If you are looking for dental implants in Charleston, WV, Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery places them at our Oakwood Road office in the South Hills area, just off I-64 and a few minutes from downtown. Our board-certified and board-eligible oral and maxillofacial surgeons handle every stage of implant treatment in-house, from 3D planning and any needed bone grafting to the surgery itself.Dental implants are the closest thing modern dentistry has to a natural tooth. A small titanium post is placed in the jawbone where the root used to be, the bone fuses to it over a few months, and a crown, bridge, or full set of teeth is then attached on top. The result looks, feels, and works like your own teeth, and because the post stimulates the jaw the way a root does, it also helps prevent the bone loss that follows a missing tooth.
This page explains who implants are for, the options we offer in Charleston, what the process looks like at our office, and how cost and financing work.
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants in Charleston?
Most adults who are missing one or more teeth can be treated with implants. Candidacy comes down to three things: healthy gums, enough jawbone to hold the post, and general health that allows for a minor surgical procedure. We review your medical history, examine your mouth, and take a 3D cone beam scan so we can see the exact width, height, and density of your bone before recommending anything.
If bone loss has already set in, that does not rule you out. As oral surgeons, we perform bone grafting in Charleston and sinus lifts to rebuild the foundation first, and for severe upper jaw bone loss, zygomatic implants can anchor in the cheekbone instead. Smokers, patients with diabetes, and patients taking certain medications can often still be treated; we simply plan around those factors. If you are not sure where you stand, our Am I a Candidate for Implants? page walks through the common questions, and a consultation gives you a clear answer.Your Dental Implant Options in Charleston
Implants are a building block, not a single treatment, and the right design depends on how many teeth are missing and where.
| • | Single tooth replacement: one implant and one crown, with no need to grind down the neighboring teeth the way a traditional bridge requires. Learn more on our single tooth replacement page. |
| • | Multiple missing teeth: two or more implants can support an implant supported bridge, replacing several teeth in a row without an implant for every tooth. See multiple tooth replacement with implants. |
| • | Full arch replacement: four to six implants can hold a complete upper or lower set of teeth. Our All-on-4 dental implants in Charleston page and our implant supported dentures in Charleston page cover the fixed and removable versions. |
| • | Teeth the same day: qualifying patients can have implants placed and a provisional set of teeth attached in a single visit through our Same Day Smile program in Charleston. |
| • | Compromised bone: zygomatic implants and mini dental implants give us options when standard implants are not a fit. |
Our types of dental implants in Charleston page compares these options side by side.
What to Expect: The Dental Implant Process at Our Charleston Office
Knowing the sequence ahead of time takes most of the anxiety out of implant treatment. Here is how it typically unfolds at our Oakwood Road office.
Consultation and 3D Imaging
Your first visit is planning, not surgery. We review your history and goals, examine your mouth, and take a 3D cone beam scan. That scan lets us map the exact position, angle, and depth of each implant before the day of surgery, and it tells us whether any grafting is needed first.
Anesthesia and Sedation
Implant placement is done under local anesthesia, and because we are an oral surgery practice, we can also offer sedation options ranging from nitrous oxide to IV sedation and general anesthesia. You choose the level of comfort that fits you; we tailor the plan to your health history.
Implant Placement
On surgery day, your surgeon places each titanium post in the jaw following the digital plan. In many cases we use X-Guide guided implant placement, a real-time navigation system that keeps the implant exactly where it was planned. Most single implant appointments take about an hour.
Healing and Your Final Teeth
Over the next three to six months, the bone grows onto the implant surface in a process called osseointegration. During that time you will have a temporary tooth or appliance so there is never a gap in your smile. Once the implant is solid, your final crown, bridge, or denture is attached, either here or in coordination with your general dentist. Our post-operative implant instructions cover the first days and weeks after placement.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Patients choose implants over dentures and traditional bridges for reasons that add up over decades, not just months.| • | Stability: implant teeth do not slip, click, or need adhesive, so you can eat what you want and speak without thinking about it. |
| • | Bone preservation: the post stimulates the jaw like a natural root, which helps prevent the shrinking bone and sunken facial appearance that follow tooth loss. |
| • | Protection for neighboring teeth: unlike a bridge, an implant does not rely on the adjacent teeth for support, so those teeth stay untouched. |
| • | Longevity: with good home care and regular checkups, the implant post can last a lifetime, and the crown on top typically lasts many years before it needs replacement. |
| • | Everyday confidence: a fixed, natural-looking tooth means no more covering your smile or avoiding certain foods. |
Our benefits of dental implants page goes deeper on each of these.
Why Choose Mountain State for Dental Implants in Charleston
Charleston patients have two of our offices to choose from. The Oakwood Road office serves South Hills, Fort Hill, the East End, the West Side, and downtown, while our Kanawha City office on MacCorkle Avenue serves the east side of the river. Both offer the full range of implant care.
Every implant we place is planned on a 3D scan and placed by an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, the specialty with the most surgical and anesthesia training in dentistry. That matters most in the cases that are not simple: bone loss, failing teeth that need extraction and grafting first, full arch reconstruction, or medical histories that call for a careful anesthesia plan. Our dental technology, including cone beam imaging and guided placement, supports precise planning and a more predictable result.
We also coordinate closely with your general dentist so the surgical and restorative phases fit together. To learn about the surgeons who will care for you, visit our Meet Our Doctors page, and to hear from patients who have been through it, read our dental implant patient stories.
Dental Implant Cost and Financing in Charleston
The cost of dental implants depends on how many implants you need, the type of restoration going on top, whether grafting or extractions come first, and the sedation you choose. Because of that range, we give you a personalized estimate after your consultation rather than a generic number.
Many dental plans cover part of implant treatment, and our team will verify your benefits before anything is scheduled. We also offer monthly payment options through Cherry payment plans, CareCredit, LendingClub, and Proceed Finance. Details are on our financial and insurance information page.
Dental Implant FAQs
How long does the dental implant process take in Charleston?
From consultation to final teeth, most single implant cases take three to six months, which is mostly healing time while the bone fuses to the implant. If you need a bone graft first, add a few months. Same Day Smile cases attach a provisional set of teeth on the day of surgery, with the final teeth following after healing.
Does getting a dental implant hurt?
The area is fully numbed, and sedation is available if you prefer to be relaxed or asleep during the procedure. Most patients describe pressure rather than pain during placement, and mild soreness for a few days afterward that is managed with the instructions and comfort plan we provide.
What if I have been told I do not have enough bone for implants?
That is one of the most common reasons patients come to an oral surgeon. Bone grafting, sinus lifts, and ridge augmentation can rebuild the jaw, and zygomatic implants can bypass severe upper jaw bone loss entirely. A 3D scan at our Charleston office will show which approach fits your situation.
How long do dental implants last?
The titanium post can last a lifetime with good oral hygiene and routine dental visits. The crown, bridge, or denture attached to it is subject to normal wear and typically lasts many years before it needs to be replaced or adjusted.
Will my general dentist still be involved?
Usually, yes. In many cases we place the implant and your general dentist designs and attaches the final crown or bridge. We coordinate directly with your dentist so the two phases fit together, and we can handle both phases in-house when that is the better fit for your case.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation in Charleston, WV
Replacing a missing tooth starts with one appointment. Contact Mountain State Oral and Facial Surgery at (304) 343-5161 to schedule your consultation at our Charleston office at 869 Oakwood Rd, Charleston, WV 25314. We see patients Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and we welcome patients from South Hills, Fort Hill, the East End, the West Side, and the surrounding Kanawha Valley.
Our Charleston office also offers tooth extractions, wisdom teeth removal, and the full range of oral surgery in Charleston.
