Patients ask whether dental implants are worth it — and after years of placing them, Dr. Armin Abron of DC Periodontics & Implants prefers to answer with an honest overview rather than a sales pitch. In short: a dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. It is placed in a single procedure with the patient numbed, and sedated if they wish, then left to heal and become part of the jawbone for at least three months. After a stability test confirms the implant has integrated, your own general dentist places the crown on top. Most patients are good candidates; a consultation with three-dimensional x-rays settles the question for any individual case. Here is the fuller picture, in his words.
What a dental implant actually is
The term gets used loosely, so Dr. Abron starts with the definition:
“A dental implant refers to replacement of the root of the missing tooth.”
Not the visible tooth — the root. The implant is the foundation placed in the jaw; the crown, the part you see and chew with, is added later, once the foundation has proven itself. Understanding that split explains almost everything else about how treatment unfolds, including its timeline.
The procedure: comfort handled first
Implant placement happens after a consultation and a treatment plan — nothing is placed on a first look. When the procedure day comes, Dr. Abron describes a deliberate order of operations: first, the team makes sure you are numb. Some patients also wish to be sedated, and that option is available. Only once comfort has been achieved is the implant inserted.
In a variety of cases, an additional bone graft is placed at the same time — reinforcement for the site where the implant needs support.
Healing: three months to become part of your jawbone
What happens after placement is, in Dr. Abron’s telling, the quiet heart of implant treatment:
“We allow the implant to heal and become part of your jawbone.”
That integration is not rushed. The practice waits at least three months before putting any load on the implant. The waiting period is not padding in the schedule — it is what makes the implant a foundation rather than a wish.
The stability test — then back to your own dentist
At the three-month mark, Dr. Abron performs a stability test to confirm the implant has integrated with the bone. When it passes, something happens that surprises patients who expect a specialist to hold on to them:
“We send you back to your general dentist to have the crown placed.”
The surgical specialty work — the planning, the placement, the graft, the integration check — happens at DC Periodontics & Implants. The crown, and your ongoing dental care, stay with the dentist who knows you. It is a division of labor between specialist and general dentist, working the way it is designed to.
Who is a candidate
Dr. Abron is direct about candidacy:
“Most patients happen to be good candidates for dental implants.”
The main exception he flags is time. If a tooth has been missing for many, many years, the bone that once held it shrinks away — so the practice recommends an individual consultation to determine whether enough bone is still in existence for an implant to be placed. That is not a no; it is a question the diagnostics answer. And it is a reason not to wait years longer before asking it.
What the consultation tells you
The next step, for anyone considering an implant, is a consultation — and Dr. Abron is specific about what it accomplishes. The team reviews your individual case and takes three-dimensional x-rays. After evaluating those diagnostics, they can tell you whether you are a candidate for dental implants and what exactly would be involved in your procedure — your timeline, your steps, your case rather than a generic one.
“We’ll look at your scans together and you will leave knowing exactly what you’re working with.”
Frequently asked questions
What does a dental implant replace?
The root of the missing tooth. The implant is placed in the jaw and left to integrate with the bone; the visible crown is added afterward by your general dentist.
Does the procedure hurt?
The team makes sure you are numb before anything begins, and sedation is available for patients who wish to be sedated. Comfort is established first, then the implant is inserted.
How long does treatment take?
The implant heals and becomes part of the jawbone over at least three months. At three months a stability test confirms integration, and then the crown is placed by your general dentist.
Am I a candidate for a dental implant?
Most patients are. If the tooth has been missing for many years, an individual consultation with three-dimensional x-rays is recommended to confirm there is enough bone remaining for an implant — the scans give a definitive answer for your case.
Weighing your options
If you are considering an implant — or you have been told in the past that you might need one — a consultation at DC Periodontics & Implants will give you a straight answer grounded in your own scans, at Farragut Square or Eastern Market.
Call (202) 659-3500, request an appointment online, or book at dcperio.com.