Older man with gray hair and beard smiling and pointing at his teeth while wearing a blue sweater.

Dental Implants

Restoring Your Smile, Rebuilding Your Confidence: What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are revolutionary solutions for replacing missing teeth, offering a permanent and natural-looking alternative to bridges or dentures.

Think of them as artificial tooth roots – carefully designed titanium posts surgically placed into your jawbone to provide a sturdy foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function just like your natural teeth.

The Science Behind Dental Implants

At the heart of modern implant technology is a fascinating process called osseointegration. This remarkable biological phenomenon allows the titanium implant to fuse directly with your natural bone tissue, creating an incredibly strong and stable base for your new tooth. Your body creates a permanent bond with this precision-engineered medical marvel.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

1. Unmatched Natural Appearance

Unlike traditional solutions, dental implants are designed to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth. Each implant is custom-crafted to match the color, shape, and alignment of your natural smile, ensuring nobody can tell the difference.

2. Long-Term Oral Health Benefits

Implants do more than just fill a gap. They:

  • Prevent bone loss by stimulating the jawbone
  • Maintain facial structure and prevent premature aging
  • Protect adjacent teeth from shifting
  • Restore full chewing function
3. Durability That Lasts a Lifetime

With proper care, dental implants can last 25 years or more. They’re not a temporary fix, but a permanent solution to tooth loss.

Illustration of a dental implant positioned between two natural teeth.
Surgical extractions

Surgical extractions involve teeth that have not fully erupted from the gums. This often occurs when there is not enough space for the tooth or it is growing in at an angle.

This condition, known as impaction, often causes pain and jaw discomfort. Removing your tooth can dramatically improve your comfort and protect your remaining teeth.

Simple extractions

Simple extractions involve teeth that have erupted fully from the gums.

In the case of simple extractions, we can see the crown of the tooth before we begin.

They usually do not require stitches during the healing process.

A dentist in a blue uniform conversing with a patient seated in a dental chair in a clinic.
The Implant Procedure: What to Expect

Our comprehensive implant process is designed with your comfort and success in mind:

      1. Initial Consultation: A thorough examination of your oral health, including advanced 3D imaging
      2. Personalized Treatment Planning: We develop a precise strategy tailored to your unique dental anatomy
      3. Surgical Placement: Precise, minimally invasive implant insertion
      4. Healing and Osseointegration: A period of healing where the implant bonds with your bone
      5. Restoration: Attachment of your custom-designed crown
Are You a Candidate?

Most adults in good overall health are potential candidates for dental implants. We evaluate:

  • Sufficient bone density
  • Healthy gum tissue
  • Overall medical history
  • Commitment to oral hygiene

Special Considerations

Don’t worry if you’ve been told you lack sufficient bone density in the past. Modern techniques like bone grafting have expanded possibilities for many patients who were previously considered unsuitable for implants.

Financing Options Available

We believe everyone deserves a complete, confident smile. Our office offers flexible financing plans to make your dental implant journey accessible and stress-free.

Investment in Your Smile

While dental implants represent a higher initial investment compared to traditional options, they offer unparalleled long-term value. Many patients find the improved quality of life, confidence, and oral health make implants an invaluable choice.

A Complete Smile Starts Here

Dental implants are more than just a medical procedure – they’re a pathway to renewed confidence, improved quality of life, and a smile that feels completely your own.

Ready to Explore Your Options?

Schedule a comprehensive consultation today. Let’s discuss how dental implants can restore not just your smile, but your quality of life.

Our team combines cutting-edge technology with compassionate, personalized care to guide you through every step of this transformative process.

Your Personalized Smile Journey

 We understand that every smile is unique. Our approach includes:

  • Comprehensive initial consultation
  • Digital smile design technology
  • Customized treatment planning
  • State-of-the-art techniques
  • Compassionate, patient-centered care

Meet THE DENTISTS

DR. DENNIS KNUTH

DR. DENNIS KNUTH

PARTNER

Dr. Knuth is proud to care for patients right here in the community he calls home. He and his team at Hometown Dental combine continuing education with the latest technology to make sure every patient and family receives top-quality care in a comfortable, welcoming setting.

Passionate about dentistry based on a simple philosophy, Dr. Knuth treats every patient as he would a close friend or family member—always striving to deliver the level of care each person deserves.

A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Dr. Knuth feels fortunate to have learned from some of the best mentors in the field. Before becoming a dentist, he earned a degree in electrical engineering and spent six years working in the electronics industry in Cincinnati. That background gave him a strong appreciation for technology and precision, which now plays a big role in how he approaches dental care.

Dr. Knuth lives in Greencastle with Emily (Jones) and their three children.  When Dr. Knuth isn’t with patients, you might find him riding his bicycle or on his Peloton trainer. Dr. Knuth also loves traveling and exploring new places with his family and friends. Some of Dr. Knuth’s favorite things are Bruce Springsteen, peanut M&Ms, cherry pie and yoga.

DR. TESS FUNKE

DR. TESS FUNKE

PARTNER

Dr. Funke loves getting to know her patients and chatting with them when they come in for visits. Its important to her to provide care for all patients, no matter where they are in their oral health journey.
While she enjoys many aspects of dentistry, Dr. Funke is excited to educate patients about dental implants and the ways they benefit oral health as Hometown Dental grows to offer implants here in our office.

Dr. Funke attended the University of Louisville for dental school and then completed a one year advanced training program in Arkansas. She's been transforming smiles with the Hometown Dental team since 2019.

When Dr. Funke isn’t with patients, you will find her spending time with her husband, Adam and their young son, Victor. Whether they are out strolling their neighborhood with aussiedoodle, Nelson or trying a new restaurant, it's wonderful to experience the world through a child’s eyes. Dr. Funke enjoys Orange Theory Fitness, cuddling up with a good book and will never turn down a good chocolate chip cookie.