Dental Implants
Pembroke Family Dental Care
Dental Implants in Virginia Beach, VA | Pembroke Family Dental Care
You lost a tooth. Maybe it was sudden — a bad fall, a cracked molar that finally gave up. Maybe it happened slowly, a tooth that had been struggling for years before it had to come out. Either way, you’re left with a gap that doesn’t let you forget it’s there. Every bite, every smile in the mirror.
If you’ve been searching for dental implants near me or need a missing tooth replacement dentist you can actually trust, you’re in the right place. A dental implant is the closest thing dentistry has to replacing what you actually lost — not just the visible tooth, but the root underneath it.
At Pembroke Family Dental Care, Dr. Cary Savage and his team have been providing dental implants in Virginia Beach for over 33 years. If you’re exploring implants, here’s what you need to know before you make that call.
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What a Dental Implant Actually Is
Most people picture the crown — the white tooth-shaped cap on top. That’s the part you see. But the implant itself is a small titanium post that goes into your jawbone, right where your tooth root used to be.
Once that post fuses with the bone (a process called osseointegration, which takes a few months), it acts like a real root. Stable. Permanent. Not going anywhere.
On top of that post sits an abutment, and on top of that sits your crown — custom-made to match your other teeth in shape, size, and color.
Three parts. One result that looks and works like a natural tooth.
Why Implants Are Different from Other Options
You might be weighing implants against dentures or a dental bridge. Fair question. Here’s an honest comparison.
Bridges work by anchoring to the teeth on either side of the gap. To do that, those neighboring teeth have to be filed down — healthy teeth, permanently altered, to support the replacement. You also lose nothing in the gap itself, so the jawbone underneath slowly starts to shrink over time because there’s no root to stimulate it.
Dentures are removable, which means they move. They can slip when you eat, they require adhesive, and they need to be taken out and cleaned. Over time, as the jawbone changes shape without tooth roots to support it, dentures fit less and less reliably.
Implants don’t touch your neighboring teeth. They go into the jawbone directly, which means the bone stays stimulated and doesn’t shrink. They don’t come out at night. You brush them like normal teeth. Built to last decades — with proper care, often a lifetime.
The tooth implant cost in Virginia Beach is higher upfront than other options. That’s the honest truth. But for most patients, the long-term math works out differently than they expect. When you factor in relining dentures, replacing failed bridges, or treating bone loss years down the road, affordable dental implants in VA often end up being the more cost-effective choice over time. We go over all numbers in detail at your consultation — no surprises.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Most adults in reasonable health qualify for implants. A few things that matter:
Bone density. The implant needs enough jawbone to anchor into. If you’ve been missing a tooth for a while, some bone loss may have already occurred. In some cases, a bone graft is needed first to build that foundation back up. Not everyone needs this, but it’s worth knowing upfront.
Gum health. Active gum disease needs to be treated before implant placement. Putting an implant into infected tissue is asking for failure.
Smoking. Smokers can get implants, but smoking slows healing and raises the risk of complications. Dr. Savage will be straightforward with you about this.
Systemic conditions. Uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications, and radiation therapy to the jaw can affect how well implants heal. Worth a full conversation before moving forward.
The only way to know for sure is an exam and X-rays. If you’re not a candidate, we’ll tell you — and we’ll tell you what would need to change before you could be.
The Implant Process, Step by Step
There’s no way to sugarcoat this: getting a dental implant takes time. This isn’t a one-appointment fix. But each step is straightforward.
Step 1 — Consultation and Planning We take X-rays and evaluate the site. We look at bone volume, neighboring teeth, gum health. You get a clear picture of what the process looks like for your specific situation — timeline, costs, any additional steps needed.
Step 2 — Implant Placement The titanium post is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia. The procedure itself usually takes under an hour per implant. Some soreness and swelling for a few days after is normal. Most patients are back to their routine quickly.
Step 3 — Healing This is the waiting period — typically 3 to 6 months — while the post fuses with the bone. You’re not walking around with a visible gap this whole time; a temporary crown covers the site.
Step 4 — Abutment and Final Crown Once the implant is stable, the abutment is attached and your permanent crown is placed. This is your final tooth — shaped and shaded to blend with the rest of your smile.
That’s it. You come in for follow-up checkups, brush and floss normally, and get on with your life.
Implant-Supported Options for Multiple Missing Teeth
Implants aren’t only for single missing teeth. If you’ve been looking for a single tooth implant near me in the Virginia Beach area, we handle that — but our options go further.
If you’re missing several teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge uses just two implants to anchor a multi-tooth restoration — without touching the surrounding healthy teeth.
If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, implant-supported dentures (sometimes called All-on-4 or similar) are a fixed alternative to traditional removable dentures. They snap or screw onto implants, so they don’t move. You can eat normally. They don’t come out at night unless a dentist removes them.
We’ll discuss which option fits your situation during your consultation.
Caring for Your Implant
Same as your natural teeth. Brush twice a day. Floss. Come in for your regular cleanings.
Implants can’t get cavities — the crown is ceramic, not enamel. But the gum tissue around the implant can still get inflamed if you’re not cleaning it properly, and that can threaten the implant over time. So don’t treat it as maintenance-free. Just treat it like a tooth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
The tooth implant cost in Virginia Beach depends on how many teeth need replacing, whether a bone graft is needed, and which restoration is involved. A single implant typically runs $3,000–$5,000 all-in. Implant-supported bridges or full-arch restorations cost more. We walk through every cost at your consultation so you know exactly what you’re looking at before committing to anything.
Yes. Implants cost more upfront than dentures or bridges, but they tend to last a lifetime with proper care. Most patients find that affordable dental implants in VA work out cheaper in the long run than repeatedly replacing or relining other options. We accept most private insurance plans and offer Care Credit financing to help spread the cost.
Coverage varies. Some plans cover the crown but not the implant post. Others don’t cover implants at all. We’ll review your plan before treatment so you know your out-of-pocket costs upfront.
Most healthy adults qualify. The two main factors are bone density and gum health. If you’ve had bone loss since losing your tooth, a graft may be needed before placement. An exam and X-rays at your consultation will give you a clear answer.
Typically 4 to 8 months from consultation to final crown. The surgery itself takes under an hour per implant. The wait is the healing time — 3 to 6 months for the post to fuse with the bone. You’ll have a temporary crown during this period.
It’s done under local anesthesia. Most patients say it was less uncomfortable than they expected. Post-surgery soreness usually resolves within a few days and is manageable with over-the-counter medication in most cases.
Yes. A single tooth implant is one of the most common procedures we do. If you’re searching for a single tooth implant near me in Virginia Beach, we can evaluate your specific situation and walk you through the process from start to finish.
Dr. Savage has been treating Virginia Beach families for over 33 years. This isn’t a high-volume implant chain. You get a dentist who knows your history, will tell you honestly whether implants are right for you, and won’t push treatment you don’t need.
Ready to Find Out If Implants Are Right for You?
Pembroke Family Dental Care is located at 4400 Corporation Lane, Suite 101, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. We’ve been taking care of Virginia Beach families for over three decades.
If you’ve been searching for dental implants near me, or you just need a straight answer from a missing tooth replacement dentist who’s been doing this for 33 years — give us a call. We’ll look at your specific situation, tell you what’s realistic, and help you figure out the best path forward.
Call us at (757) 499-3522 or email [email protected] to set up a consultation.
You don’t have to keep working around that gap.