Missing teeth shouldn’t hold you back. Our Durham dental implant specialists help restore your smile and confidence with permanent, natural-looking solutions.
Implant Placement Durham, NC
Restore Your Smile
- 20+ years of experience
- 5.0 ★ Google Rating with over 200 reviews
- One of only five U.S. practices to receive the ACP Private Practice Award.
- Among just 1,200 board-certified prosthodontists worldwide.
- Only board-certified prosthodontists in private practice serving Durham–Chapel Hill.
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or call 919-489-8661
Award-Winning Care Recognized Nationally
Specialists in Complex Smile Restoration & Dental Implants
Trusted by Thousands of Patients with a 5.0 ★ Google Rating
20+ Years Helping Patients Smile and Live Confidently
Implant Placement
Dental implant placement is a precise surgical procedure used to replace missing tooth roots with small titanium implants. The procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes for a single implant and about two to three hours for multiple implants, though the exact timing and number of appointments vary from patient to patient.
Before surgery, your comfort options will be reviewed during your consultation. These may include antibiotics, local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, or intravenous sedation. Once the area is numb and you are comfortable, the surgeon makes a small incision in the gum tissue, prepares the bone with specialized instruments, and gently places the implant into the jawbone.
Healing After Dental Implant Placement
After implant placement, the healing process begins. Healing time varies depending on the quality and quantity of bone, as well as your individual treatment plan. In some cases, implants may be restored immediately after placement. In others, the implant may need to remain covered by gum tissue during the early stages of healing.
During a follow-up visit, the surgeon may attach an abutment, support post, or healing cap to the implant. This helps the gum tissue mature and provides access to the implant for the restorative phase of treatment. Follow-up care is usually needed to make sure your mouth is healing properly and to determine when your final restoration can be placed.
In some cases, a soft tissue graft may be recommended to create stronger, healthier, and more natural-looking gum tissue around the implant. This procedure usually involves moving a small amount of gum tissue from one area of the mouth to the implant site.
Once healing is complete, Dr. Cunningham or Dr. Gazdeck will complete the restoration by fitting the replacement tooth, bridge, or denture to the implant.
When Are Dental Implants Placed?
Dental implants are often placed several months after a tooth has been extracted. In some cases, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction, which can simplify the treatment process by reducing the number of appointments needed.
Immediate implant placement is not always recommended, especially when infection or bone concerns are present. If a tooth has been missing for a long time, the surrounding bone may have become thinner or smaller because it no longer receives stimulation from the natural tooth root. When there is not enough bone to support an implant, bone grafting may be recommended before implant placement.
How Many Implants Do I Need?
The number of implants needed depends on how many teeth are being replaced, where they are located, and the type of restoration being planned. In many cases, one implant is placed for each missing tooth. For larger back teeth, which naturally have multiple roots, a larger implant may be used to provide proper support.
We’re accepting new patients. Give us a call or request an appointment online.
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or call 919-489-8661
Meet Your Team of Dentists
We're a team of gentle and compassionate dentists dedicated to the highest standards of care, combining specialized expertise with a compassionate approach.
Originally from West Virginia, Dr. Cunningham was fortunate to be raised in a small town where his dad practiced general dentistry and his mother was a stay-at-home mom.
In 2015, Dr Cunningham achieved his dream of private practice ownership becoming the owner of Durham Dental Implants & Cosmetic Dentistry. Also in 2015, Dr. Cunningham achieved his board certification, an achievement that only a small percentage of prosthodontists in the world attain.
In 2018, Dr. Cunningham was extremely honored to be awarded the Private Practice Award by the American College of Prosthodontics. This award is given out to only four practitioners in the United States annually. Dr. Cunningham is published in multiple peer-reviewed journals, lectures for world renowned implant companies nationally, serves as an expert witness, and provides dental industry consultation services. He is honored to be named as Durham Magazine’s Top Dentist by his peers, year after year.
Simply put, Dr. Cunningham loves the art and science of dentistry and is very passionate about the pursuit of clinical excellence. The decision to specialize in Prosthodontics is based on this passion and the yearning to have the ability to treat more complex multidisciplinary cases, a skill that is not taught in the general dentistry realm. He is also has many local and out of state dentists come to him for their own dental care.
Dr. Cunningham is married to his wife, Karen Cunningham. They have two daughters, Annalee and Audrey. When he isn’t working to improve your smile, Dr. Cunningham enjoys outdoor sports, reading, watching documentaries, and spending time with family.
A native of North Carolina, Dr. Gazdeck grew up the oldest of four siblings in Lincolnton, NC. After graduating Summa Cum Laude and a Valedictorian from North Carolina State University in 2009 he went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2014.
He continued his education by completing a 3-year specialty residency in Prosthodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago, obtaining a certificate in Prosthodontics and a Master of Science (MS) in Oral Sciences in 2017. A year later in 2018 he completed his formal education after a fellowship in Maxillofacial Prosthetics, a subspecialty of prosthodontics involving head and neck cancer, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Following his training, Dr. Gazdeck decided to return home and join Durham Dental Implants & Cosmetic Dentistry in the Summer of 2018. Soon after, Dr. Gazdeck attained Diplomate status from the American Board of Prosthodontics, and together he and Dr. Cunningham are the only two Board Certified Prosthodontists in Private Practice within Durham-Chapel Hill.
Dr. Gazdeck holds an appointment at the UNC Chapel Hill School of Dentistry as an Adjunct Assistant Professor within the Department of Prosthodontics. He utilizes his additional head and neck cancer training to lead and oversee the maxillofacial prosthetics course and clinic each week with the prosthodontic residents. Dr. Gazdeck lectures locally and nationally on current topics in cancer treatment, dental implants, advanced restorative dentistry, and is published in the Journal of Oral Diseases.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics, Fellow of the American College of Prosthodontics, Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Member of the American Dental Association, and is involved with local dental societies and study clubs.
Dr. Gazdeck is married to his wife Leslie, who he met while in dental school. Leslie is a pediatric dentist in the triangle area and together they have three sons named Nate, Matt, and Will. Outside of the office, Dr. Gazdeck values family time and loves to travel, golf, and explore the outdoors.
Financial & Pricing
Transparent Pricing
We always focus on clearly communicating the cost of treatments so you know exactly what to expect.
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No Insurance, No Problem
Many of our patients pay out of pocket with cash, credit card, debit etc. We also offer third party financing through CareCredit.