Dental Implants in Burnaby: A Highgate Dentist’s Complete Guide

If you’ve been hiding a missing tooth in photos, struggling with a wobbly bridge, or wondering whether a denture is really your only option, you’re in good company. At Burnaby South Dental, our Highgate clinic at 6975 Kingsway, we have a quiet but steady stream of patients from Middlegate, Edmonds, and Royal Oak asking the same question: Are dental implants right for me?

The honest answer is — for most adults with a missing tooth, yes, they’re the closest thing modern dentistry has to a real replacement. But implants aren’t a one-size-fits-all decision, and the internet is full of confusing claims about cost, healing, and risk.

This guide walks through what a dental implant actually is, how the process unfolds at our Burnaby clinic, what it costs, who’s a good candidate, and how the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) fits in. By the end you’ll have a clear, neighbour-to-neighbour picture of whether implants make sense for your smile.

What is a dental implant, really?

A dental implant is a small titanium post that takes the place of a missing tooth root. It’s surgically placed into your jawbone, where it fuses with the bone over a few months — a process called osseointegration. Once it’s solid, a custom-made crown is attached on top, giving you a tooth that looks, feels, and functions like the one nature gave you.

Implants come in three “layers”:

The implant — the titanium post in the bone
The abutment — a small connector that sits at the gumline
The crown — the visible, tooth-shaped restoration

You don’t see the first two. You only see (and chew with) the crown.

Compared to a bridge or a denture, an implant has one major advantage: it stops the bone loss that normally happens after you lose a tooth. Without a root pressing into your jaw, the bone in that area slowly shrinks — that’s why long-time denture wearers often develop a “sunken” look around the mouth. An implant preserves the bone exactly the way a natural tooth would.

Why patients in Highgate and Middlegate are choosing implants

We see a few clear reasons implants have become the standard of care for tooth replacement:

They look natural. A well-made implant crown is essentially invisible. Most patients tell us friends and family don’t notice the implant tooth at all.

They function like a real tooth. You can bite into an apple, chew steak, drink hot tea — anything you’d do with a healthy natural tooth.

They protect your other teeth. A traditional bridge requires us to shape (and slightly damage) the two healthy teeth next to the gap. An implant stands on its own. Your neighbours stay untouched.

They last. With good home care and regular cleanings at our Highgate clinic, implants routinely last 20+ years. Many last a lifetime. Bridges and dentures typically need replacement every 7–15 years.

They preserve your face shape. As we mentioned above, implants prevent bone loss in the jaw — which keeps your facial profile fuller and more youthful.

Are you a candidate? Most adults are.

Implants work for the vast majority of healthy adults missing one or more teeth. We assess each patient individually, but the broad checklist looks like this:

You’re likely a good candidate if you:

Are an adult with one or more missing teeth (or a tooth that needs to be extracted)
Have healthy gums or a gum-disease history that’s now well controlled
Have enough jawbone — or are willing to do a small bone graft if needed
Don’t smoke, or are willing to pause while the implant heals
Are in reasonably good overall health

Conditions that need extra planning (but rarely rule out implants entirely):

Diabetes — well-controlled diabetes is generally fine
Osteoporosis or bisphosphonate medications — we’ll coordinate with your doctor
Heavy grinding/clenching — we may recommend a night guard to protect the crown
Active gum disease — we’ll treat this first, then plan the implant

The only way to know for sure is a proper consult. We do a clinical exam, take a low-dose digital X-ray and sometimes a 3D scan, and walk you through what we see — no commitment.

The dental implant process at Burnaby South Dental, step by step

A common worry we hear is “How long is this going to take?” The truthful answer: most cases are spread out over 3–6 months, but you’re only in the chair for a handful of relatively short appointments. Here’s the typical journey:

Step 1 — Consultation and planning (60 minutes)

We do a full exam, take digital X-rays, and discuss your goals. If everything looks straightforward, we present a written treatment plan with timing and exact cost the same day. If we need a 3D cone-beam scan or any specialist coordination, we’ll book that next.

Step 2 — Extraction and/or bone preparation (if needed)

If the tooth is still in place, we may remove it gently and place a bone graft to preserve the site. Many patients heal here for 8–12 weeks before the implant goes in. In simpler cases, we can place an implant the same day as the extraction.

Step 3 — Implant placement (60–90 minutes)

This is the surgical step, and it’s typically much easier than patients expect. Most people compare it to a regular extraction. We use local freezing, and you can choose to add light sedation if you’re nervous. You’ll head home the same day with simple aftercare instructions.

Step 4 — Healing and osseointegration (3–6 months)

During this period the implant fuses with your jawbone. You can eat normally on the rest of your teeth, and many patients receive a temporary tooth so there’s no visible gap in the meantime.

Step 5 — Abutment and crown (2 visits, 2–3 weeks apart)

Once your implant is fully fused, we take a digital impression and design your crown. You come back a couple of weeks later for the final fitting. The crown is screwed or cemented onto the abutment, polished, and adjusted — and you walk out with a complete smile.

What do dental implants cost in Burnaby?

This is the question every patient has, and we believe in answering it openly.

In British Columbia, a single dental implant from start to finish — including the implant, abutment, and crown — typically falls in the range of $3,500 to $6,000 CAD depending on whether bone grafting, sinus lift, or 3D imaging is required.

At Burnaby South Dental, we follow the BC Dental Association Fee Guide and provide a written estimate before any work begins. There are no surprise invoices.

A few cost notes worth knowing:

Insurance: Most extended dental plans cover a portion of implant treatment — often the crown and sometimes the surgical placement. We pre-authorize on your behalf so you know your exact out-of-pocket cost before starting.
Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP): Implant coverage under CDCP is currently limited (CDCP focuses on essential, basic care). We help eligible patients use CDCP for related work — exams, X-rays, extractions, cleanings — which can reduce your overall cost meaningfully. Learn more about CDCP.
Financing: We work with payment-plan options so you can spread the cost over 12–24 months.
All-on-4 / full arch: For patients missing most or all of their teeth in an arch, “All-on-4” style restorations replace a full set of teeth on just four implants. Per-tooth cost drops significantly with this approach.

Implant vs. bridge vs. denture — quick comparison

If you’re weighing options, here’s the short version of how the three stack up for a single missing tooth:

Dental implant: Best long-term outcome. Preserves bone, doesn’t touch neighbouring teeth, lasts 20+ years. Higher up-front cost, longer timeline.

Fixed bridge: Faster (often 2–3 weeks), no surgery. But requires reshaping two healthy adjacent teeth, doesn’t prevent bone loss, typically needs replacement in 10–15 years.

Removable partial denture: Lowest up-front cost. But less stable, can affect speech and taste, and bone loss continues underneath.

For most of our Highgate and Middlegate patients, the implant pays for itself within a decade simply because it doesn’t have to be replaced and doesn’t damage other teeth.

Recovery: what most patients actually experience

Patients are almost always surprised by how mild the recovery is. Typical experience:

Day of surgery: A bit of pressure during the procedure (no pain — you’re frozen). Mild soreness afterward, managed with over-the-counter ibuprofen.
Day 1–3: Some swelling and mild tenderness. Most people return to work the next day. Soft foods for 3–5 days.
Week 1–2: Stitches dissolve or are removed. Almost all discomfort is gone.
Months 1–4: Implant heals invisibly in the bone. Normal eating and exercise.

Smoking, poor diet, and skipped cleanings are the three things that delay healing. We give you a clear, one-page recovery checklist before you leave the chair.

Caring for your implant — long term

The good news: caring for an implant is nearly identical to caring for a natural tooth.

Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush
Floss or use an interdental brush daily
Avoid using your teeth as tools (no opening bottle caps!)
See us every 6 months for a professional cleaning and implant check
If you grind your teeth, wear your night guard

Implants don’t get cavities — but the gum around them can develop peri-implantitis (an implant-specific gum infection) if cleanings are skipped. Regular preventative dentistry visits at our clinic are the single most important thing you can do to protect your investment.

Frequently asked questions

Does getting a dental implant hurt?
Most patients report less discomfort than a tooth extraction. You’re fully frozen during the procedure, and most people manage post-op soreness with regular ibuprofen.

How long does the whole process take?
3–6 months on average. Some straightforward cases can be done in as little as 8 weeks; complex cases with bone grafting can extend to 9 months. We give you a clear timeline at your consult.

Can I get an implant if I’ve worn dentures for years?
Often yes — though we’ll need to assess your jawbone. Long-time denture wearers sometimes need a small bone graft first. The result, once complete, is usually life-changing in terms of chewing and confidence.

Are implants safe for older adults?
Age alone isn’t a barrier. We routinely place implants for patients in their 70s and 80s. Overall health matters more than age.

Will my insurance cover it?
Many extended plans cover at least the crown portion, and sometimes the surgical placement. We submit pre-authorizations for every patient so you know exactly what’s covered before starting.

Do you accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan?
Yes — Burnaby South Dental welcomes CDCP patients. CDCP coverage for implants themselves is currently limited, but we use CDCP coverage for exams, X-rays, cleanings, and extractions where eligible.

Ready to talk about your smile?

If you’ve been thinking about replacing a missing tooth, the next step is simple: a no-pressure consultation. We’ll examine your mouth, take any imaging we need, and lay out your options — implants, bridge, or denture — with honest pros, cons, and prices for each. No upsell. No surprises.

Whether you’re walking over from Highgate Village, driving in from Middlegate or Royal Oak, or hopping off the SkyTrain at Edmonds Station, Burnaby South Dental is here for you.

📞 Call (604) 540-6000
📍 6975 Kingsway #2, Burnaby, BC V5E 1E5
🦷 Book your implant consultation online — new patients always welcome.

This blog is for general information only and is not a substitute for an exam by a licensed dentist. Treatment outcomes vary based on individual factors.