Implants have been available to patients for over 20 years, but not until recently have they become mainstream to the public. A dental implant is a very sophisticated modality of treatment and involves several steps. A very simplified explanation goes as follows: Let's say a patient has a missing tooth. If they are a good candidate, a dental implant can be placed into the bone, allowed to heal, and then a crown is fabricated on top of the implant, thus the patient now has a tooth again. The overall procedure is almost painfree and can restore chewing and beauty to one's smile. Despite restoring implant cases for 7 years Dr. Mattingly frequently takes continuing education courses in this exciting field to stay abreast with current technological advancements. If you would be interested in learning more about dental implants, feel free to give our office a call.