Single Dental Implant Charlotte, NC

For most patients, yes — but the right answer depends on your specific situation. A single implant replaces the tooth without involving the adjacent teeth, preserves the jawbone at the extraction site, and typically lasts longer than a bridge. A bridge requires reshaping the healthy teeth on either side to serve as anchors, and it does nothing to prevent bone loss beneath the gap. Patients with healthy adjacent teeth are generally better served by an implant. Dr. Harrell will discuss both options at your consultation if the comparison is relevant to your case.

Most single implant cases take three to six months from placement to final crown delivery, with the majority of that time being the osseointegration period during which the implant fuses with the bone. The placement procedure itself is a single appointment. Crown fabrication — handled in The Natural Smile Lab on-site — is typically completed within one to two weeks of impressions being taken. Patients who need a socket graft before placement will have an additional healing period before the implant post is placed.

Matching a single crown to the surrounding natural teeth is one of the more demanding aspects of implant restoration — color, translucency, surface texture, and proportion all have to be right for the result to be invisible. At Harrell Dental Implant Center, every crown is fabricated in The Natural Smile Lab on-site, where Dr. Harrell works directly with the lab technicians to refine the match before placement. With more than 25 years of experience in implant and cosmetic restoration, he has the eye for this — and the ability to make adjustments without the back-and-forth delays of an outside lab.

The placement procedure is performed under local anesthesia, and sedation options are available for patients who prefer a more relaxed experience. Most patients describe the procedure as more manageable than they expected. Post-procedure discomfort is typically mild and well-managed with standard care in the days following placement. The crown placement at the end of treatment involves no surgery and is typically straightforward.

Not necessarily. Bone loss does occur in the months and years after an extraction, and significant loss can complicate implant placement — but a socket graft can rebuild that volume in many cases. The only reliable way to assess whether the site is still viable, or what preparatory work might be needed, is a 3D scan of the specific location. Patients who assume they waited too long are often surprised by what a current evaluation shows.

Daily care is essentially the same as for natural teeth — brushing twice daily and flossing around the implant and crown. Dr. Harrell’s team will walk you through any specific tools or techniques for the implant site at your delivery appointment. Professional cleanings every six months are important both for long-term implant health and to keep the Harrell Confidence Guarantee active.

A complete single tooth implant is $3,999. That includes the consultation with a 3D CBCT scan, a surgical guide, the titanium implant, the custom abutment, the zirconia crown made in The Natural Smile Dental Lab on-site, and follow-up care through final fitting — backed by the Harrell Confidence Guarantee, outlined in writing before treatment begins. 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 at your free consultation. With approved credit, the $3,999 can be as low as $99 a month — 60 monthly payments at 16.82% APR through Happen Bank (Happen Bank rates run 4.99%–30.99% APR). Financing options are available.