Single & Multi-Tooth Implants
Replace a missing tooth without altering the ones beside it.
When you lose a single tooth — or a few — a dental implant restores what is missing without altering healthy neighboring teeth. Each implant is planned in three dimensions and placed using a precision-fit custom surgical guide, designed and 3D-printed by Dr. Jackson himself.
The choice
Why an implant?
A dental implant replaces both the root and the crown of a missing tooth. The implant itself is a small titanium post placed into your jawbone, where it integrates and acts as an artificial root. A custom-made crown is then attached to the top, restoring full function and a natural appearance.
Compared to the alternatives, implants offer something none of the others can:
Versus a bridge.
A traditional bridge requires altering the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap to serve as anchors for the replacement tooth. Those teeth are permanently changed. An implant stands on its own and leaves your healthy teeth completely untouched.
Versus a partial denture.
Removable partials shift, click, and require nightly removal. They also accelerate bone loss in the jaw because the gum tissue is not stimulated by a tooth root. Implants stimulate the bone the way natural teeth do, helping preserve the underlying jaw structure for the long term.
Versus doing nothing.
A missing tooth does not stay isolated for long. Adjacent teeth begin to drift into the empty space, the opposing tooth can over-erupt, your bite shifts, and the bone underneath the gap begins to resorb. What starts as one missing tooth can become a much bigger problem over time. Replacing the tooth promptly prevents that cascade.
Several teeth
What if I am missing several teeth?
You do not always need one implant per tooth. When several adjacent teeth are missing, a smaller number of strategically placed implants can support a fixed bridge — giving you a permanent, natural-looking result without an implant for every missing tooth.
For example, three missing teeth in a row can often be restored with two implants supporting a three-tooth bridge. Five missing teeth might be restored with three implants. The right configuration depends on your specific anatomy, bone quality, and the location of the gap — all of which we evaluate during your 3D scan and planning phase.
If you are missing most or all of the teeth in an arch, All-on-X is typically the better path. Learn more about All-on-X . We will talk through which approach makes sense at your consultation.
Custom surgical guides
A custom surgical guide, designed for your case
Most single-tooth and multi-tooth implants at Jackson Dentistry are placed using a custom 3D-printed surgical guide — a precision device Dr. Jackson designs and fabricates himself for each individual case.
Here is how that works. After your CBCT 3D scan, Dr. Jackson uses Blue Sky Plan three-dimensional software to position your implant exactly where it needs to go to support the final crown — accounting for bone, neighboring teeth, sinuses, nerves, and bite. From that plan, he designs a surgical guide — a small, custom-fitted device that locks into place over your teeth and physically directs the drill to follow the planned path. He then 3D-prints the guide in our in-house lab.
During the procedure, the guide seats over your teeth and contains positioning sleeves through which Dr. Jackson runs each surgical drill and ultimately places the implant. The guide ensures the implant is placed at exactly the angle, depth, and location designed in the digital plan. The result is implant placement that closely matches the digital plan, often through a flapless approach — meaning a smaller surgical site and a smoother recovery.
Dr. Jackson has personally designed and 3D-printed more than 300 surgical guides for his own implant cases. The familiarity with the workflow means cases proceed predictably and with the level of precision that careful planning makes possible.
For specific cases where robotic guidance offers a meaningful advantage — particularly full-arch cases or unusually complex anatomy — we use the Yomi robotic implant system instead. Learn more about Yomi .
300+ custom surgical guides personally designed and 3D-printed by Dr. Jackson in our in-house lab.
Front teeth
Front teeth: a natural-looking temporary the next day
Losing a front tooth — or facing the prospect of losing one — is different from losing a molar. You cannot hide it. You cannot wait months with a gap before a final crown. For implants in the anterior (front) region, our standard approach is immediate loading: a custom temporary tooth is placed on the implant the day after the procedure.
Here is how the timing works. Dr. Jackson places the implant on the day of the procedure using a custom surgical guide for precision. While you rest at home, our in-house lab uses your post-procedure scan data to design and produce a custom-fit temporary crown. You return the next day and the temporary is attached — a tooth in your smile, designed specifically for your case.
The temporary stays in place during the healing period — looking and functioning naturally — and is later replaced with the final crown once the implant has fully integrated.
For posterior (back) teeth, we typically allow the implant to heal for three to six months before placing the final crown, which produces the most reliable long-term result. The healing happens out of sight, and most patients find the wait easy.
What to expect
Your treatment timeline
- 1
Phase 1
Consultation and 3D scan.
We examine the area, capture a CBCT 3D scan, and discuss your options. If an implant is right for you, you will leave with a clear understanding of your treatment plan and the cost of your care.
- 2
Phase 2
Records and digital planning.
At your next visit, we capture an iTero digital scan and any additional records needed. Dr. Jackson personally plans your implant in Blue Sky Plan three-dimensional software — typically completing the plan within a day or two — and designs and 3D-prints your custom surgical guide in our in-house lab.
- 3
Phase 3
Implant placement.
Your implant is placed using the custom surgical guide. Many cases are flapless and completed within an hour. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two.
- 4
Phase 4
Healing.
The implant integrates with your jawbone over approximately three to six months. For front-tooth implants, you will receive a custom temporary crown the day after the procedure, so you are never without a tooth in the visible zone. For back-tooth implants, the healing period is typically uneventful and out of sight.
- 5
Phase 5
Final crown.
Once healed, we attach the final crown — designed to match your surrounding teeth in shape, color, and bite. Your digital impression is sent to our trusted outside laboratory partner, with the final crown typically returning within approximately a week.
Day-to-day
Living with a dental implant
Once healed, an implant looks and functions like a natural tooth. You brush and floss it the way you do the rest of your teeth. You eat what you want. You do not think about it.
The only meaningful difference from a natural tooth is that an implant cannot get a cavity — though the gum tissue around it still requires the same care as any other tooth. Regular cleanings and good home hygiene keep implants healthy for decades.
Frequently asked
Common questions
How long does the whole process take?
From consultation to final crown, most single-tooth cases span four to six months — most of that being healing time. The active dental visits are short and infrequent. Multi-tooth cases follow a similar timeline.
Will it hurt?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, with oral sedation available if you would like a more relaxed experience. Most single-implant patients report mild soreness for a day or two and do not need much beyond over-the-counter pain relief. The flapless approach made possible by precise surgical guides significantly reduces post-procedure discomfort.
What does it cost?
Single-tooth implant costs vary based on the case — whether bone grafting is needed, the type of crown, and other factors. You will leave your consultation with a clear understanding of the cost of your care. We also offer financing through CareCredit and our in-house Membership Savings Plan for patients without dental insurance.
Will my insurance cover it?
Many dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of implant treatment, though coverage varies widely. We are out-of-network with all dental insurance plans but happy to file claims on your behalf as a courtesy. We perform a complimentary benefits check before treatment and provide an estimate of what your insurance is likely to pay. Ultimately, the cost of treatment is the responsibility of the patient.
What if I do not have enough bone for an implant?
This is common, especially if a tooth has been missing for a while. We can usually rebuild the bone using bone grafting and PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), often at the same time as the implant placement or shortly before. Your CBCT scan tells us exactly what is needed. Dr. Jackson has successfully treated many patients who had been told elsewhere that they had insufficient bone.
Can I get an implant if I had a tooth pulled years ago?
Yes, in most cases. The longer a tooth has been missing, the more likely some bone loss has occurred — but bone grafting can address that. Many patients we see have been missing teeth for years or even decades and are still excellent candidates.
What if I need a tooth pulled and want to replace it with an implant?
In most cases — approximately 85% of the time — we are able to extract the tooth and place the implant in a single surgery, with bone graft material and PRF packed around the implant. This saves you a separate procedure, a separate healing period, and several months on the overall timeline. For front teeth, we follow up with a custom temporary crown the day after, so you are never walking around with a visible gap. In a smaller number of cases, clinical circumstances make it advisable to extract first, allow the site to heal for several months, and return for the implant placement as a second surgery — we will explain why clearly if that is the right approach for your case. Either way, your CBCT scan and consultation tell us which path makes the most sense for your situation.
If I am losing a front tooth, will I have a gap during healing?
Only briefly. We place the implant on the day of the procedure, and our in-house lab produces a custom temporary crown overnight using your post-procedure scan data. You return the next day and the temporary is attached — a natural-looking tooth in your smile that stays in place throughout the healing period. The temporary is later replaced with the final crown once the implant has fully integrated.
Ready to replace a missing tooth the right way?
A consultation and 3D scan tell us everything we need to know. We will explain your options clearly, including alternatives, and you will leave the appointment with a clear understanding of your treatment plan and the cost of your care.