Single Tooth Dental Implants in Federal Way
 If you’re researching single tooth dental implants in Federal Way, WA, 253 Dental Care places and restores them for patients who have lost a single tooth to decay, trauma, root fracture, or untreated infection, with the surgical placement and the final crown handled under the same roof.
A single tooth implant is one of several dental implant treatments we offer. It has three components: a titanium post that Dr. Walker places into the jaw bone where the missing tooth’s root used to be, an abutment that connects the post to the visible portion above the gum, and a crown that Dr. Eftekhar designs and places to complete the restoration. Handling both the surgical and restorative phases in the same office means the planning, the surgery, and the final result all stay in one chart with one team.
Compared to a dental bridge, an implant doesn’t require us to reduce the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. Compared to leaving the gap untreated, an implant preserves the bone in your jaw at that site, bone the body would otherwise resorb over time without a tooth root to stimulate it. Compared to a removable partial, an implant feels and functions like a natural tooth because we anchor it in bone the same way a natural root sits in bone.
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What Is a Single Tooth Implant?
A single tooth implant is a permanent tooth replacement we place when you have lost one tooth and the surrounding teeth are healthy. The titanium post we place into the jaw bone bonds with the bone over a healing period of three to six months in a process called osseointegration. Once the post is fully integrated, the abutment and crown go on top, and the result is a tooth that looks and functions like the one you lost.
Single Implant vs. Bridge vs. No Treatment
A bridge replaces a missing tooth by reducing the two adjacent teeth into anchor points and bonding a connected three-tooth restoration over them. The replacement is fixed and looks natural, but it permanently changes the structure of the two healthy teeth that anchor it. Implants do not touch the adjacent teeth at all. The trade-off is timeline and bone preparation: bridges complete in two to three weeks, while implants take three to six months from placement to final crown because of the healing period the bone needs.
Leaving the gap untreated is also an option, but the consequences are progressive. The teeth on either side of the gap drift toward each other over months and years, the opposing tooth in the other jaw can over-erupt because nothing is biting against it, and the bone at the gap site resorbs because no tooth root is stimulating it. The longer a gap stays untreated, the more bone preparation an eventual implant requires.
Are You a Candidate for an Implant?
Most patients with a single missing tooth are candidates for evaluation. The factors we assess at the consultation are bone volume at the gap site (which we measure on a CBCT scan), gum health (we treat any active gum disease before placement), general medical history (uncontrolled diabetes, certain immunosuppressive medications, or recent major cardiovascular events can change the surgical plan), and smoking status (smoking substantially reduces implant success rates). Patients who don’t initially have enough bone volume often become candidates after a bone grafting procedure, or, for upper back teeth, after a sinus lift that addresses the floor of the maxillary sinus.
When an Implant Isn’t the Right Answer
Sometimes the question is not “how do we replace this tooth?” but “can we still save it?” If the tooth is intact but has an infection, a root canal may save it without removing the tooth at all. If the tooth is loose because of advanced gum disease, treating the periodontal disease may stabilize it. Implant placement is the right answer once the tooth is gone or we clearly cannot save it, not before. The exam is what tells us which side of that line your specific case is on.
Your Implant Team in Federal Way
Dr. Mark Walker performs the surgical implant placement at our office. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1981 and has placed implants and managed associated bone grafting procedures throughout his career. He is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the International College of Dentists, the American College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, and he served as past president of the Washington State Dental Association.
Dr. Mojdeh Eftekhar handles the crown restoration that completes the implant. Her focus is restorative and cosmetic dentistry, and she works with the same digital records that Dr. Walker uses for surgical planning, so the crown that goes on top of the implant matches the bite and alignment the surgical plan accounted for from the start. The handoff between the surgical and restorative phases is internal: both phases happen in our Federal Way office, with one chart and one team.
For implants specifically, having the surgical and restorative phases under the same roof matters because the result depends on both being aligned. An implant placed in the wrong angle, even by a small amount, makes the eventual crown harder to seat well; a crown designed without considering the bone it sits over can fail prematurely. Dr. Walker and Dr. Eftekhar plan the case together at the start, which is why we don’t ask patients to coordinate between two separate offices.
The Single Tooth Implant Process at Our Office
Most single tooth implant cases at our Federal Way office move through five stages, spread across four to seven months from start to finish: consultation and 3D planning, any necessary bone preparation, surgical placement, healing and osseointegration, and final crown placement. Some cases skip the bone preparation step; others combine surgical placement with the extraction of the failing tooth at the same appointment.
Consultation and 3D Planning
We start with a consultation and a CBCT (cone beam CT) scan that gives us a three-dimensional view of the gap site, the bone available, and the surrounding anatomy. Dr. Walker reviews the imaging to plan the exact angle, depth, and position for the implant, which determines how the eventual crown will sit and bite. The CBCT is also what tells us whether the case needs bone grafting first, or whether we can place the implant directly.
Bone Preparation If Indicated
If the CBCT shows insufficient bone volume at the gap site, we address that before placing the implant. For most cases this means dental bone grafting at the gap site, which adds graft material that the body integrates with the existing bone over three to six months. For upper back teeth specifically, the limitation is often the floor of the maxillary sinus, and the procedure is a sinus lift. Some cases combine bone grafting with the implant placement at the same appointment when the bone deficit is small enough; larger deficits warrant the graft first and the implant later. Dr. Walker handles both procedures at our office, which keeps the bone preparation and the implant placement under one surgical plan.
Implant Placement
 Implant placement is a surgical procedure Dr. Walker performs in-office under local anesthesia. We numb the gap site, make a small access through the gum, prepare the bone using a sequence of guide drills that match the implant width, place the titanium post into the prepared site, and close the gum back over it. The procedure typically takes 60 to 90 minutes for a single tooth. We use a soft tissue laser for the gum access where the technique allows, which generally produces cleaner edges and less post-operative bleeding than a scalpel-only approach. For patients who would prefer a more relaxed experience, we offer oral conscious sedation in addition to local anesthesia.
Healing and Osseointegration
After placement, the implant needs three to six months to integrate with the bone, a process called osseointegration in which the titanium surface bonds chemically and mechanically with the surrounding bone. We see you at follow-up appointments during this period to confirm the site is healing as expected. Most patients return to routine activity within a day or two of the surgery itself; the healing period is mostly invisible from the outside. We provide aftercare instructions through our post-op instructions library, including a dedicated implant surgery recovery sheet.
Final Crown Placement
Once the post is fully integrated, Dr. Eftekhar places the abutment and the final crown. We use CEREC same-day crown technology in many cases, which lets us scan, design, and mill the crown in our office during a single appointment rather than sending impressions to an off-site lab and waiting two to three weeks for the crown to come back. The same-day approach reduces the total number of restorative visits and keeps the design aligned with what the digital records show on the day of placement.
Benefits of Single Tooth Implants
The biggest practical benefit of a single tooth implant is that it replaces the missing tooth without compromising the healthy teeth around it. The bone at the gap site keeps its volume because the implant root stimulates it the way a natural root would. The bite stays balanced because we close the gap before the adjacent teeth can drift. For patients we see soon after a tooth loss at our Federal Way office, the predictable long-term result is a tooth that looks and functions like a natural one.
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Preserves the bone at the gap site – the titanium post stimulates the surrounding bone the way a natural tooth root does, which is why the bone volume holds long-term in patients who get implants placed soon after losing a tooth at our Federal Way office
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Leaves adjacent teeth untouched – unlike a bridge, the implant doesn’t require Dr. Walker or Dr. Eftekhar to reduce or modify any neighboring teeth
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Looks and feels like a natural tooth – the CEREC crown Dr. Eftekhar designs and mills in our office matches the shade and contour of your existing teeth
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Lasts decades when properly maintained – we track every implant we place at routine exams over time, and the long-term records support the durability you would expect from titanium integrated into bone
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Maintained the same way as a natural tooth – brushing, flossing, and routine cleanings at our office handle ongoing care, with no special equipment or routine required at home |
If you’ve been told you need to do something about a missing tooth and you’re weighing the options, the consultation and CBCT scan at our office tell you which approach the bone and the surrounding teeth actually support.
Why Choose 253 Dental Care for Single Tooth Implants
 Our office is a two-doctor general practice in Federal Way that handles both the surgical and restorative sides of single tooth implants in-house. Dr. Walker has been placing implants for decades and uses CBCT-guided planning for surgical placement, while Dr. Eftekhar handles the restorative side using CEREC same-day crown technology that lets us complete the final restoration in one appointment when the case allows.
The three-to-six-month healing period between placement and crown is where continuity matters most. Most patients have multiple short follow-up visits during that window, and having the same office handle the placement, the follow-ups, and the crown means the records of how the bone integrated, how the gum healed, and how the implant settled all live in one chart. We do not ask you to repeat your case history at each visit because the team that placed the implant is the team checking on it.
For surgical planning specifically, we use the CBCT scan to visualize the bone and surrounding anatomy in three dimensions before any incision. The plan determines the exact angle and depth for the implant, and ultimately how well the final crown will fit. We also use a soft tissue laser for the surgical gum access where the technique allows, oral conscious sedation in-office for patients who want a more relaxed experience, and our front office team verifies your insurance benefits and lays out a written estimate before treatment so the financial side is clear before the surgery.
Single Tooth Implant Cost and Financing
The cost of a single tooth implant depends on whether the case requires bone grafting or a sinus lift before placement, the type of crown used for the final restoration, and how we stage the case across appointments. We provide a written estimate at the consultation, after the CBCT scan has shown us exactly what the bone preparation looks like and what the full sequence will be.
Insurance coverage for implants varies more than most other dental procedures. Some plans cover the implant post itself; others cover only the crown; some cover both at different percentages; and some don’t cover implants at all. Our front office team verifies your specific implant benefits before treatment and provides a written estimate, so you know what your portion will be ahead of any procedure rather than after. For patients whose plan excludes implants entirely, weighing the implant cost against the long-term cost of the alternatives matters more than just the upfront number, since the alternatives include the eventual replacement of a bridge or partial denture every 10 to 15 years.
For amounts not covered by insurance, we work with third-party financing partners including CareCredit, Lending Club, and United Medical Credit. Patients without dental insurance can also enroll in our annual loyalty program, which provides a courtesy on services beyond the included preventive care. We typically split implant payment across the surgical and restorative phases so the cost doesn’t all come due at once.
Schedule a Single Tooth Implant Consultation
The first step is a consultation and CBCT scan to assess the gap site, the surrounding bone, and the appropriate plan. Call 253 Dental Care at (253) 838-9333 or request an appointment online to schedule. We’re at 32114 1st Ave. South Suite 200 in Federal Way, WA 98003. You can also contact us with any questions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the entire single tooth implant process take?
The full timeline is typically four to seven months from your consultation to your final crown, but the actual time you spend in the chair is much shorter than the calendar suggests. Plan on a consultation visit with Dr. Walker (typically 30 to 45 minutes including the CBCT scan), the surgical placement appointment (60 to 90 minutes), one or two short follow-up visits during healing, and one or two restorative visits with Dr. Eftekhar to place the crown. The bulk of the timeline is the three-to-six-month osseointegration period, during which we are not actively doing anything to the implant; we are letting the bone integrate. Cases that need bone grafting before placement add another three to six months to the front of the timeline; cases without bone grafting move faster.
Will it hurt?
During the placement itself, no. We numb the surgical area with local anesthesia, and most patients describe what they feel as pressure rather than pain. After the anesthetic wears off, the surgical site is typically tender for two to three days, and most patients manage with over-the-counter pain medication. The discomfort is usually less than people expect; the recovery from a single tooth implant is generally easier than the recovery from a wisdom tooth extraction, for comparison. Patients who choose oral conscious sedation in addition to local anesthesia tend to remember less of the appointment itself.
Will I have a tooth during the healing period?
For most patients, yes, though the specific solution depends on which tooth is missing. For a front tooth that is visible when you smile, we typically use a removable temporary called a flipper, or a temporary bridge, during the three-to-six-month healing period. For a back tooth, many patients leave the area without a temporary because it is not visible and the surrounding teeth handle the chewing fine for a few months. Some cases also allow for an immediate temporary crown placed at the same appointment as the implant, but that depends on the specific bone and stability conditions, which the consultation and CBCT scan will tell us.
Why an implant instead of a bridge?
The biggest difference patients tend to overlook is replacement frequency. A well-maintained dental implant typically lasts 20 to 30 years or longer, while a typical dental bridge needs replacement every 10 to 15 years. Over the course of a lifetime, that often closes or reverses the upfront cost gap, and it also means fewer rounds of treatment for patients who would rather stay in maintenance mode than redo the same work twice. The other factor is what each option does to surrounding teeth: a bridge anchors on the two adjacent teeth, while an implant stays self-contained and doesn’t change the structure of the teeth around it. The flip side is timeline: a bridge completes in two to three weeks, while an implant takes four to seven months because of the bone integration period. The right answer depends on which trade-off matters more to you.
How long do dental implants last?
With proper home care and routine maintenance at our office, a single tooth implant typically lasts 20 to 30 years or longer; many patients keep their implants for life. The titanium post itself is essentially permanent once integrated. The crown on top has its own lifespan and may need replacement once or twice over the implant’s lifetime, similar to how a crown on a natural tooth might need replacement after 15 to 20 years of normal wear. The biggest risk factor for implant failure long-term is gum disease around the implant (called peri-implantitis), which is why ongoing periodontal maintenance matters as much for implants as for natural teeth.
Am I a candidate for an implant?
Candidacy is more of a sliding scale than a yes-or-no answer. Most patients with a single missing tooth qualify for evaluation, and the consultation tells us where on the scale you sit. A few specific patient situations warrant nuance: smokers can still have implants placed, but the success rates are lower and we have an honest conversation about that at the consultation; patients with uncontrolled diabetes typically need their blood sugar stabilized first because the bone will not integrate well otherwise; and patients on immunosuppressive medications or with recent major cardiovascular events sometimes need coordination with their physician or specialist before we proceed. None of these situations rule implants out automatically; they just change the planning conversation. Patients who do not initially have enough bone almost always become candidates after a bone graft procedure.
Does insurance cover dental implants?
Implant coverage varies more than most dental procedures, which is why we recommend asking your insurance company three specific questions before your consultation: (1) Does my plan cover dental implants under codes D6010 (the implant placement) and D6065 (the implant-supported crown)? (2) Are implant benefits subject to a missing-tooth clause that excludes coverage if you lost the tooth before the policy started? (3) Are implant benefits subject to a separate annual maximum or waiting period? Our front office handles all of that for you when you give us your insurance details ahead of the appointment, but the questions are useful to know if you want to verify directly. For any portion not covered, our financing options include third-party partners and an in-office loyalty program.
What if the implant fails?
Implant failure is uncommon but possible. The most common cause is peri-implantitis (gum disease around the implant) developing years after placement, which we monitor at routine maintenance. Less commonly, the implant fails to integrate with the bone during the initial healing period, which we catch at the follow-up visits during osseointegration. If an implant fails, we remove the post, allow the site to heal, and plan a replacement implant once the bone is ready. The replacement process typically takes another three to six months. The good news is that early failure is uncommon (success rates are well above 95% in healthy patients) and late failure usually shows warning signs through gum changes well before the implant becomes loose, which is why we track every implant we place at every routine exam.
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