Dental Implant FAQs

A single dental implant (including extraction, bone graft, implant, abutment, and crown) placed and restored by specialists typically costs around $9,000. The traditional process involves 3 surgeries, 8 visits, about 10 months, and coordination between 2 doctors or locations. Additional procedures such as membranes, biologics, bone grafting, gum grafting, or sinus lifts can increase the cost further.

At Bedford Dental Care, we prefer to avoid surprises. We charge a flat fee of $6,250 for a single implant from start to finish. The process involves 4 visits instead of 8, 1 surgery instead of 3, and 3.5 months instead of 10—all under one provider in one office. With this fee, Dr. Herrera includes whatever additional procedures your case requires to achieve the ideal result.

Patients report that the actual placement of the implant is surprisingly comfortable. We use local anesthetic (and sedation if desired), so you will not feel pain during the procedure—only pressure and vibration. Afterward, once the anesthetic wears off, Dr. Herrera’s implant patients routinely report only slight soreness. This is made possible by our gentle and advanced implant protocols, most notably the use of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF).

It is rare for a dental implant to be fully covered by insurance. While some plans occasionally provide coverage, full coverage is not the norm.

Yes, we do! Many patients choose to take advantage of our 0% interest financing through third-party lenders such as Cherry, Sunbit, Proceed, and CareCredit.

In our practice, the most common reason a patient is not a candidate for an implant is when the tooth was removed years earlier and the bone has resorbed over time. Certain medical factors can also affect candidacy. These include vitamin D deficiency, heavy smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis medications (bisphosphonates), and cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiation). This is not an exhaustive list—we evaluate each patient individually.

In short, choose a dentist you have vetted and trust.

Implant dentistry has changed a lot in recent years. Dr. Herrera follows the Zero Bone Loss Protocol to create a biologically compatible restoration that minimizes food traps (the most common complaint of implant patients) and reduces the risk of future bone loss.

A helpful question to ask any dentist you’re considering is, “Are you familiar with the Zero Bone Loss Concepts, and how do you prevent bone loss and food traps around implants?” Since the Zero Bone Loss Concepts book was published in 2019, the standard many implant dentists aim for has shifted. Some bone loss and food impaction used to be considered normal; today the goal is zero bone loss and no food impaction, and with these techniques we are even seeing bone growth.

The surgical visit typically takes 1–2 hours. The full process involves 4 visits over about 3.5 months, and in some cases it can be completed in as little as 8 weeks.

Ideally, a dental implant will last a lifetime. In a healthy environment with good home care, there is no reason an implant cannot last 40 years or more. Similar to hip replacements in orthopedics (which typically last 15–25 years), long-term success depends on the patient’s overall health and habits. At Bedford Dental Care we’ve got you covered for the first 10 years with our quality assurance policy.

Yes, very much so—especially with an immediate implant. Because we can closely replicate the way your natural tooth emerged from the gums along with its shape and color, the result typically feels and looks very natural.

For a full-arch case, yes—you will leave with a temporary set of teeth.

For a single tooth, you have the option of a temporary or going without one during healing. Placing a temporary tooth increases the risk of implant failure if accidental pressure is placed on it while chewing.

We offer four options:

• Awake with just local anesthetic
• Awake but relaxed with nitrous (how most patients do it)
• Awake but relaxed with oral sedation and nitrous
• If you prefer not to be aware of or have any memory of the procedure, we will bring in an anesthesiologist to provide deeper levels of sedation.

Recovery should be comfortable. You may experience some mild soreness, but most patients return to work the next day. Strenuous activity should be avoided for a few days.

If the adjacent teeth are in good shape, Dr. Herrera will always recommend an implant over a bridge. In this case there is a one-tooth problem, and an implant is a one-tooth solution that spares the adjacent teeth. There is no need to shave down healthy teeth just to replace one tooth.

If the adjacent teeth are already crowned or have significant dental work or dental needs, then a bridge is a great solution. In these cases a bridge can potentially address not only the missing tooth but also the health of the adjacent teeth where the bridge will be anchored.

• Benefits of implants: They can last a lifetime, spare adjacent teeth, and are immune to cavities.
• Benefits of a bridge: Usually covered by insurance, faster, and slightly less expensive.

When choosing between dentures and All-on-4, it is important to ensure your dentist presents all available options, including FP1, FP2, and FP3, and creates a precise treatment plan tailored to your facial anatomy and aesthetic goals.

Traditional dentures rest loosely on the gums, offer limited chewing power, and often require replacements over time as the jawbone shrinks. In Dr. Herrera’s experience, patients generally tolerate an upper denture better than a lower one. A lower denture faces significant challenges because the jaw, cheeks, and tongue are constantly moving—making it difficult for the denture to stay stable.

In contrast, the All-on-4 approach provides a permanently fixed, highly stable set of prosthetic teeth and gums anchored by four implants. Chewing is more effective, and the prosthesis will not loosen or fall out while speaking.

However, “All-on-4” is a broad concept. True All-on-4 typically uses an FP3 prosthesis, which is most appropriate for patients who already have severe bone loss because it replaces both the missing teeth and the lost pink gum tissue. If you have little or no bone loss, you may be a better candidate for an FP1 (which replaces only the teeth while keeping your natural gums) or an FP2 (which replaces the teeth with longer-looking crowns while still preserving your natural gums) if bone loss is moderate.

If you are considering a full-arch implant solution, ask your dentist whether they perform FP1, FP2, and FP3 restorations. Not all providers offer the full range of options, and some may default to an FP3 (All-on-4) approach even when a more conservative option would better preserve your natural structures. It is common for All-on-4 providers to amputate jaw bone in order to fit the prosthesis in the mouth. The goal is to choose the solution that best matches your anatomy rather than fitting your case to the single technique offered.

Many patients joke that they are too old for dental implants or too old to invest in themselves, but that is not the case. Age is just a number. If you are generally healthy, you are not too old for an implant. It is never too late to invest in your health. No matter how many years you have left, we want those years to be quality years with you eating the food you enjoy and feeling confident.

Depending on the location of the missing tooth, you might not feel the need to replace it. The short answer is no—you do not need an implant to replace a missing tooth. At Bedford Dental Care, we take time to understand your oral health goals and support you in reaching them. That said, we do educate patients about the risks of leaving a space untreated. Adjacent teeth can begin to drift into the gap, and the opposing tooth can super-erupt into the empty space. Over time this can change your bite, affect gum health, and, in some cases, make implant placement or alternative treatment impossible without orthodontics to move the teeth back.

Dr. Herrera will always recommend saving a tooth when it is reasonably possible. A root canal is an excellent treatment that can extend the life of a tooth while still leaving the option of an implant later if needed. After evaluation, if a tooth is unrestorable or would require extensive procedures for a compromised result, Dr. Herrera will recommend an implant. Some patients prefer extraction for personal or holistic reasons; we respect those wishes and can proceed with an implant instead.

Almost never in the way you might expect. When an extraction and implant are performed together, our immediate implant protocols allow Dr. Herrera to place implants in situations that traditionally would have required significant bone grafting or sinus lifts. Any grafting that is performed with an immediate implant is primarily to support the soft tissues rather than to rebuild a foundation for the implant itself. Bone grafting to rebuild volume is more commonly needed when a tooth has already been extracted and the site has healed. We determine this with a CBCT 3D scan and will explain your options clearly.

Don’t wait, always go for an immediate implant when possible. Immediate implants are Dr. Herrera’s favorite procedure—his motto is “Go Immediate, or go home.” Immediate implants are just as successful, if not more successful, than delayed implants and deliver superior results. They are minimally invasive and allow us to replicate your natural tooth’s gum contours, which helps prevent food impaction once the final restoration is placed. Even when infection is present, an immediate implant is still possible with our disinfection protocol. This approach reduces the process from 3 surgeries to 1, 8 visits to 4, and 10 months to 3.5 months.

Stick to soft foods. A practical test is to imagine the flimsiest plastic fork you have ever used—if that fork can mash the food, it is soft enough. With a single implant, dietary restrictions are minimal as long as you avoid chewing on the temporary. With a full-arch temporary, soft foods are required until the final restoration is placed to avoid fracturing the temporary.

The risk of implant failure is higher if you smoke or have uncontrolled diabetes. If you stop smoking during the healing period and your diabetes is well controlled, implant treatment can still be successful.

Every case has its own risks. In general, possible issues include pain, bleeding, bruising, and damage to adjacent teeth or structures:

• In the upper jaw (maxilla): sinus communication
• In the lower jaw (mandible): nerve damage

• How many implants have you placed, and do you have before-and-after photos of a case like mine? I have placed hundreds of implants, and I document cases extremely well, so I definitely have case photos similar to yours.
• How long from start to finish to get my tooth back? About 3.5 months for most cases; sometimes it can be done in as little as 8 weeks.
• Do you do immediate implants? Yes, all the time! I much prefer immediate implants over delayed implants. They cut surgeries down from 3 to 1 and get patients their tooth faster with superior results.
• What is your quality assurance policy should the implant fail? 10 years, as long as you have been coming to your routine exams and cleanings.
• What do you do to create an implant without a food trap and with Zero Bone Loss? Ask your doctor if they do any of these critical steps. Dr. Herrera does the following:
  • Ultrapolished zirconia. It is so biocompatible that gums adhere tightly to it. This is a deliberate 6-step process.
  • Plasma implant surface treatment. It helps the implant integrate faster in the first 6 weeks of healing, making earlier loading possible.
  • Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF). It accelerates healing, decreases pain, inflammation, and infection risk, and helps soft tissue heal very quickly.
  • Deep implant placement. Minimum of 4.5 mm from the level of the gums.

There are generally three stages where an implant can fail or become infected:

1. Right after your implant is placed. Some tenderness and mild swelling are normal for the first few days. Pain lasting longer than one week without improvement, or sudden sharp or worsening pain, is not normal. If you experience these symptoms, it could be a sign of a failed or infected implant—please call our office right away.
2. During the first few months after placement. If you make it past the early healing period and one day the implant feels wobbly or loose, this can be as simple as a component needing to be tightened, or it can indicate that the implant did not fully integrate (most often from chewing on it too soon). Call us so we can take a look. In many cases we can remove the implant and place another in its place the same day. This extends treatment time slightly, but it is still faster than the traditional delayed approach.
3. After functioning for years. If your implant has been fully functional for years but you notice red or puffy gums, bleeding, pus, a bad taste, a pimple on the gums, or a loose tooth, this may be a sign that the implant is infected or failing—call us to schedule a visit. At your routine exams we monitor implants with X-rays to look for early signs of bone loss.

Dr. Herrera uses a specific protocol to place and restore implants so they are highly biocompatible. We recommend avoiding string floss around implants and prefer a water flosser along with a soft-bristle electric toothbrush. At hygiene visits, our team uses instruments and techniques (including Guided Biofilm Therapy) designed to avoid scratching the implant surface. Surface scratches can create roughness that harbors bacteria and contributes to inflammation and future bone loss.

Usually when something is loose, it is the prosthetic components and not the implant itself. Call right away so we can tighten it. In the rare case that the implant itself is loose, we will evaluate and most likely be able to replace the implant with a new one.

Traditionally, large sinus lift procedures were often required to place implants in the upper posterior jaw. At Bedford Dental Care, Dr. Herrera is usually able to avoid sinus lifts entirely or perform only a minor lift at the time of extraction and implant placement. This eliminates the need for an additional surgery, does not significantly increase procedure time, and recovery remains the same.

Just as in the United States, there are excellent providers and mediocre ones in every country. The main challenge we see with overseas treatment is managing complications and obtaining the correct parts later. The experience can be great if everything goes smoothly, but complications become difficult when you do not have a local provider familiar with the system used. We have helped patients treated abroad, and it is often challenging to determine exactly what was done. Many overseas providers use components that are uncommon in the U.S., which makes repairs or adjustments difficult or impossible. Most US dentists will not take on such cases because of the time and uncertainty involved in troubleshooting.