Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Dental implants in Pompano Beach replace the root of a missing tooth, not just the part you can see. That is what separates them from every other option, and it is why they are the only replacement that keeps the bone underneath working.
Quick answer
Dental implants are titanium posts placed into the jawbone to take the place of missing tooth roots, topped with a crown, bridge or fixed full-arch restoration. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach, Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS plans the case from a 3D scan and makes the final teeth, with surgical placement carried out in our office by a visiting specialist. We treat single missing teeth, failing or loose existing implants, and full arches. Which option fits depends on how many teeth are missing and how much bone is left, and both are settled before treatment is recommended.
Tooth Replacement
What dental implants do differently
Every other way of replacing a tooth sits on top of the gum. A bridge rests on the teeth either side, a partial clips to them, a denture rests on the ridge. None of them puts any load into the bone where the root used to be, so that bone keeps shrinking.
An implant is placed into the bone, and over three to six months the bone grows onto it and locks it in place. That process, called osseointegration, is what makes an implant stable enough to chew on and what keeps the ridge loaded rather than wasting away.
It also means implants are planned around bone rather than around the gap. The 3D scan comes first for that reason.
Which option fits your situation
Three broad paths, depending on how much is missing.
| Best suited to | What it involves | |
|---|---|---|
| Single tooth implant | One missing tooth, healthy teeth either side | One fixture and one crown; neighbouring teeth untouched |
| All-on-4 full arch | Most or all of an arch missing or failing | Four implants carrying a fixed bridge, often with a temporary the same day |
| Implant restoration and repair | An existing implant that is loose, worn or failing | Replacing or repairing the crown, abutment or screw; occasionally the fixture |
If the tooth is still in your mouth and the question is whether to save it, start with root canal versus dental implant. A tooth that can be saved is almost always worth saving. If you are weighing an implant against a bridge, we set the two side by side in implant or bridge.
How implant treatment runs
- Assessment. A cone beam 3D scan measures bone height and width and shows where the nerve and sinus sit. A periodontal exam checks the gums, because implants fail in the same tissue that loses teeth.
- Planning. Dr. Berger decides where the tooth needs to sit before anyone operates, and the surgical position follows from that rather than the other way round.
- Any groundwork. Extractions, bone grafting or a sinus lift where the scan shows they are needed.
- Placement. The fixture goes in, usually under local anesthetic, with IV sedation available.
- Healing. Three to six months of integration. A temporary tooth is normally worn throughout.
- The final teeth. A digital scan with the iTero scanner replaces impression trays, and Dr. Berger fits the finished restoration.
What decides whether you are a candidate
- Bone. Enough volume to hold a fixture, or enough to rebuild. This is measured, not estimated.
- Gum health. Active periodontal disease is treated first. Implants placed into an untreated mouth fail at a higher rate.
- Medical history. Uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, certain bone medications and previous radiation to the jaw all affect healing and are discussed openly rather than glossed over.
Long-term success rates for dental implants are high, and no dental treatment is guaranteed. The American Dental Association keeps a plain-language overview if you want a second source before deciding.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa
Dr. Nicole M. Berger has practiced in Pompano Beach for more than twenty years. On implant cases she plans from the scan and makes the final restoration herself, so the person designing the tooth is the person fitting it.
- Cone beam 3D imaging and digital X-rays on site
- Digital scanning instead of impression trays
- A visiting specialist for surgical placement, in our office
- IV and oral sedation available for patients who need it
- English and Spanish spoken
- One location on E McNab Rd, serving Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek
New here? See what to expect on your first visit, or meet the team.
If you are missing a tooth, or about to lose one
Start with a scan and a conversation. You should know what your bone looks like and what the realistic timeline is before you commit to anything.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace two missing teeth side by side with one implant joined to a natural tooth?
That is generally avoided. A natural tooth has a slight natural movement in its ligament; an implant fused to bone has none. Joining the two puts uneven force on both and risks loosening the tooth or fracturing the restoration. Two implants, or an implant supporting a small bridge, is the usual answer.
I lost my upper back teeth years ago and that sinus bothers me more. Are they related?
They can be. When upper back teeth are lost, the bone beneath the sinus resorbs and the sinus floor drops into the space. That does not cause sinus infections by itself, but it changes the anatomy and it is why a sinus lift is often needed before implants can be placed in that area.
I have worn dentures for years and lost a lot of jawbone. Is there still hope?
Usually yes. Significant resorption limits options but rarely closes them. Bone grafting can rebuild a ridge, angled implants can use bone that is still available, and full-arch designs are built for exactly this situation. The cone beam scan is what tells us which of those applies to you.
Do I need an implant for every tooth I am replacing?
No. A full lower arch is commonly restored on four to six implants supporting a fixed bridge, not on ten or twelve individual implants. Implants act as anchors rather than one-for-one tooth substitutes.
I was told I do not have enough bone for implants. Are there alternatives?
There usually are. Grafting, sinus lifts and angled placement between the available bone all widen what is possible, and bone assessment has improved considerably since most patients were last told no. A second opinion with a 3D scan is worth having before accepting that answer.
My root-canalled tooth fractured and has to come out. Implant, bridge or partial?
An implant is usually the better long-term answer because it leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched and keeps the bone loaded. A bridge can be the right call when the teeth either side already need crowns. A partial is generally a temporary or budget solution rather than a final one.
How long does implant treatment take?
For a single tooth, usually three to six months from placement to final crown, most of which is healing. Full-arch treatment is often faster to a fixed provisional and similar in total. Grafting adds months rather than weeks.
Does dental insurance cover implants?
Coverage varies widely, and many plans contribute toward part of the treatment rather than all of it. Our front desk checks your benefits and gives you the figures in writing before anything is scheduled. Financing is available.
Am I too old for dental implants?
Age by itself is not a barrier. Healing capacity, bone and medical history are what matter, and implants are routinely placed in patients in their seventies and eighties. The only firm limit is at the other end: the jaw needs to have finished growing.
Do you place implants in your office?
Yes. Surgical placement is carried out here in Pompano Beach by a visiting specialist, and Dr. Berger plans the case and makes the final restoration. You are not sent across the county for the surgical stage.