The short answer
Yes. A general dentist can examine the gap, plan the replacement tooth, fit the crown, and care for the implant for years afterward. Some general dentists also place the implant itself, and others work with an oral surgeon or a periodontist (a gum specialist) for that step.
At D Street Dental Group I place and restore implants. Before you commit anywhere, ask two questions: who does the surgery, and who fits the tooth?
Who does what
An implant is a replacement root anchored in the jaw. It can hold one crown, a bridge, or a denture. The surgery and the visible tooth are separate parts of the treatment, and different clinicians often handle them.
| Stage | What a general dentist may do | When a specialist may join |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Examine teeth and gums, review X-rays, talk through saving the tooth versus replacing it, design the final bite and look | An oral surgeon or periodontist may assess a complex site |
| Placement | Place the implant when trained and equipped for the case | A surgeon or periodontist places it instead |
| The tooth | Fit the crown, bridge, or denture once the implant heals, then adjust the bite | A prosthodontist may help with a full-mouth rebuild |
| Follow-up | Check the crown, gums, cleaning, and bite at your regular visits | The placing clinician sees healing or surgical problems |
"DDS" is a dental degree, not an implant specialty. "Implant dentist" does not tell you whether that dentist does the surgery, so ask which parts they do themselves.
From exam to final tooth
A single replacement usually has three parts: the implant in the bone, a connector called an abutment, and the crown. For several missing teeth, a few implants can hold a bridge or steady a denture, so you do not always need one implant per tooth.
- Look at the site We check the nearby teeth, gum health, bite, and bone with digital X-rays, and go over the alternatives before any surgery.
- Get the mouth ready Decay or gum disease gets treated first. Some people need an extraction or a bone graft, and the timing depends on the site.
- Place the implant The implant goes into the jaw under local anesthetic. Tell us if you are nervous, and we will walk you through the comfort options ahead of time.
- Let it heal Bone grows onto the implant over the following months. A temporary tooth is sometimes possible, but a same-day final crown is not the norm.
- Fit the tooth and keep it healthy Once the implant is ready, we fit the crown, bridge, or denture, check the bite, and set up your home care and checkups.
The American Dental Association's overview of implants describes the same basic order: placement, healing, then the replacement teeth.
When a specialist makes sense
A referral brings in surgical skill while your regular dentist still designs and looks after the final tooth. These are the cases where I often bring in an oral surgeon or periodontist:
- Significant bone loss, or a site that needs grafting before placement
- Active gum disease or health conditions that complicate healing
- Several implants or a full-arch replacement
- A site close to a nerve or sinus, or a previous implant that failed
I'm not the end of the road, I'm part of the journey. When a specialist places the implant, we stay your point of contact and fit the tooth you will chew with.
Is an implant the right fix?
If a tooth can be repaired, keeping it is often the better choice. If it cannot, you have three common ways to fill the gap:
| Option | Trade-off to talk through |
|---|---|
| Implant crown | Leaves the neighboring teeth alone, but needs surgery and healing time |
| Bridge | No surgery, but it is anchored to the teeth on either side |
| Partial denture | Replaces several teeth without surgery, but comes out for cleaning and can feel less secure |
Tell us about your medications, smoking, diabetes, and any trouble healing after past dental work. None of these rules out an implant on its own, but each one shapes the plan. If a tooth is loose or painful, an exam will show whether you need an extraction at all. For a closer look at the most common choice, see implant vs. bridge.
What drives the cost
The lowest advertised price often covers only the implant itself. The abutment, crown, imaging, extraction, grafting, and temporary tooth may all be separate, so compare complete plans, not surgery quotes.
We give you a written, itemized estimate for the whole treatment before anything starts. We are out of network for all dental insurance plans and file the claim for you, and we offer payment plans. Members of the D is for Dental plan get 20% off restorative & major work, whitening included, and implants count as major work.
If the total is a stretch right now, ask us to price a bridge or a partial denture beside the implant so you can compare. The full breakdown is in dental implant cost in San Rafael.
Questions to ask any dentist
- Who does the surgery? If your dentist places implants, ask about their training on cases like yours. If they refer, ask how the two offices share the plan.
- Who designs and fits the tooth? Position, bite, cleaning access, and appearance should be planned before the implant goes in.
- What do my X-rays show? Ask the dentist to point out the space and any concerns, and whether you need more imaging.
- What are the alternatives and risks? You should hear about saving the tooth, a bridge or denture, and how grafting, infection, or failure could change the plan.
- What does the estimate include? Get surgery and the final tooth priced together, plus what follow-up care involves.
Caring for an implant afterward
An implant cannot get a cavity, but the gum and bone around it can get inflamed, and the crown can wear or loosen. The ADA's dental glossary describes peri-implantitis as "both soft tissue inflammation and loss of supporting bone" around an implant. That matters beyond the implant: gum inflammation is linked with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, so we treat it early.
Clean around it the way we show you, keep your checkups, and call us about bleeding, swelling, a bite that feels different, or any movement. Do not try to tighten a loose crown yourself. A single crown, an implant bridge, and an implant denture each need a slightly different cleaning tool, and we will show you where food collects around yours.
Common questions
Can a general dentist place dental implants?
Yes. Many general dentists place implants when they are trained for the case, and nearly all of them plan, restore, and maintain implants. At D Street Dental Group in San Rafael, Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, places and restores implants, and refers to an oral surgeon or periodontist when a case calls for it.
What is a dentist who specializes in implants called?
Periodontists (gum specialists) and oral and maxillofacial surgeons (surgeons of the mouth and jaw) are the specialists who most often place implants. Prosthodontists focus on complex tooth replacement. "Implant dentist" is not a recognized specialty, so ask any dentist which parts of the treatment they perform themselves.
What is the downside of a dental implant?
An implant needs surgery, healing time, and ongoing cleaning and checkups. Some sites need a bone graft first, and infection, poor healing into the bone, or a loose crown can happen. Dr. Steve Truman, DDS, at D Street Dental Group goes over how these risks apply to your health and your site before you decide.
How much does a dental implant and crown cost?
It depends on the site. The implant and the crown are separate stages, and some people also need imaging, an extraction, or a bone graft. D Street Dental Group gives you a written, itemized estimate for the whole treatment before anything starts, files insurance claims for you, and offers payment plans. Members of the D is for Dental plan get 20% off restorative & major work, whitening included, and implants count as major work.
How long does a dental implant last?
No one can promise a lifespan. The implant in the bone and the crown on top are separate parts, and a crown can need repair or replacement while the implant stays healthy. Gum health, daily cleaning, bite forces, and regular checkups all affect how long both last.
Talk it through with us
Come in for an exam and we will tell you whether an implant fits, what the whole treatment involves, and whether your case calls for a specialist.