Dental Implants in Sarasota, FL
Replacing Missing Teeth
A missing tooth affects your bite, speech and appearance — and the jawbone begins to shrink soon after a tooth is lost. Replacing it protects your oral health and restores your smile.
Why It Matters
Why replace a missing tooth?
Your teeth affect your whole body — when they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. A missing tooth can change your bite, speech and eating choices, and as you rely more on your remaining teeth they are more likely to wear out, shift or be damaged. You may also experience headaches or jaw pain.
Missing teeth also cause the jaw to shrink: most people lose about 25% of the supporting jawbone within the first year after a tooth is lost. Implants are more easily placed soon after extraction, before that bone loss makes reconstruction more complex. The good news is that dental implants act just like natural teeth and preserve your bone, oral health and appearance.
The Bottom Line
Why choose dental implants over traditional options?
A dental bridge often sacrifices the structure of healthy neighboring teeth to span the gap, and removable dentures or partials can be inconvenient to take out at night and may slip, making them uncomfortable or embarrassing. Dental implants stand alone — they don’t rely on other teeth, they stay firmly in place, and they preserve the jawbone for lasting oral health.
Why Choose Us
Why choose Sarasota Oral & Implant Surgery?
Our oral and maxillofacial surgeons bring both medical and dental training to every procedure, so you get expert diagnosis and comfortable, precise care from consultation to recovery.
- Dual-degree surgeons (DMD and MD) with advanced anesthesia training
- Board-certified Diplomates of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
- Decades of experience across thousands of successful cases
- 3D imaging and modern technology for precise, predictable results
- A full range of sedation and comfort options
- Convenient locations across the Sarasota area
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to replace a missing tooth?
For most patients, a dental implant is the best long-term option because it looks and functions like a natural tooth, preserves the jawbone and doesn’t affect neighboring teeth. Your surgeon will help you weigh implants against bridges and dentures based on your health and goals.
Are dental implants better than a bridge?
A bridge usually requires grinding down the healthy teeth on either side of the gap, while an implant stands on its own and protects the surrounding teeth and bone. Implants also tend to last far longer with proper care.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
Anyone missing one or more teeth — or unhappy with their dentures — may be a candidate, regardless of age. Smoking, diabetes and prior radiation therapy can affect success, so your surgeon will evaluate your jaw with x-rays before recommending treatment.
