Dental Implant Questions —
Answered Honestly
Most patients arrive at their consultation having spent weeks researching. This page answers the questions that matter most — candidacy, cost, health conditions, and what to realistically expect — before you walk through the door.
Basic Candidacy Questions
The two essentials are adequate jaw bone volume and stable overall health. The jaw bone must have enough density and height to anchor a titanium post, which fuses with the bone over several months through a process called osseointegration. If bone volume is low, grafting can often rebuild it before implant placement.
General health matters because implant healing is a biological process — conditions that impair healing or immune response can affect outcomes. Both factors are assessed with a 3D CBCT scan and a clinical review at the free consultation.
There is no upper age limit for dental implants. Patients in their 70s and 80s receive implants routinely when their health supports it. The lower boundary matters more — jaw development must be complete before placement, typically in the late teens or early twenties.
For adults of any age, the relevant factors are bone quality, general health, and healing capacity — not the number on a birth certificate.
Active gum disease must be treated before dental implants are placed — implants placed into infected or diseased tissue fail at significantly higher rates. A history of gum disease that has been successfully treated does not necessarily prevent placement.
The evaluation focuses on the current state of the gum tissue and bone, not just your history. The question isn’t “have you ever had gum disease” — it’s “what does your mouth look like right now.”
Health Conditions and Medications
Diabetes does not automatically disqualify a patient for dental implants. Implant healing depends on the body’s ability to fuse titanium with jaw bone — a process that can be slowed by poorly controlled blood sugar. Patients with well-managed diabetes, documented by HbA1c levels in a healthy range, can often proceed with standard protocols.
Patients with less controlled diabetes are assessed case by case. A modified timeline or additional precautions may apply. The consultation is where that conversation happens with your specific numbers in front of you.
Smoking is a significant risk factor for dental implant failure but does not make implants impossible. Tobacco impairs blood flow to healing tissue and slows osseointegration, which meaningfully lowers success rates. The conversation at the consultation will be direct about that risk.
Patients who stop smoking before surgery and remain tobacco-free through the healing period improve their outcomes considerably. This is worth planning for if you’re seriously considering treatment.
Yes, some medications are directly relevant to dental implant surgery. Blood thinners, bisphosphonates used for osteoporosis, certain immunosuppressants, and some cancer medications can affect bleeding, healing, or bone metabolism. None are automatic disqualifiers, but they require coordination between the implant team and the prescribing physician before surgery.
Bring a complete medication list to the free consultation — it is part of the clinical intake process and shapes the treatment plan.
Osteoporosis does not automatically rule out dental implants. Systemic bone density and jaw bone quality are evaluated independently — many patients with osteoporosis have adequate jaw bone for implants. The more specific concern is bisphosphonate medication, which affects how bone heals around implants and requires careful evaluation of dosage, type, and duration of use.
This is a manageable situation in many cases — not a blanket exclusion. It does require a thorough clinical review before any recommendation can be made.
Radiation to the head and neck can reduce blood supply to the jaw bone, which affects how implants heal. This does not automatically rule out candidacy — but it requires careful assessment of the radiation field, dose, and time elapsed since treatment.
Some patients who have had head and neck radiation are viable implant candidates; others are not. Coordination with the oncology team is often necessary before any recommendation can be made.
What Does It Cost?
Harrell Dental Implant Center publishes its prices. A complete single tooth implant is $3,999 — the implant, abutment and zirconia crown, with the 3D CBCT scan, surgical guide and follow-up care included. Removing a failing tooth, bone grafting, sedation beyond nitrous oxide and a temporary tooth during healing are not included; if your case needs any of them, they are priced in writing before treatment begins. Snap-on implant dentures are $11,500 to $13,500 per arch, depending on the arch, the number of implants and whether your existing denture can be adapted. A fixed All-on-X full arch is $23,000 to $28,000 for one arch, depending on bone density, extractions and case complexity, and $39,995 for both arches, all in, with anesthesia.
Your exact price is confirmed in writing at the free consultation, before anything begins. With approved credit, a single implant can be as low as $99 a month — $3,999 over 60 monthly payments at 16.82% APR through Happen Bank (Happen Bank rates run 4.99%–30.99% APR). See the full dental implant cost guide →
Most dental insurance plans provide limited or no coverage for dental implants themselves, though some plans cover related procedures such as extractions or bone grafting. Medical insurance occasionally applies when tooth loss is connected to a covered medical condition — worth confirming with your carrier.
Insurance coverage, if applicable to your plan, is reviewed as part of the consultation process. Financing options are available regardless of insurance status.
Yes. Financing is available regardless of insurance status and allows patients to spread the cost of treatment over monthly payments. Approval is based on standard credit criteria. The free consultation includes exact pricing so you can evaluate payment options before making any commitment.
What to Expect
No referral is needed. Patients schedule directly by calling (704) 206-1330 or using the online booking form. Many patients at Harrell Dental Implant Center come in without any prior referral — through research, word of mouth, or after having questions their general dentist couldn’t fully answer.
If you have existing dental records or prior imaging, bringing them can be useful context — but it is not required to schedule.
Most patients report that dental implant surgery is less painful than they expected. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, which eliminates pain during surgery. Mild to moderate soreness in the days following is normal and typically managed with over-the-counter medication.
Patients with significant anxiety or more involved procedures have access to IV sedation administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist, which significantly reduces the experience of discomfort. Learn more about sedation options →
Most patients return to light daily activity within two to three days of dental implant surgery. Strenuous exercise — anything that significantly raises heart rate or blood pressure — is typically avoided for one to two weeks, as it can increase swelling and affect healing. Travel is generally fine after the immediate post-operative period.
Post-operative instructions specific to your procedure give you a realistic recovery timeline. The consultation is a good time to discuss upcoming commitments that might affect your preferred surgery date.
Dental implants are maintained the same way as natural teeth — daily brushing and flossing, with regular professional cleanings. There are no adhesives, soaking solutions, or removal routines required. The area around the implant and crown needs the same oral hygiene attention as a natural tooth.
The Harrell Confidence Guarantee requires documented professional cleanings every six months, which is also what clinical evidence supports for long-term implant success. Consistent professional cleaning is one of the strongest predictors of implant longevity.
Second Opinions and Failed Implants
Yes, a second opinion is appropriate — and common in implant dentistry. This is especially true when the original assessment was made without 3D cone beam CT imaging, or when insufficient bone was the only reason given. Flat X-rays significantly underrepresent available bone volume, and a 3D scan frequently tells a different story.
Different providers also have different thresholds for candidacy and different experience with complex cases. Patients seeking a second opinion are welcome at Harrell Dental Implant Center. Bring any prior imaging or treatment plans if you have them.
Implant failure is not a permanent verdict on candidacy — it is a clinical event with a cause. Understanding that cause is the starting point for any second attempt. Common causes include infection, insufficient bone volume, or systemic factors such as uncontrolled diabetes or smoking during healing. Many of these are correctable.
A second attempt typically involves allowing the site to heal, addressing the underlying cause, and potentially grafting the site before re-placing the implant. The Harrell Confidence Guarantee covers qualifying implants that fail within the first 12 months due to surgical factors. View full guarantee details →
Dental anxiety is common and does not prevent implant treatment. Harrell Dental Implant Center works with anxious patients regularly — including those who have avoided dental care for years. The practice is a no-judgment environment.
Sedation options, including IV sedation administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist, are available and can make the difference between treatment happening or not. The free consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. Raising the anxiety directly at the start of that appointment is the most useful thing you can do. Learn more about sedation for anxious patients →
Why Harrell Dental Implant Center
Dr. Robert L. Harrell, DDS is a licensed general dentist in North Carolina — not a periodontist or oral surgeon. He is not a specialist. What distinguishes him is over 25 years of focused implant practice, an in-house lab called Natural Smile Dental Lab, and a practice model where he personally handles every case from consultation through final restoration. Patients are not handed off to associates or referred out for the surgical phase.
The Harrell Confidence Guarantee backs every qualifying case. The combination of focused experience, in-house lab, and personal physician involvement is what “Done Once, Done Right” means in practice. Learn more about Dr. Harrell →