Single Tooth Dental Implants in Summerville, SC
Losing a single tooth can feel like a small problem until you notice how much it actually affects daily life. Chewing on one side becomes a habit, speaking clearly takes more effort, and the gap in your smile is the first thing you see in photos. It is easy to assume that one missing tooth is not worth addressing right away, but the surrounding teeth and jawbone do not stay still just because a space has opened up.
At Old Trolley Dental Associates, we treat single tooth loss as the specific, solvable problem it is rather than folding it into a one-size-fits-all implant conversation. Dr. Scott Kibler and Dr. Michael Skovira have practiced together in Summerville for years, and between the two of them, restorative planning and surgical placement happen under one roof. That matters more than it might seem. A lot of practices place the implant in one location and send patients elsewhere for the crown, or the reverse. We do not operate that way for single tooth cases, and that continuity tends to make the whole process feel less complicated for the people going through it.
What a Single Tooth Implant Actually Replaces
A single tooth implant is not just a cosmetic fix. It replaces the entire structure of the missing tooth, including the root, which is the part most people forget matters. When a tooth is lost and nothing replaces the root, the jawbone in that area begins to lose density over time because it no longer receives the stimulation a tooth root provides.
Why the Root Matters as Much as the Crown
This is one of the more overlooked details of tooth replacement. A bridge or a partial can restore the visible tooth, but neither one addresses what happens underneath the gumline. An implant is placed directly into the jawbone, so it continues to provide the stimulation the bone needs to stay healthy. Dr. Skovira, who trained extensively in the surgical placement of implants during his residency at the Medical University of South Carolina and continues to teach oral surgery to dental students there today, handles the surgical side of these cases personally. Dr. Kibler then manages the restorative work that follows, so the plan for your new tooth is built by two people who are actually in the room with you, not passed along a referral chain.
According to the CDC’s 2024 Oral Health Surveillance Report, a meaningful share of American adults experience tooth retention issues that progress into more significant loss over time, which is part of why addressing a single missing tooth early tends to prevent bigger complications down the road. Waiting rarely makes a single tooth replacement simpler. In most cases, the longer the space is left untreated, the more bone and alignment changes there are to account for once treatment finally begins.
How the Process Works at Our Office
Every single tooth implant case starts with a consultation where we look at the site of the missing tooth, the condition of the surrounding bone, and your overall dental health. From there, the process generally follows three stages: placement of the titanium implant post, a healing period during which the post integrates with the jawbone, and finally the placement of the custom crown that will match the rest of your smile.
The middle stage, healing, is the part patients ask about most. It typically takes a few months, though the exact timeline depends on your bone density and how the site responds. We do not rush this step, because the strength of that integration is what allows the final crown to function like a natural tooth for years afterward. Once healing is complete, we move to the restorative phase, where Dr. Kibler’s approach to dental crowns comes into play, including same-day options in cases where the situation allows for it.
What Makes the Crown Portion Different Here
Because we offer CEREC same-day dentistry for qualifying cases, some patients are able to avoid an extra appointment and a temporary crown altogether. Dr. Skovira also uses digital smile design during planning, which lets you see a preview of the proposed result before the final crown is ever placed. For a single tooth in a visible part of your smile, that kind of preview step often makes the decision easier, since you are not guessing at how the outcome will look.
Considering Cost and Coverage
Cost is usually the first question patients ask, and for good reason. Single tooth implants involve surgical placement, a healing period, and a custom crown, so the total investment reflects that multi-stage process. We accept PPO insurance plans, and many patients find that at least part of the restorative portion is covered depending on their specific plan. For the remaining cost, we work with Cherry and CareCredit, both of which allow the total to be broken into manageable monthly payments rather than one large upfront charge.
We understand that navigating financing options can feel like its own separate task on top of the dental decision itself, so our team walks through the specifics with you before any procedure is scheduled. There should not be any guesswork about what a single tooth implant will cost you out of pocket by the time treatment begins.
Schedule Your Single Tooth Implant Consultation With Old Trolley Dental Associates
If you are missing a single tooth and have been putting off doing anything about it, Dr. Kibler and Dr. Skovira are ready to walk you through what your specific case actually requires. You can meet our doctors and learn more about their training before your first visit, including Dr. Skovira’s continued role teaching oral surgery at MUSC.
We know a missing tooth is not just a cosmetic concern, and we treat it with the attention that a lasting solution requires. Contact our office to schedule your single tooth implant consultation with Dr. Kibler or Dr. Skovira in Summerville, SC.