Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Is the Better Long-Term Choice?
Missing teeth can affect more than your smile; they can impact your confidence, speech, eating habits, and long-term oral health. This guide...

Losing a single tooth affects more than your appearance. It changes how you bite, puts extra stress on neighboring teeth, and causes the jawbone beneath the gap to slowly shrink. A single tooth dental implant replaces the entire tooth from root to crown, stopping that process and giving you a result that is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth. At Elevated Smiles Dentistry in Bel Air, MD, Dr. Joshua Englander handles the full implant process in-house from placement to final restoration.

Trusted Care
Long-lasting implant results
A single tooth implant is made of three parts: a titanium post that acts as the tooth root, an abutment connector piece, and a custom ceramic crown on top. The titanium post is surgically placed into the jawbone. Over three to six months it fuses with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration, creating a stable, permanent anchor. Once integrated, the abutment and crown are attached, completing the restoration. The crown is custom-made to match the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth so it blends in completely.
A dental bridge can replace a missing tooth, but it requires grinding down the two healthy teeth on either side to serve as anchors. Those teeth are permanently altered even though nothing was wrong with them. A partial denture is removable and can be inconvenient and uncomfortable. An implant stands completely on its own. It does not affect neighboring teeth at all, stimulates the jawbone the way a real root does, and can last decades with proper care. For most patients who are good candidates, an implant is the most conservative and long-lasting solution.
The process begins with a consultation and cone beam 3D imaging to evaluate your bone density and plan the exact placement. Dr. Englander performs the implant surgery in our Bel Air office under local anesthesia. The titanium post is placed and given time to heal and integrate. Once Dr. Englander confirms osseointegration is complete, the abutment is attached and a custom crown is fabricated and secured. Because we use in-office CAD/CAM technology, your final crown is often ready the same day as your restoration appointment.
Most healthy adults who are missing a single tooth are candidates. You need sufficient jawbone density to support the implant post. If bone loss has occurred since the tooth was lost, a bone graft may be needed first. Your gum health also needs to be in good shape before implant surgery. At your consultation, Dr. Englander will take 3D images to evaluate the site and give you an honest, straightforward answer about whether an implant is appropriate and, if so, what the timeline looks like.

We Welcome You to Elevated Smiles Dentistry of Bel Air Maryland.
Schedule an AppointmentVisit us at our modern office in downtown Bel Air. We’re ready to help you achieve your best smile.
Monday: 8am – 4pm
Tuesday: 8am – 4pm
Wednesday: 7am – 3pm
Thursday: 7am – 3pm
Friday: By Appointment Only
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
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