What a dental implant actually is
A dental implant is a small titanium post that takes the place of the root of a missing tooth. Once placed in the jawbone, it integrates with the bone over several months and becomes a permanent anchor. On top of it, we build a crown — or a bridge, or a denture attachment — that looks and feels like a natural tooth.
Implants have been used in dentistry for more than fifty years. The biology is well-understood and the long-term success rate is above 95 percent. They stop the slow bone loss that follows tooth loss, they preserve the shape of your face, and they let you eat normally without worrying about a tooth shifting.
Why we keep implants in-house
Most general practices refer the surgical phase out to a periodontist or oral surgeon. That means two offices, two waiting rooms, two billing departments, and a long handoff in the middle of your treatment.
Dr. James Willis, DDS built the Willis Dentistry network specifically so this would not be the patient’s problem. At Westlake we plan the case, place the implant, and deliver the final restoration — all in the same chair, the same practice, the same continuous record. Especially valuable when you live an hour from a metropolitan area and do not want to make extra trips into Roanoke or Lynchburg.
The treatment timeline
Consultation and planning. We take a 3D scan of your jaw, review your bone density, and plan the implant position digitally before any surgery. You see your case the same way we do.
Surgical placement. Done in our office, with local anesthesia. Most single-implant placements take less than an hour. You go home the same day with simple care instructions.
Healing. Three to four months for the implant to fuse with bone. We protect the area with a temporary solution as needed.
Final restoration. Once healing is complete, we attach the abutment and the final crown. You leave with a tooth that looks and feels like your own.
Implants for more than one tooth
Two or three adjacent missing teeth can be replaced with an implant-supported bridge — fewer implants than missing teeth, still a fixed restoration. For patients missing most or all of their teeth, implant-retained dentures snap onto two to four implants for a stable, secure fit that does not move when you talk or eat.
Is an implant right for you?
Most adults are candidates. The key factors are bone volume, gum health, and overall medical status. We will tell you candidly whether you are a good candidate, whether you might benefit from a small bone graft first, or whether an alternative — a bridge or a denture — would serve you better.