Missing teeth can affect your confidence, comfort when eating, and oral health over time. The good news is that modern dentistry offers more than one path forward — and today’s dental implant options are more accessible than ever before.
This guide is designed to help you understand the different implant types, what to expect during recovery, and how financing works, so you can walk into your first consultation already feeling informed.
If you’re exploring your options, our team at Precision Oral Surgery is always happy to answer questions and help you understand which approach might be right for you.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small titanium post placed directly into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once the implant bonds with the surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration, it serves as a stable anchor for a crown, bridge, or denture placed on top. The result functions and feels much like a natural tooth.
You may hear terms like endosteal implants — the most common type, placed within the jawbone — or subperiosteal implants, which are positioned on top of the bone when bone height is limited. The visible, functional portion above the gum line is referred to as an implant-supported restoration.
When patients and providers say “dental implant,” they’re typically referring to the titanium post itself, though the full system includes the post, the connecting abutment, and the restoration above.
Types Of Dental Implants
Endosteal Implants
Endosteal implants are the most widely used type. They are placed directly into the jawbone and are most commonly made of titanium — a material that has a long clinical history of biocompatibility and successful osseointegration. Most patients who qualify for dental implants will be candidates for endosteal implants.
Subperiosteal Implants
Subperiosteal implants are placed on top of the jawbone, beneath the gum tissue, rather than within the bone itself. This option is typically considered when bone height in the jaw is insufficient to support a standard endosteal implant and bone grafting is not a preferred route.
Zygomatic Implants
For patients with severe bone loss in the upper jaw, zygomatic implants offer an alternative by anchoring into the cheekbone (zygoma) rather than the upper jaw. This approach requires highly specialized surgical training and is used in select cases where other options are not viable.
The type of implant that makes most sense for your situation will be determined during your consultation with our team at Precision Oral Surgery & Dental Implants based on a thorough evaluation of your bone structure, overall health, and treatment goals.
Implant Options Based On Tooth Loss
Single Tooth Dental Implants
If you’re missing one tooth, a single-tooth implant is often the most natural-feeling and functional solution available. It replaces both the visible tooth and the root, without requiring any alteration to the healthy teeth on either side — an advantage that a traditional bridge cannot offer.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
For patients missing several adjacent teeth, implant-supported bridges provide a fixed, stable restoration anchored by implants at each end — eliminating the need for removable partial dentures. Partial implant restorations can also be customized to address varying patterns of tooth loss.
Full Arch / Full Mouth Implants
For patients who have lost all or most of their teeth in an arch, full mouth dental implants — including All-on-4 and implant-supported dentures — offer a permanent alternative to removable conventional dentures. Full arch restoration is supported by as few as four strategically placed implants and provides fixed, stable function that patients consistently describe as transformative.
Titanium Implants Vs. Other Materials
Titanium is the most widely used implant material and has the most extensive clinical history behind it. Its success comes largely from its biocompatibility — titanium integrates naturally with bone without triggering immune rejection, and its long-term success rates in appropriately selected patients are well-documented.
Zirconia (ceramic) implants are available as an alternative and may be considered for patients with specific preferences or sensitivities. Zirconia is tooth-colored and metal-free, which appeals to certain patients.
Titanium remains the more established option with the longer clinical track record. Your surgeon will discuss which material is most appropriate for your individual situation.
Dental Implant Recovery Time
Recovery from dental implant surgery unfolds in stages. In the first one to three days following placement, patients typically experience some swelling and soreness — this is a normal part of the healing process. During this period, a soft diet and careful oral hygiene are important.
The larger healing phase — osseointegration, during which the implant bonds with the surrounding bone — typically takes between three and six months. This timeline varies based on several factors, including bone density, whether bone grafting was performed, smoking history, and overall health.
Patients should expect a series of follow-up appointments during this period. Once osseointegration is confirmed, the abutment and final restoration are placed, completing the process.
Financing Options For Dental Implants
Cost is one of the most common questions patients bring to their first consultation — and it’s one we take seriously.
A range of financing options may be available to make dental implant treatment more accessible, including in-house payment plans and third-party healthcare financing through providers such as CareCredit or LendingClub. HSA and FSA accounts can also be used to pay for dental implant procedures, offering a tax-advantaged way to manage treatment costs.
Insurance coverage for dental implants varies by individual policy — some plans cover portions of treatment, others do not cover implants at all. Our team can help you understand your coverage and identify what financing options best fit your situation.
Dental Implant Alternatives
For patients who are not yet candidates for dental implants or who are still weighing their options, several alternatives exist — and understanding them can help clarify why implants are often the preferred long-term solution.
Removable dentures replace missing teeth with a prosthetic arch that is taken out at night and secured during the day, sometimes with adhesive. While they can restore basic function and appearance, they do not prevent the jawbone loss that follows tooth extraction — and over time, this bone loss can cause dentures to fit less comfortably.
Dental bridges replace a missing tooth using crowns on the adjacent healthy teeth as anchors, which requires those teeth to be prepared (shaped down). Bridges have a shorter lifespan than implants and do not address bone loss at the site of the missing tooth.
When measured against these alternatives over a ten- or twenty-year timeline, dental implants typically offer more durable results and lower overall maintenance demands.
Why Choose Our Practice
At Precision Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, patients across Greeley, Thornton, and Loveland have access to our team of oral surgeons
Our surgeons have the specialized training to evaluate, plan, and perform implant procedures from consultation through final restoration — all in-house.
Dr. Blake Ballenger, Dr. Michael Burnham, Dr. Daniel Yacoob, Dr. Nicholas Bial, and Dr. Joshua Gresehover are dedicated to making implant care feel approachable, well-explained, and worth your trust.
Whether you’re missing one tooth or considering full arch restoration, the right approach begins with a conversation. Schedule your consultation today.
