Dental Implants: A Better Way to Replace Teeth
What are dental implants?
How Do Dental Implants Work? | What Are Dental Implants Made of? | What Happens if You Don’t Replace Missing Teeth? | How Much do Dental Implants Cost? | How Are Dental Implants Placed? | More Dental Implant Info
Missing a tooth isn’t just bad for your looks; it can be bad for your health as well! Healthy teeth play an important role in the body from head to toe. When you are missing one, your jawbone deteriorates, your self-esteem suffers and so does your diet, which negatively affects the health of your entire body. Dental implants look, feel, and function just like natural teeth and are widely recognized as the best replacement method.
Missing Teeth? Consider Dental Implants!
A Permanent, Natural-Looking Solution to Replace Teeth
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how do dental implants work?
Our bodies are truly amazing – their ability to coexist with a variety of native and foreign materials means that our treatment options, as oral surgeons, are constantly expanding. “Osseointegration” refers to the fusing of bone with artificial material. Its origins date back to the 1940s and 50s when Swedish physician Per-Ingvar Branemark discovered that titanium fuses so well with the bone that it is nearly impossible to remove! Since then, the biocompatibility of titanium has proven itself to be amazingly reliable over and over again.
“Don’t be afraid to Smile.”
For years I’d felt like a part of my body was missing — because my teeth were. My dentist told me that dental implants would make me feel and look a lot better. OK, I said. Now, I’m thrilled. I can smile, eat anything, and enjoy a good laugh with my friends.
What are dental implants made of?
Dental implants are made of titanium. A completed implant includes three pieces: the implant itself (a titanium screw that is placed in the jawbone), the abutment (a connector between the implant and crown), and the crown (the part that is visible and looks like a tooth). Dr. Li or Dr. Fan will place the implant and the abutment, and the crown will be completed by your general dentist.
what happens if you don’t replace missing teeth?
You may be surprised to hear that your jawbone is a lot like a muscle, in that it must be stimulated regularly in order to maintain its volume. Therefore, when a tooth is extracted (or falls out naturally), the jawbone begins to deteriorate almost immediately. In fact, studies show that within a year of tooth loss, there is a 25% decrease in bone width. Thankfully, dental implants can take the place of natural teeth to provide the stimulus needed by the jaw. If done early, this greatly reduces the need for bone grafting down the road.
1. Normal
2. Tooth Loss
3. Healed Bone
4. Implant Placed
5. Healing
6. Implant Restored
How much do dental implants cost?
While the upfront cost is often more than that of alternatives such as bridges and dentures, dental implants outlast those approaches by several decades. This increased longevity makes implants the more affordable choice in the long run. For further information, visit our dental implants cost page.
how are dental implants placed?
- Consultation and Treatment Plan: During the initial phase of the dental implant process, imaging is gathered along with your medical and dental histories to give us a clear picture of your current health. We will then explore your treatment options with you to formulate a plan that ensures that both your health goals and budgetary needs are met.
- Extraction: The next step is to have the tooth in question extracted. In some cases, we may be able to place the implant at the same time of extraction. In others, bone grafting will be required prior to implant placement (see next step).
- Bone Grafting: It is fairly common for the jawbone to lack the mass needed to accept an implant. In this case, a bone graft will be performed first to strengthen the target area. Bone grafting is typically followed by several months of healing before the implant can be placed.
- Dental Implant Surgery: During the implant procedure itself, a titanium screw is inserted into your jawbone. You will be anesthetized for comfort during the surgery, which takes about 1-2 hours.
- Osseointegration: After placing the implant, we cover it with the surrounding soft tissue and let it sit for 3 months in order to fuse with the bone.
- Final Restoration: After osseointegration is complete, an abutment is placed on the implant to connect with the final crown restoration. Typically, the final restoration is done by a general dentist.
Dental Implants Presentation
To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.
To read more about dental implants, please view our informative pages below:
- Full Arch Replacement
- Dental Implant FAQ
- Cost of Dental Implants
- Same Day Teeth
- 5 Reasons Dental Implants are the Best Choice for Seniors
- Benefits of Replacing a Full Arch of Teeth with Dental Implants
- 5 Reasons Dental Implants are Worth It
- Are Dental Implants Safe in the Long Run?
- Top 4 Reasons to be Grateful for Dental Implants
- Are You Too Old to Replace Your Teeth with Dental Implants?
At Flushing Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, we are proud to offer a safe, comfortable, and affordable dental implant experience to our patients with the help of cutting-edge technology and utilization of the latest techniques. Call us at Flushing NY Office Phone Number 347-943-1960 to get started on your journey – we are here with the support, guidance, and expertise you deserve.