Replace Missing Teeth With Implants at Desert Hills Dental Care
If you're missing a tooth, or your denture never quite stays put, a dental implant can change how you eat, talk, and smile. At Desert Hills Dental Care in Farmington, we place and restore dental implants for patients across San Juan County and the Four Corners, from a single tooth to a full arch with All-on-4. Call (505) 327-4863 to talk through your implant options with our team.
Whether you lost a tooth last week or have worn dentures for years, we'll walk you through your options and costs before you decide. Call our Farmington office whenever you're ready to get started.
Why You Might Need a Dental Implant
Patients usually come to us for implants when:
- A tooth is missing
- A tooth is cracked, decayed, or infected and can't be saved
- A bridge or partial denture has failed or no longer fits
- A full denture is loose, sore, or makes eating hard
- Several teeth are missing, and you want something fixed, not removable
What happens if you wait? When a tooth is gone, the bone that held it starts to shrink because it isn't being used. Nearby teeth can tip into the gap, and the tooth above or below can drift down. The longer the gap stays open, the more likely you'll need a bone graft before an implant can go in.
If a tooth just came out, or needs to, ask about an implant now. Planning early can mean fewer steps later.
How Dental Implants Work
A dental implant has three parts:
- The implant: a small titanium post placed in your jawbone. It acts like a tooth root.
- The abutment: a connector that attaches to the implant.
- The restoration: a crown, bridge, or denture that attaches on top and looks like natural teeth.
Over a few months, the bone grows tightly around the post. This is called osseointegration, and it's what makes an implant so solid. Because the implant stands on its own, we don't have to shave down healthy neighboring teeth the way a traditional bridge does.
Your Dental Implant Options
One Missing Tooth
A single-tooth implant replaces one tooth with one post and one crown. The teeth on either side are left alone.
A Whole Arch of Teeth
With All-on-4 dental implants, a full arch of fixed teeth sits on four implants. If you'd like teeth that snap in and out for cleaning, implant-supported dentures hold a denture firmly on two or more implants.
Implants vs. Bridges vs. Dentures
|
Dental Implant |
|||
|
What it is |
A post in the jaw with a crown on top |
A false tooth held by crowns on the teeth beside the gap |
A plate of teeth that rests on your gums |
|
Neighboring teeth |
Left alone |
Shaved down to hold the bridge |
Partials clip onto them |
|
Protects jawbone |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Stability |
Doesn't move |
Fixed |
Can slip; adhesive may help |
|
Time to finish |
Several months |
About two to three weeks |
A few weeks |
|
Cost up front |
Highest |
Middle |
Lowest |
Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most adults with missing teeth can get implants. Good dental implant candidates have healthy gums, enough jawbone to hold the post (or are willing to have a bone graft), and are healthy enough for minor oral surgery. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and some medicines can slow healing, so tell us about your health history. If you have gum disease, we'll treat it first.
From Consultation to Final Teeth
Treatment starts with a consultation and a 3D scan, then moves through implant placement, healing, and your new crown, bridge, or denture. Each plan is built around your bone, your health, and how many teeth you're replacing. To see what happens at each visit and how long it takes, read about the dental implant procedure.
Who Plans and Places Your Implants
Dr. Gene Hilton is a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He earned his dental degree at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Before surgery, we look at your jaw on a 3D cone beam scan. Our intraoral scanner takes digital impressions instead of messy impression trays. We do crowns, dentures, and implants in the same Farmington office.
Our dentists are local. Dr. Charles Schumacher has practiced in Farmington since 1986, Dr. Clarissa Burgess joined us in 2013, and Dr. Jacob Collins grew up in the Four Corners. Many patients drive in from Aztec, Bloomfield, and Kirtland, about 20 to 25 minutes away. Coming in from out of town for a longer visit? Tell us when you book, and we'll plan around your drive.
What Dental Implants Cost
Across New Mexico, a single implant with its crown usually runs about $3,000 to $6,000 before insurance. Your implant cost depends on how many teeth you're replacing, whether you need a bone graft or extraction, and the type of restoration. We'll give you the full cost at your consultation.
Many insurance plans cover part of the crown or the extraction, and implant financing lets you pay over time through Cherry, CareCredit, or Sunbit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sometimes. In the right case, an implant can go in the same day a tooth is removed, and some full-arch patients leave with temporary teeth the same day. Most patients still need a consultation and 3D scan first, then a few months of healing before the final teeth.
Yes. Many patients switch to implants to stabilize their loose dentures or to get rid of them entirely in favor of fixed bridges. We can evaluate your bone density to see if you are a candidate for implant-supported dentures.
The area is fully numb during placement, so you'll feel pressure but not pain. Afterward, expect mild soreness and swelling for a few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers usually handle it.
There's no upper age limit. Healthy adults in their 70s, 80s, and beyond get implants. Young people usually wait until their jaws have finished growing, often in the late teens or early 20s. Your general health matters more than your age.
A dental bridge or a removable partial or full denture costs less up front. They don't protect your jawbone the way an implant does, and they may need replacing sooner. The comparison table above shows the trade-offs.
Book Your Dental Implant Consultation in Farmington
We see patients from Farmington, Aztec, Bloomfield, and Kirtland. Call (505) 327-4863 or request a consultation online, and we'll go over your options, your timeline, and your cost.