Gerald is 67 and lives near Grundy. He lost three teeth on his lower right side over a ten-year period, the last one just before the pandemic. He had been managing with a removable partial denture that he found uncomfortable and embarrassing. He did not like to smile at family gatherings.
He had heard about dental implants but had written them off for two reasons: he assumed he was too old, and he assumed his bone had deteriorated too much in the years since the extractions for implants to be possible. He also assumed they cost more than he could manage.
He mentioned all of this to his primary care doctor during a routine appointment. His doctor told him to go get evaluated before deciding anything. He called Tazewell Dental Group.
The evaluation found that two of the three sites had adequate bone for implants. The third needed a bone graft, which was planned as part of a phased treatment. Total treatment was spread over about eight months. Gerald now has three permanent teeth where the partial denture used to be.
The assumption that disqualified him turned out not to be true.
Who Is and Is Not a Candidate for Dental Implants
Implants are not right for every patient in every situation, and the evaluation is the only way to know. That said, the disqualifying conditions are fewer than most patients assume.
Age is not one of them. Implants are placed in patients well into their 70s and 80s, provided overall health supports the procedure. The relevant questions are bone density and systemic health — not age.
Bone loss after an extraction is real and it does matter. The bone that surrounded the tooth root begins to resorb after the tooth is gone. The longer the gap has been open, the more bone may have been lost. But bone grafting can restore the volume needed for implant placement in many cases where loss has occurred. It adds time and an additional procedure, but it is not a reason to stop the conversation.
Medical conditions that require evaluation include uncontrolled diabetes, active cancer treatment, and some medications including certain bone-density drugs. These are not automatic disqualifiers, but they require a detailed conversation with the clinical team before a treatment plan is set.
Smoking significantly increases implant failure rates and is something the team at Tazewell Dental Group will discuss as part of the evaluation.
What the Implant Process Looks Like
An implant is a titanium post placed into the jawbone that serves as an artificial root. After the post is placed and the bone has integrated around it, a crown is attached. The result is a tooth that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth.
For patients with multiple missing teeth, implant-supported bridges or All-on-4 full arch restoration can replace entire sections of the mouth or the full upper or lower arch with a smaller number of implant posts. All-on-4 supports a full arch on four strategically placed implants, which often allows placement even in patients with moderate bone loss.
Tazewell Dental Group offers implant evaluation, placement, and final restoration. The team includes Dr. Chris Davenport, whose endodontics and implant background is part of the practice’s clinical focus, and Dr. R. Alan May, who chose to practice in Tazewell after recognizing both the region’s character and the shortage of providers here.
Treatment can be phased over months to fit a timeline and a budget. If the cost is a concern, ask directly at the consultation — the team will lay out what the treatment involves, what it costs, and what the options are.
Next Step: Get Evaluated
The evaluation tells you what is actually possible for your specific situation. It costs nothing to find out, and the assumptions that ruled implants out may not hold up when someone with real clinical information looks at the X-ray.
Tazewell Dental Group is at 235 Campbell Lane in Tazewell, Virginia. The practice serves patients from Tazewell County, Bluefield, Richlands, and Grundy. Call (276) 988-5554 to schedule an implant consultation.