Dental Implants in Palm Coast, FL
Losing a tooth changes more than the way your smile looks. It changes how you chew, how clearly you speak, and over time it changes where the rest of your teeth sit. Dental implants replace a missing tooth from the root up, which is why they end up feeling and working so much like the tooth you lost.
Dentique Dental has cared for families across Flagler County for more than 35 years. Dr. Patricia Hostyn and Dr. Bich Dao plan every implant case individually, and you will know what the treatment involves, how long it takes, and what it costs before anything gets started.
What a Dental Implant Actually Is
An implant is not one piece. It is a three-part restoration built to replace both the visible tooth and the root underneath it.
The Implant Post
A small screw-shaped post, usually titanium, is placed into the jawbone where the root used to be. Bone grows around it over the following months and locks it in position.
The Abutment
This connector attaches to the top of the healed post. It sits right at the gumline and holds the final restoration.
The Crown
The crown is the part you see. It is made from porcelain or a comparable material, shaded to match the teeth on either side, and shaped so your bite closes the way it should.
Why Replacing a Missing Tooth Matters
A gap does not stay a gap. The teeth beside it start drifting toward the open space, which throws your bite off and creates tight spots that are hard to clean. The bone under the gap also begins to shrink, because bone needs the pressure of a tooth root to hold its density. Give it a year or two and that loss can start to show in the shape of the lower face.
An implant is the only tooth replacement that puts a root back into the bone. That is what keeps the bone working and stops the rest of the chain reaction before it starts.
Are You a Good Candidate?
- The height and density of bone at the site of the missing tooth
- The condition of your gums and the teeth on either side
- Habits that slow healing, including smoking and nighttime grinding
- Medical conditions or medications that affect how bone repairs itself
Thin bone is not automatically a dead end. A graft can often build the site up first and set you up for a stable implant later. If an implant is not the right call for you, we will say so and walk you through bridges and partial dentures instead.
Are You a Good Candidate?
- The height and density of bone at the site of the missing tooth
- The condition of your gums and the teeth on either side
- Habits that slow healing, including smoking and nighttime grinding
- Medical conditions or medications that affect how bone repairs itself
Thin bone is not automatically a dead end. A graft can often build the site up first and set you up for a stable implant later. If an implant is not the right call for you, we will say so and walk you through bridges and partial dentures instead.
The Process, Step by Step
- Consultation and imaging. Digital images show us the bone volume and the position of nerves and sinuses so we can map exactly where the post belongs.
- Placement. The post goes in during a single appointment under local anesthetic. Most patients tell us the recovery was easier than they expected, with a few sore days rather than a few sore weeks.
- Healing. Bone bonds to the post over roughly three to six months. You wear a temporary restoration during this stretch, so you are never walking around with an obvious gap.
- Abutment and final crown. Once the site has integrated, we attach the abutment and seat your custom crown, then check the fit and adjust the bite until you stop noticing it is there.
One Tooth, Several Teeth, or a Full Arch
A single implant replaces one tooth without touching the healthy teeth beside it, which is a real advantage over a traditional bridge. Two implants can anchor a bridge across a wider span. A set of implants can secure a full denture so it stays put while you eat and talk instead of resting loose on the gums.
Which approach fits depends on how many teeth are missing, where they sit, and how much bone you have to work with. We lay out every option with its timeline and its cost, then let you decide.
Living With Your Implants
Care is not complicated. Brush twice a day, floss around the implant the way you would a natural tooth, and keep your cleaning appointments so we can watch the gum and bone around it. An implant cannot decay, but the tissue supporting it can develop problems if plaque is left to build up. Patients who stay on a regular hygiene schedule often keep the same implant for decades.
Why Patients Choose Dentique Dental
Implant work is detail work, and small errors in planning show up years later. Both of our doctors treat restorative cases as part of whole-mouth care rather than a one-off procedure, so the plan accounts for your bite, your gum health, and the teeth you still have.
You also get the practical side handled. Our front desk verifies your dental benefits before treatment begins and reviews payment options with you, so the number you hear at the consultation is the number you can plan around.
Common Questions About Dental Implants
How long do dental implants last?
The post itself is designed to be permanent, and with good hygiene many last 25 years or longer. The crown on top sees daily wear and may need replacing somewhere between 10 and 20 years.
Does getting an implant hurt?
Placement is done under local anesthetic, so you should not feel the procedure itself. Expect some tenderness and swelling for a few days afterward, usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
What does an implant cost?
Cost depends on whether a graft or extraction is needed and on the type of restoration going on top. We give you a written estimate at your consultation, along with what your insurance is likely to cover.
Is there an age limit for implants?
No. What matters is bone quality and general health, not the number on your chart. We regularly place implants for patients in their seventies and eighties.
Schedule Your Implant Consultation
If you have been living with a gap, or you are tired of a partial that moves when you eat, a consultation is the place to start. Call 386-206-7596 or request an appointment online, and we will get you in to talk through your options.
How long do dental implants last?
The post itself is designed to be permanent, and with good hygiene many last 25 years or longer. The crown on top sees daily wear and may need replacing somewhere between 10 and 20 years.
Does getting an implant hurt?
Placement is done under local anesthetic, so you should not feel the procedure itself. Expect some tenderness and swelling for a few days afterward, usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief.
What does an implant cost?
Cost depends on whether a graft or extraction is needed and on the type of restoration going on top. We give you a written estimate at your consultation, along with what your insurance is likely to cover.
Is there an age limit for implants?
No. What matters is bone quality and general health, not the number on your chart. We regularly place implants for patients in their seventies and eighties.
Schedule Your Implant Consultation
If you have been living with a gap, or you are tired of a partial that moves when you eat, a consultation is the place to start. Call 386-206-7596 or request an appointment online, and we will get you in to talk through your options.