Is Implant Dentistry In St. Louis Right For You?

Thinking about whether implant dentistry in St. Louis is right for you? This quick, 500-word guide covers who makes a good candidate, the main benefits and risks, common treatment paths, and when to see a specialist. Read on for practical steps to decide and a simple next step to get a personalized plan.

What is implant dentistry and who makes a good candidate?

Dental implants are titanium posts placed in the jaw to replace missing teeth and support crowns or dentures.

• Healthy gums and good oral hygiene.
• Adequate jawbone or willingness to consider bone grafting.
• Non-smoker or ready to quit during healing.
• Realistic expectations about timeline and maintenance.
• Generally healthy medically (or cleared by your doctor for minor surgery).

If you’re exploring implant dentistry in St. Louis, a consult with imaging will quickly show if you’re a candidate or need preparatory care like grafting or gum treatment.

Benefits and risks of implant dentistry

Implants restore function and appearance in ways removable options often can’t. They preserve bone and feel very natural once healed.

• Key benefits: much better chewing, bone preservation, natural look and feel, and cost-effective long term.
• Common risks/trade-offs: several-month healing period, small risk of infection or implant failure, possible need for bone grafts or sinus lifts, and time off normal eating while healing.

Most patients get predictable results with proper planning and follow-up when choosing implant dentistry in St. Louis.

Treatment options and a typical timeline

Single-tooth implants

One implant is placed into the bone, allowed to heal (usually several months), then covered with a custom crown. This replaces a single missing tooth with a natural-looking solution.

Implant-supported bridges and dentures

Used when several teeth are missing. Implants anchor a bridge or denture so it’s stable and not removable daily. This differs from removable dentures by improving bite force and comfort.

Full-mouth restorations (All‑on‑X / All-on-4 style)

Full-arch solutions use multiple implants to support a fixed or semi-fixed arch. Some patients qualify for immediate loading (temporary teeth the same day), but timing depends on bone quality, health, and treatment planning.

Most patients will go through exams, digital x-rays, and 3D CBCT imaging for precise planning and safer, more predictable care.

How to choose a provider — why consider New You Smile and Dr. James Fetsch

Dr. James Fetsch has placed nearly 30,000 implants and holds fellowship status with the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI).

What matters for success is the team and tools: New You Smile offers a private surgical suite, sedation options for comfort, an on-site dental lab for faster custom restorations, and advanced technology like 3D cone beam CT, intraoral scanning, X-Nav guided surgery, and facial-mapping tools for natural results. Those elements increase precision, reduce surprises, and speed recovery.

If you want a clear answer about whether implant dentistry in St. Louis is right for you, schedule a consult to review your scans and get a personalized treatment plan and timeline.