched |
| Jawbone under the gap | Keeps shrinking | Preserved and stimulated |
| Can it get a cavity? | Anchor teeth can | Never |
| Typical lifespan | 7 to 15 years | Decades - often a lifetime |
| Cleaning | Special floss threaders | Brush and floss normally |
How a Single Implant Works, Step by Step
- 01
CBCT scan and consultation
An in-house CBCT 3D scan shows the exact height and width of your bone and the position of nerves and sinuses. Dr. Maria Rhode plans the implant position digitally and gives you a written, all-in estimate before anything begins.
- 02
Implant placement
The titanium implant - a small post that replaces your tooth root - is placed under local anesthesia in about an hour. If a failing tooth is still present, it can often be removed and the implant placed in the same visit. Sedation is available.
- 03
Healing
Over three to four months the bone fuses to the implant, a process called osseointegration. Most patients are back to work the next day; a temporary tooth keeps your smile whole in the meantime when the gap shows.
- 04
The crown
A custom porcelain or zirconia crown is attached to the implant, matched to your natural teeth in shape and shade. You brush and floss it like any other tooth.
One Surgeon, One Office, Start to Finish
Many practices place the implant in one office and send you elsewhere for the crown - or the reverse. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts, Dr. Rhode, a surgeon with a Fellowship in Implantology from the International Dental Implant Association, handles the extraction if one is needed, any bone grafting, the implant surgery, and the final crown. One doctor accountable for the whole result, with sedation available at every step.
Patient Reviews
Patients on their new teeth
Real reviews from patients who trusted us with their smiles.
"My wife & I were immediately impressed by the staff. Everybody was so professional,in explaining of procedures,and made me feel so relaxed. I look forward to having Dr Schor restoring my new smile. And I will gladly refer others to Imagine."
James P. May 19th Patient review
Single Tooth Implants in Lawrenceville, Princeton, and Mercer County
Whether the tooth was lost years ago or is failing now, a CBCT consultation tells you exactly what is possible. Our Princeton Pike office serves Lawrenceville, Princeton, Ewing, Hamilton, Pennington, and West Windsor with early-morning and evening hours. Contact Imagine Advanced Dental Arts or call 609-896-0589.
FAQs
+What is a single tooth implant?
A single tooth implant is a titanium post placed in the jaw to replace one missing tooth root, topped with a custom crown. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts in Lawrenceville, NJ, Dr. Maria Rhode both places the implant and restores it with the crown, all in one office.
+Is an implant better than a bridge for one missing tooth?
Usually, yes. A bridge requires grinding down the two healthy neighboring teeth, while an implant stands on its own and preserves the jawbone. At Imagine Advanced Dental Arts we walk you through both options honestly - a bridge is still the right call in some cases.
+How long does a single dental implant take from start to finish?
Most single implants at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts take three to five months from placement to final crown, because the bone needs time to fuse to the implant. If bone grafting is needed first, add a few months of healing.
+Does getting a dental implant hurt?
Placement is done under local anesthesia and most patients at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts report less discomfort than a tooth extraction - typically a day or two of soreness managed with over-the-counter medication. Nitrous oxide, conscious sedation, and IV sedation are available.
+Can the implant be placed the same day my tooth is removed?
Often, yes. When the socket is healthy, Dr. Rhode at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts extracts the tooth and places the implant in the same visit; otherwise a socket-preservation bone graft prepares the site for an implant a few months later.
+How long does a single tooth implant last?
With good home care and regular checkups, the implant itself can last decades - often a lifetime. The crown on top typically lasts 10 to 15 years or more. Imagine Advanced Dental Arts checks your implant at every cleaning.
+What does a single tooth implant cost in Lawrenceville, NJ?
Cost depends on whether grafting is needed and the type of crown; at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts you get a written, all-in estimate - implant, abutment, and crown - after a CBCT consultation, with CareCredit financing and a membership plan available.
+Am I too old for a dental implant?
No. Age by itself is not a barrier - bone quality and overall health are what matter, and Imagine Advanced Dental Arts regularly places implants for patients in their 70s and 80s after reviewing health history and the CBCT scan.
+What if I do not have enough bone for an implant?
Dr. Rhode performs bone grafting and sinus lifts in-house at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts, so most patients told elsewhere that they lack bone can still receive an implant after the site is rebuilt.
+Who places the implant - do I get referred out?
No referral needed. Dr. Maria Rhode, who holds a Fellowship in Implantology from the International Dental Implant Association, places and restores your implant at Imagine Advanced Dental Arts in Lawrenceville, NJ.
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Missing one tooth?
A CBCT consultation gives you a real plan and a real number - no pressure.