Dental Implants — Tappan, NY
Tooth Replacement That Lasts for Decades
For decades, patients with missing teeth were only able to get restorations that replaced the part that could be seen. While these helped with aesthetics, they were inherently less stable than natural dental structure and usually wore down quickly. Thankfully, dental implants have provided a solution for both of these issues. They bring back an entire tooth both above and below the gum line, making them extremely durable and secure within the mouth. At Smile More Dentistry, we’ve already used implants to help countless patients reclaim their bite and confidence at the same time, and we’re ready to do the exact same for you. To learn more about this state-of-the-art treatment, contact us today.
Why Choose Smile More Dentistry For Dental Implants?
- All-Inclusive Care: Everything You Need Under 1 Roof
- Premier Craftmanship: Results That Look Great & Will Truly Last
- Personalzied Treatment: Every Plan Is Specially-Designed for Each Patient
What Are Dental Implants?
The 4 Step Dental Implant Process
We take the time to plan and strategize your dental implant placement. Each patient is different and so are their needs, which is why a thorough examination is performed and treatment plan is carefully crafted. From the initial consultation to the placement of the final restoration, you can entrust that our team of professionals will walk with you step-by-step through each stage, ensuring you are pleased with the desired result.
At Smile More Dentistry, we pride ourselves on being able to offer absolutely everything a patient needs when it comes to their dental care, and that includes the entire dental implant procedure. Unlike other offices that will force you to visit an outside specialist, we’re able to provide both the surgical placement of the new roots as well as attach the restorations right here in our Tappan location. This one-stop approach is not only more convenient, but faster as well, helping patients recover their smiles while spending less time and money running between different practices.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The initial implant consultation is the first step in the process. You and a member of our skilled dental team will discuss goals and expectations as well as your oral and medical history. As there are stipulations and qualifications you must meet before we can agree to place dental implants, this part of the process is of the utmost importance.
Our dentists will examine your mouth in its entirety, reviewing X-rays and determining your teeth, bone, and gum health before giving you the green light. Once they are satisfied that you are a qualified candidate for dental implants, your dentist in Tappan will take necessary impressions, so the dental lab technicians can begin crafting your customized restoration.
Dental Implant Surgery
The next stage is the actual surgical placement of your dental implants. Instead of going to an outside specialist, our team can perform the surgery from start-to-finish all under one roof. The dentist will begin by administering local anesthesia before making a small incision in the gums to expose the underlying bone. This will allow for clear and concise placement of the dental implant. Depending on the number of implants you need, it will determine how many incisions will need to be made in your gums.
Once the implants are properly situated in your jawbone, we will stitch up the area and send you home to heal.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
For the next 3-6 months, or otherwise indicated by your dentist in Tappan, a process known as osseointegration should occur. It is imperative that it is a success because the implant must properly fuse to the bone and surrounding tissues to create a solid foundation.
Once you are thoroughly healed, you’ll return to our office and have the abutments placed. These are small appliances that serve to connect the implant and restoration.
Placement of Dental Implant Restorations
The final stage of your dental implant process is having your custom restoration put into place. This is what gives you that beautiful, fully restored smile you’ve been missing for quite some time. Whether you have a dental crown, dental bridge, or implant-retained denture, it will be customized to match your natural tooth color, size, and shape, ensuring you have a seamless smile.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants offer several unique advantages compared to traditional treatments, which is why they are the first recommendation we make to every patient with missing teeth:
- Full tooth replacement: Dental implants are the onlytreatment that replaces both the root and crown of a tooth. A small titanium post is positioned within the jawbone similar to a tooth root, and this provides support for a new crown, bridge or denture.
- Stable, non-slip smile: Thanks to this foundation, patients never have to worry about their teeth slipping or breaking.
- Seamlessly lifelike results: Our implants are always topped with custom-made porcelain restorations, enabling them to look like a natural part of the smile and fully blend in.
- Keep signs of aging at bay: Implants are also able to prevent and even reverse the jawbone loss that is common after tooth loss—no other treatment can do this!
- Easy everyday care: Taking care of implants is simple-- all a patient has to do is brush and floss like normal to keep their restorations looking and functioning like new.
- Results that can last a lifetime: With the proper care, implants have been shown to last for decades on end, and in many cases, for the rest of a patient’s life.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Are you struggling with tooth loss and wondering if dental implants are right for you? If so, you’re in the right place! Below, we’re covering some helpful information, including the qualities we look for in a good candidate and the different types of dental implants we offer. With that said, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you are ready to schedule a consultation!
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Ideal candidates for dental implants in Tappan have these qualities:
- Good dental health
- Stable overall health
- Enough jawbone to hold the new roots
- A commitment to healthy habits
- A willingness to break bad habits, like smoking
The good news is that we can also help patients who lack any of these with the necessary preliminary care, like a bone graft. Then, once they are approved for the treatment, we can use the following restorations to renew their smile:
Missing One Tooth
Previously, replacing one missing tooth required the surrounding teeth to be altered. That’s no longer the case. In fact, with dental implants, we can secure an all-porcelain crown to the implant root without disturbing any of your natural teeth. Plus, if you take good care of your smile, your restoration can last for several decades!
Missing Multiple Teeth
Whether you are missing several teeth throughout your mouth or right next to each other, dental implants may be an option! If that’s the case for you, you’ll be happy to hear that implant-retained bridges and dentures have a much stronger hold compared to regular ones. Not only that, but they have been shown to function better and last longer, too!
Missing All Teeth
Traditional dentures look and feel lifelike, but they can slip, which many patients don’t love. If this sounds all too familiar, then ask us about implant dentures! Secured to the jawbone using just four to six implants, your restoration will remain firmly in place when you talk, laugh, and chew. They are also much smaller and leave more room in the mouth than traditional ones, making them more comfortable as well.
Learn More About Implant Dentures
If you are interested in learning more about dental implants, including if you’re a good candidate and the type we recommend to rebuild your smile, take the next step: schedule a consultation at our office!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
While it’s true that dental implants tend to be more expensive upfront compared to other options, they actually help patients save money over time thanks to their longevity. Regular bridges and dentures typically need to be completely redone every five to seven years, compounding their lower initial cost, while implants can easily last for 30 or more. In the end, implant patients typically end up spending thousands less on maintaining their new teeth.
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
If you’ve already decided dental implants in Tappan is how you want to replace your missing teeth, congratulations! But what do you do when you learn that your jawbone isn’t strong enough to hold up your new restorations? Before you accept defeat, let Smile More Dentistry offer a solution – advanced dental implant procedures. With a bone graft or sinus lift, we can add necessary bone minerals to weakened areas and make it possible to receive implants once you’re fully healed. If you’ve been told you don’t qualify for implants right now, contact us and let us help put you on a path to a new and improved smile.
Bone Grafting
When the missing teeth are located in the lower jawbone, it will be necessary to perform a bone graft to add extra bone minerals to the weakened areas of your bone. Once the incision in your gum line is made, your dentist in Tappan will use grafting material to place into the area before closing it up. The material used can come from a variety of sources, including:
- Your own body
- A cadaver or bank bone
- Dentin graft
- Animal bone (i.e. pig or cow)
Typically, once the procedure is complete, it will take several months to fully heal; however, once your recovery period is over, our team of dentists can begin to discuss dental implant placement to replace your missing teeth.
Sinus Lift
Unlike a bone graft that deals with the lower jaw, a sinus lift addresses the upper jaw area. When teeth are extracted, it can result in a weakened bone, and because your maxillary sinuses live immediately behind your cheeks and above your upper teeth, there can be minimal bone available. This poses a problem when attempting to place dental implants.
By performing a sinus lift, our dentists will not only raise the sinuses, but they will also add bone grafting material to fill in the vacated area. This will allow your bone to grow into the floor of the sinuses and create a solid and stable foundation.
The timeframe for recovery is the same as a bone graft, so expect several months of healing to be necessary before beginning discussions about dental implant placement.
Dental Implant FAQs
What Are Dental Implants Made of?
Dental implants include three separate parts: the implant (post), abutment, and custom-made restoration. The implant is made of titanium and is surgically placed into your jawbone. Depending on the number of teeth missing, you may have one or more implants placed along an arch. The abutment is a small metal appliance that connects the implant to the restoration. Finally, your custom restoration will serve as the visible portion of your implant, blending in with the rest of your smile.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants are designed to last decades or even a lifetime. Their surgical placement makes them a much more stable, permanent option than their other counterparts. There is no need to reline, readjust, or replace your dental implants. While there are instances when a dental implant can fail, this is extremely rare.
Do Dental Implants Ever Fail?
As we just mentioned, dental implants can, indeed, fail, but only under certain circumstances. Should an implant be improperly placed, the bite pressure can be too much on the implant, causing it to become unstable and fail. If a patient smokes or has a comprised immune system that causes their body to be weak and unable to fight off an infection or heal effectively, this can cause problems during the osseointegration process. If the implant is unable to properly fuse with the bone and surrounding tissues, your implant will fail.
Are There Any Food Restrictions with Dental Implants?
Fortunately, no, there are no food restrictions. In the beginning, you may opt for softer foods until you are more comfortable with your new fixtures, but you will be free to enjoy your favorite foods while wearing dental implants. Since they’re made to look and feel just like a natural tooth, the only suggestion is that you limit hard, crunchy food. The same is recommended for individuals without dental implants because of the possibility of damaging their teeth.
Also, just because your dental implants cannot decay doesn’t mean your natural teeth surrounding it cannot. Be mindful of how much sugar you are consuming, as it can lead to harmful bacteria eating away at the enamel of your teeth and causing tooth decay and cavities.
Do Dental Implants Hurt?
Just like any other type of surgery, there will be some discomfort after having your implants placed. This can be alleviated by taking any prescribed pain medication as instructed by your dentist in Tappan or an over-the-counter pain reliever. After you’ve thoroughly healed and your restoration is placed, you’ll be thoroughly enjoying your new smile with little to no discomfort at all.
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
Most dentists will not agree to place dental implants until a patient is at least in their mid-20s. Some only require that the patient is over the age of 18; however, it’s important that a thorough examination be completed before a dentist agrees or disagrees with this type of treatment. The reason for this is that jawbone development does not typically “finish” until this time. By placing permanent prosthetics any sooner, a person can be faced with future jawbone development problems.
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
The amount of time you need to take off work depends on how many implants you are having put into place. Also, their location and any preliminary treatments you might need will be a factor in how long you’ll need to be away from work. Typically, 1-2 days is normal, but if you require multiple dental implants or an entire arch, you may want to schedule your surgery for later in the week, so you have the weekend to recover.
Can I Get Dental Implants If I’m Diabetic?
As long as you commit to managing your diabetes and keeping your blood sugar levels under control, you should experience great success with these permanent prosthetics. However, if you allow your diabetes to spiral out of control and discover your blood glucose levels are chronically high, there is a good chance osseointegration will fail, and your dental implants will not properly fuse. If you are interested in receiving these prosthetics to replace your missing teeth, make sure to talk to your endocrinologist or primary care physician about what you can do to maintain healthy blood sugar levels before receiving dental implants.
Do Dental Implants Decay?
No, dental implants do not decay. The reason is that they are not porous like traditional tooth enamel. Instead, they’re made of high-quality materials that cannot be penetrated by bacteria or food particles. However, if you have any remaining natural teeth, they can be impacted by tooth decay and cavities, which is why you must maintain a good oral hygiene routine even while wearing dental implants. Also, brushing, flossing, and rinsing regularly can help minimize your risk for gum disease, which can negatively impact your dental implants.