Dental Implants
Single implants through full-arch restorations.
Why implants
An implant is the closest modern dentistry comes to replacing a natural tooth. The titanium post integrates with your jawbone and functions like a root. The final crown matches your remaining teeth in shade and contour. Unlike bridges, implants do not require grinding down adjacent teeth.
The placement process
We place implants in our in-office surgical suite with 3D imaging and guided-placement technology. Most single implants take 45 to 60 minutes with local anesthesia. Sedation is available for patients who prefer it. After placement, you go home the same day with specific care instructions.
Bone healing and restoration
The implant needs three to four months to integrate with your jawbone before the crown is placed. During this healing period you have a provisional in place, so you never have a gap. At the end of healing, we deliver the final crown, custom-designed to match your bite and smile.
Full-arch restorations
For patients missing most or all teeth in an arch, we deliver full-arch implant-supported restorations. Four to six implants stabilize a fixed bridge that functions and feels like natural teeth. We work with a specialist oral surgeon and a master prosthodontist for these cases.
When bone grafting is part of the plan
About 30 percent of our implant cases need some amount of bone grafting first, usually because the extraction site has lost volume over time. Minor grafting is done during the extraction appointment and adds 2 to 3 months to the timeline. Larger grafts are planned separately and may add 4 to 6 months.
The details other practices skip.
- 1.Dr. Lowe personally places every implant and designs the prosthetic plan
- 2.3D CBCT imaging and surgical guides for every case, not just complex ones
- 3.In-house surgical suite, no external referrals for routine cases
- 4.Under-2-percent failure rate, backed by a 5-year replacement guarantee
What the full timeline looks like.
Consultation and imaging
75 minutes. 3D CBCT scan, treatment planning, and written proposal with timeline.
Surgical placement
60 to 90 minutes. Implant placed with guided surgical template. Provisional fitted.
Healing check
20 minutes at week 2. Suture removal and integration assessment.
Integration confirmed
30 minutes at month 3. Implant tested for stability. Ready for crown.
Crown impressions
45 minutes. Digital impressions sent to ceramist for custom crown fabrication.
Final delivery
60 minutes. Custom crown seated. Bite and aesthetics verified. Photography documentation.
What your fee actually includes.
Planmeca ProMax 3D CBCT
Full 3D imaging at a fraction of the radiation of a traditional medical CT.
Computer-guided surgical templates
Every implant placed with a 3D-printed surgical guide for sub-millimeter precision.
Osstell implant stability testing
Measures actual bone integration before committing to the final crown.
How it plays out in practice.
Situation · Lost a lower molar to an unrestorable fracture. Good bone volume. Non-smoker. No medical contraindications.
Outcome · Single implant placed same day as extraction. 4-month healing. Final crown delivered in month 5. Total cost: $5,400.
Situation · Failing upper bridge from 20 years ago. Two remaining anchor teeth unsalvageable. Needed a long-term solution.
Outcome · Three implants supporting a four-unit fixed bridge. Included minor grafting. 6-month timeline. Coordinated with oral surgeon.
Situation · Full upper denture, lower natural teeth in good condition. Frustrated with denture function.
Outcome · Four-implant fixed upper bridge. Removed need for denture entirely. Timeline: 7 months with grafting stage. Daily comfort transformed.
Are implants painful?
Placement is done with local anesthesia, and most patients report it as less intense than a root canal. Day-after soreness is usually manageable with ibuprofen. We see patients for a follow-up 10 days after placement.
How long do implants last?
The implant post itself is designed to last a lifetime when properly maintained. The crown on top typically lasts 15 to 25 years. Patients who maintain their routine cleanings and take care of their oral health rarely see implant failure.
What if the implant fails?
Implant failure at Meridian runs below 2 percent, well under the 5 percent industry average. If an implant fails within 5 years of placement, we replace it at no cost. After 5 years, replacement is at 50 percent of the current fee.
Talk to us about dental implants.
Complimentary consultation. One hour with a clinical director, imaging, and a written treatment plan.