What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a small biocompatible titanium post that is surgically placed in the jawbone, where it fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration. Once integrated, the implant serves as a permanent artificial tooth root. A custom restoration is then attached: a crown for a single tooth, an implant-supported bridge for several teeth, or a full arch restoration for an entire row of missing teeth.

At Excellence in Dentistry, we use premium implant components rather than economy alternatives, because the quality of what goes into your mouth determines how well your restoration performs years from now.

Why Anchorage Patients Choose Dental Implants

Missing teeth affect far more than appearance. Gaps in your smile make chewing harder, cause neighboring teeth to shift, and allow the jawbone beneath the missing tooth to shrink over time. Traditional dentures and bridges replace the visible part of a tooth, but only a dental implant replaces the root.

Because implants integrate with your jawbone, they:

  • Stay fixed in place, with no slipping, clicking, or adhesives
  • Restore strong, natural chewing power
  • Stimulate the jawbone and help prevent bone loss and facial collapse
  • Protect neighboring teeth from shifting
  • Look, feel, and function like natural teeth

For patients throughout Anchorage and across Alaska, implants are a long-term investment in comfort, confidence, and oral health.

Your Tooth Replacement Options With Dental Implants

Single Tooth Dental Implants

If you are missing one tooth, a single implant topped with a natural-looking porcelain crown restores the tooth completely, without grinding down healthy neighboring teeth as a traditional bridge does.

Multiple Tooth Implants and Implant-Supported Bridges

When several teeth in a row are missing, an implant-supported bridge can replace them using just two implants as anchors. Unlike a traditional dental bridge, an implant-supported bridge does not rely on natural teeth for support, and it preserves the jawbone beneath the restoration.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant dentures solve the biggest complaints about traditional dentures: slipping, sore spots, weak chewing, and adhesives. By anchoring a denture to dental implants, we create a secure, stable restoration. Options include snap-in dentures, which you remove for cleaning, and fixed dentures, which stay in place permanently. Learn more on our dentures page.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant dentures solve the biggest complaints about traditional dentures: slipping, sore spots, weak chewing, and adhesives. By anchoring a denture to dental implants, we create a secure, stable restoration. Options include snap-in dentures, which you remove for cleaning, and fixed dentures, which stay in place permanently. Learn more on our dentures page.

Full Mouth Dental Implants and All-on-4

For patients missing all their teeth or facing the loss or failure of their teeth, full-mouth dental implants provide a permanent, non-removable new smile. Our All-on-4 dental implants technique secures a full arch of replacement teeth on as few as four implants. In many cases, patients can leave with a functional set of temporary teeth the same day as surgery, an approach often called Teeth in a Day.

Teeth in a Day Solutions in Anchorage

For qualifying full arch patients, we can place implants and attach a temporary set of fixed teeth in a single visit. You walk in with failing teeth or dentures and walk out with a secure, natural-looking smile while your implants heal. Once osseointegration is complete, your final full arch restoration is attached. During your consultation, Dr. Skinner or Dr. Fox will determine whether same-day teeth are an option for you.

Bone Grafting and Sinus Lift Procedures

Long-term tooth loss and gum disease can shrink the jawbone that implants rely on. That does not mean implants are out of reach. As part of our oral surgery services, we offer:

  • Bone grafting to rebuild jawbone volume and create a stable foundation for implant placement
  • Sinus lift procedures to add bone height in the upper jaw when the sinuses sit too close to the implant site

Many patients who were told they lack the bone for implants are still candidates, especially with techniques like the angled implant placement used in All-on-4.

Mature woman showing off her beautiful smile

How Much Do Dental Implants Cost in Anchorage?

Dental implant cost varies from patient to patient because every treatment plan is different. Factors include:

  • How many teeth are being replaced (single implant vs. full mouth dental implants)
  • Whether bone grafting or a sinus lift is needed
  • The type of restoration (crown, implant-supported bridge, implant dentures, or full arch)
  • Sedation choices
  • The quality of implant components and materials

While implants cost more upfront than dentures or bridges, they routinely last decades with proper care, which often makes them the most economical tooth replacement over a lifetime. We offer financing options to make treatment affordable, and your consultation includes a clear, personalized cost breakdown. No guessing, no surprises.

Advanced Implant Technology and Planning

Successful implant treatment starts long before surgery. At Excellence in Dentistry, your implant plan is built with:

  • CBCT 3D imaging to evaluate bone volume, nerve position, and sinus anatomy
  • iTero digital scanning for precise, comfortable impressions
  • Digital treatment planning and guided implant placement for accurate, predictable positioning
  • Neuromuscular bite analysis to ensure your new teeth function in harmony with your jaw joints and muscles

Dr. Skinner has completed extensive training in dental implants and advanced surgical procedures, and Dr. Fox brings more than 25 years of experience with complex dental cases. Because we handle planning, placement, and restoration in one office, your care stays coordinated from start to finish. Explore our advanced dental technology.

older man holding glasses in hand smiling with teeth
Mature woman smiling in office

IV Sedation for Comfortable Implant Surgery

Dental anxiety should never stand between you and a healthy smile. We are one of the few Anchorage practices offering true IV sedation, administered by dentists trained in its use, as well as oral conscious sedation and nitrous oxide. Most implant patients remember little or nothing of their procedure. Learn more about sedation dentistry at our office.

Dental Implants vs. Dentures

Traditional dentures rest on the gums, which means they can slip while eating or speaking, require adhesives, and allow the jawbone to shrink over time. Dental implants are fixed in the bone, restore near-natural chewing strength, and actively preserve the jaw. If you are weighing dentures against implants, an implant consultation will show you exactly what each option means for your comfort, diet, appearance, and long-term oral health. Many denture wearers upgrade to implant dentures and describe it as life-changing.

Dental Implants FAQ

Cost depends on how many teeth you are replacing, whether bone grafting is needed, and the type of restoration you choose. During your consultation, we provide a complete, personalized estimate and financing options, so you know the full cost of the investment before treatment begins.

Most implant treatments take three to six months from placement to final restoration, allowing time for the implant to fuse with your jawbone. For qualifying full-arch patients, temporary fixed teeth can often be attached on the same day as surgery.

Implant placement is typically far more comfortable than patients expect. With local anesthetic and sedation options, including IV sedation, most patients feel nothing during surgery and manage post-operative soreness with over-the-counter medication for a few days.

Often, yes. Bone grafting and sinus lift procedures can rebuild lost bone, and techniques like All-on-4 use angled placement to maximize the use of existing bone, sometimes avoiding grafting entirely. A CBCT scan during your consultation will show us exactly what is possible.

Full mouth dental implants replace an entire arch of missing or failing teeth with a fixed restoration supported by dental implants. Options include All-on-4 fixed full arch restorations and implant-supported dentures.

Traditional dentures rest on the gums and can slip, while implant dentures anchor to implants in the jawbone. Implant dentures are more stable, restore stronger chewing, and help preserve the jawbone.

With good oral hygiene and regular checkups, the implant itself can last a lifetime. Crowns and full arch restorations typically last 10 to 20 years or more before needing replacement.

Contact Our Anchorage Dentists

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Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation in Anchorage

Whether you need to replace a single tooth or restore a full smile with implant dentures or All-on-4, Excellence in Dentistry provides advanced, comfortable implant care right here in Anchorage. Find out if you are a candidate. Call (907) 349-0022 or request your implant consultation today.