Legacy Heights Oral & Facial Surgery
If you’re missing one or more teeth and live in or around Farmington, UT, dental implants are likely the most durable, natural-looking tooth replacement solution available to you. At Legacy Heights Oral Surgery — located right here in Farmington — our board-certified oral surgeons place dental implants every week for patients coming from across Davis County and beyond, including Bountiful, Kaysville, Centerville, Layton, and North Salt Lake.
This guide covers everything you need to know before your first consultation: how implants work, who qualifies, what the process looks like, what it costs, and why choosing a dedicated oral surgery practice matters for long-term outcomes.
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root. Once the implant fuses to the bone through a biological process called osseointegration, a custom-fabricated crown is attached on top — creating a replacement tooth that looks, feels, and functions like a natural tooth.
Unlike dentures, implants don’t slip or require adhesives. Unlike dental bridges, they don’t require grinding down adjacent healthy teeth. And unlike either alternative, implants actively stimulate the jawbone, preventing the bone loss that typically follows tooth extraction.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most adults in good general health who are missing one or more teeth are potential candidates. Specifically, good candidates typically:
- Have adequate jawbone density to support the implant (or are willing to undergo a dental bone graft in Farmington first)
- Have healthy gums free of active periodontal disease
- Do not smoke (or are willing to quit, as smoking significantly impairs healing)
- Have controlled chronic conditions — diabetes, for example, can be managed to allow successful implant placement
- Are committed to maintaining good oral hygiene long-term
The only definitive way to know if you’re a candidate is through a comprehensive consultation. At Legacy Heights Oral Surgery in Farmington, UT, we use advanced 3D cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging to evaluate your bone volume, anatomy, and nerve positions before recommending any treatment plan.
The Dental Implant Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Initial Consultation and 3D Imaging
Your journey begins with a thorough exam and a 3D CBCT scan at our Farmington office. This allows our surgeons to map your exact bone dimensions and identify the optimal implant placement site. We review your medical and dental history, discuss your goals, and walk you through all treatment options — including single implants, implant-supported bridges, and All-on-4 full-arch implants for patients missing most or all of their teeth.
Step 2: Preparatory Procedures (If Needed)
Some patients require bone grafting before implant placement if significant bone loss has occurred following extraction. If a tooth still needs to be removed, our surgeons can often perform the extraction and place a socket preservation graft at the same visit — minimizing the overall treatment timeline.
Patients from Bountiful, Layton, and surrounding areas often come to us specifically because we handle all of these preparatory steps in-house. You don’t need to bounce between a general dentist and a specialist — we manage the full surgical treatment arc at our Farmington, UT facility.
Step 3: Implant Placement Surgery
Implant placement is performed under local anesthesia, IV sedation, or general anesthesia depending on your preference and treatment complexity. Our oral surgeons in Farmington make a small incision in the gum tissue, place the titanium post precisely into the jawbone, and then close the site. The procedure typically takes 1–2 hours depending on the number of implants placed.
Most patients from Kaysville, North Salt Lake, and Centerville are pleasantly surprised by how manageable recovery is — mild soreness, some swelling, and a soft-food diet for a week or so. Over-the-counter pain relievers are usually sufficient.
Step 4: Osseointegration (Healing Period)
Over the next 3–6 months, the titanium implant fuses permanently to the surrounding bone. This is the critical phase — the implant becomes part of your skeletal structure, creating a foundation that can last decades with proper care.
Step 5: Crown Placement
Once your implant has fully integrated, we coordinate with your restorative dentist (or our team, depending on your plan) to attach a custom porcelain crown. The crown is color-matched to your surrounding teeth so the result looks completely natural.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
With proper care — daily brushing and flossing, regular dental checkups, and avoiding habits like teeth grinding — dental implants can last 20–30 years or longer. Many patients keep their implants for life. The crown on top may need replacement after 10–15 years due to normal wear, but the implant post itself is designed to be permanent.
What Do Dental Implants Cost in Farmington, UT?
Dental implant costs in the Farmington area vary based on several factors: the number of implants, whether preparatory procedures like bone grafting are needed, and the type of restoration (single crown, bridge, or full arch). A single implant with a crown typically ranges from $3,500 to $5,000; full-arch solutions like All-on-4 are priced differently and involve a more detailed treatment plan.
Legacy Heights Oral Surgery works with most major dental insurance carriers and offers financing options to make treatment more accessible. We strongly encourage patients from across Davis County to schedule a consultation to receive a precise, personalized cost estimate — because every case is different.
Why Choose Legacy Heights Oral Surgery for Dental Implants in Farmington?
Our Farmington practice is led by board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons with specialized, residency-trained expertise in implant surgery — the same credential level required at academic medical centers. Here’s what sets our practice apart:
- In-house 3D imaging: CBCT scans allow precise surgical planning that general dental offices simply cannot match.
- Full surgical scope: Extractions, bone grafting, implant placement, and implant exposure — all performed at our Farmington facility, not referred out.
- IV sedation available: Patients who experience dental anxiety can choose IV sedation for a comfortable, relaxed experience.
- Convenient location: Easily accessible from Bountiful, Centerville, Kaysville, Layton, and North Salt Lake — right off I-15 in Farmington, UT.
- Trusted reputation: Patients and referring dentists across Davis County have trusted Legacy Heights Oral Surgery for years of consistent, high-quality surgical outcomes.
Whether you’re exploring implants for the first time or are ready to schedule surgery, our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Patients searching for a qualified oral surgeon in Farmington, UT consistently find that our combination of advanced technology, surgical expertise, and patient-centered care makes Legacy Heights the clear choice.
Dental Implants vs. Other Tooth Replacement Options
Dental Implants vs. Dentures
Traditional dentures sit on top of the gums and rely on suction or adhesive to stay in place. They can shift during eating and speaking, and they don’t stimulate the jawbone — meaning bone loss continues over time, eventually changing your facial appearance. Implant-supported dentures and full-arch solutions like All-on-4 solve both of these problems.
Dental Implants vs. Bridges
A dental bridge replaces a missing tooth by crowning the two teeth on either side and suspending a false tooth between them. While effective, bridges require permanently altering healthy teeth and still allow bone loss to occur beneath the missing tooth gap. An implant preserves the adjacent teeth and the bone beneath the replacement site.
Serving Farmington, UT and All of Davis County
Legacy Heights Oral Surgery is proud to be Farmington’s dedicated oral surgery practice. We see patients from throughout Davis County daily — from families in Kaysville scheduling oral surgery in Kaysville to patients in Bountiful seeking a trusted oral surgeon near Bountiful. Our Farmington location is easy to reach from anywhere along the I-15 corridor.
If you’re in North Salt Lake or Centerville, our office is just a short drive north — typically 15–20 minutes — and our team will make every visit worth the trip.
Disclaimer: This post is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or dental advice. Individual results vary. Please consult with a qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeon to determine whether dental implants are appropriate for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dental Implants in Farmington, UT
How painful is dental implant surgery?
Most patients report that the procedure itself is not painful — local anesthesia ensures the surgical area is numb throughout. Post-operative discomfort is typically mild to moderate and manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers. IV sedation is also available for patients who prefer to be completely relaxed during the procedure.
How long does the full dental implant process take?
From initial consultation to final crown placement, the process typically takes 4–8 months depending on whether bone grafting is needed and how quickly osseointegration progresses. Some patients with sufficient bone volume and simple cases may qualify for expedited timelines.
Does dental insurance cover implants in Farmington, UT?
Coverage varies by plan. Some dental insurance plans cover a portion of implant surgery (particularly the extraction and bone graft components), while others treat implants as cosmetic and exclude them entirely. Our Farmington team will help you navigate your insurance benefits and identify financing options for any out-of-pocket costs.
Do I need a referral to see Legacy Heights Oral Surgery for dental implants?
No referral is required. Many of our dental implant patients in Farmington self-refer after researching options online. We do work closely with referring general dentists throughout Davis County and coordinate seamlessly on shared treatment plans.
What happens if I don’t have enough bone for an implant?
If a CBCT scan reveals insufficient bone density or volume, our surgeons can perform a dental bone graft to rebuild the site before implant placement. This is a routine part of many implant treatment plans and does not disqualify you from receiving implants — it simply adds a healing phase to the overall timeline.