Dental Implants in Silver Springs
Losing a tooth changes more than your smile. It changes how you chew your dinner, how confidently you speak at work, and over time, how your jawbone holds its shape. For our patients in Silver Springs, that often means avoiding certain foods, shifting chewing to one side, or covering a gap when laughing. Dental implants address the problem at its root — literally — by replacing the missing tooth root as well as the visible crown, so your bite feels and functions like it did before.
A dental implant is a small post, placed into the jawbone, that serves as an artificial tooth root. Once the bone has healed around it, the post supports a custom crown, bridge, or denture. The result is a replacement tooth that stands on its own without relying on neighboring teeth for support, the way a traditional bridge does.
Implants are versatile, which is part of why we recommend them for so many different situations. A single implant can fill one gap. Implant-supported bridges can span several missing teeth in a row. For patients missing all the teeth in an arch, implant-supported dentures, All-on-4, and full arch options anchor a complete set of teeth to just a few strategically placed posts. We also offer Teeth In A Day for qualifying cases, where a temporary restoration is placed the same day as surgery.
- Chewing comfort that lets you return to the foods you've been avoiding
- Support for the jawbone, which naturally shrinks where teeth are missing
- No need to grind down healthy neighboring teeth for support
- Restorations that are cleaned with ordinary brushing and flossing
- Stability for dentures that slip, rock, or require adhesive
- A tooth replacement designed to blend with your natural smile
Most adults with reasonable general health and healthy gums are candidates. The two factors we evaluate most closely are gum health and bone volume. Active gum disease must be treated first — through scaling and root planing, laser dentistry, or periodontal therapy — because an implant needs healthy tissue around it to succeed long-term. If the jawbone has thinned where a tooth has been missing for years, that isn't a dead end either. We perform bone grafting and sinus lift surgery to rebuild the foundation an implant needs.
If the tooth is still in place but failing, we handle that step too, with simple and surgical extractions as well as wisdom teeth removal. Because our team provides periodontics, oral surgery, and prosthodontics under one roof, Silver Springs patients don't have to be referred to three different offices and repeat their history each time. We also accept patients without a referral, so you can call us directly to start the conversation.
What the Implant Process Looks Like
It begins with an exam and consultation. We review your medical history, examine your gums and remaining teeth, assess bone levels, and talk through what you want your smile to do for you. For patients considering a broader change, we also offer cosmetic smile-design consultations and full mouth reconstruction planning.
Surgery to place the post is the next step. We offer nitrous oxide sedation and oral sedation for patients who feel anxious about the procedure. After placement, the implant needs time to fuse with the bone — typically a healing period of several months, though timing varies by person and by how much grafting was involved. During that stretch, we can provide a temporary restoration so you're not without a tooth.
Once healing is complete, the final restoration goes on. This is where our on-site dental lab makes a real difference: crowns, dentures, and denture repairs are fabricated here rather than shipped out, which shortens waiting periods and makes adjustments far easier to handle.
Caring for Implants and Planning the Cost
Implants don't decay, but the gum and bone around them still need attention. Daily brushing and flossing, regular cleanings with our hygienist, and periodontal maintenance visits keep the surrounding tissue healthy. We provide ongoing implant maintenance and will show you exactly how to clean around your specific restoration. If you grind your teeth, a night guard helps protect your investment.
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and file claims as a General Practitioner, and we welcome self-pay and cash patients. Flexible payment plans are available so treatment can be spread out in a way that fits your budget. We'll go over your estimate before anything begins, so there are no surprises.
Ocala Dental Care has served Silver Springs and surrounding Marion County communities for over 30 years, and our team — including Dr. Hussein Salifu and Dr. Marco Geris — treats patients of all ages. We also offer emergency appointments if a tooth breaks or an existing restoration fails. Call us to schedule your implant consultation.