What is the process of getting dental implants?

The process of getting dental implants involves several steps. Initially, a consultation will determine if you're a good candidate. If additional procedures like extractions or bone grafts are needed, those will be performed first. Then, the implant is placed into the jawbone, followed by healing. Afterward, a healing cap is placed, followed by an abutment and a temporary crown. Once healing is complete, a permanent crown is placed on the implant.

What are the advantages of dental implants?

Dental implants offer several benefits, including preventing bone loss, restoring bite force, and improving appearance by preventing facial sagging. They can be matched to your remaining natural teeth, are easy to care for, and do not decay like natural teeth. Additionally, they support neighboring teeth.

What is the cost of dental implants?

The average cost of dental implants ranges from $3,500 to $6,500, not including additional procedures like extractions or bone grafting. Many dental insurance plans may cover a portion of the cost, and our office staff can work with your provider to maximize your benefits.

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Dental Implants At Dumont ,NJ

Q: What causes tooth loss?

Tooth loss can be caused by factors such as tooth decay, gum disease, age/medications, and injury or trauma. Decay is often due to poor nutrition, lack of dental care, or poor oral hygiene habits. Gum disease can advance from gingivitis to periodontal disease, which leads to bone loss and tooth loss. Age, certain medications, and trauma from accidents can also contribute to tooth loss.

Q: What are the consequences of missing teeth?

Missing teeth can lead to several consequences, such as loss of function (affecting speaking and chewing), uneven bite, tooth overgrowth, bone loss in the jaw, and a reduced quality of life. If left untreated, the neighboring teeth may shift, misaligning the bite and potentially causing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Dental Implants: Tooth Replacement that Lasts

More than 200 million adults in the United States are missing at least one tooth. Dental implants are the best solution for replacing missing teeth because they look, feel, and function like natural teeth. At Palisades Dental Care, we have two dentists on staff who have the experience and expertise necessary to place dental implants: Dr. Yael Kryzman and Dr. David Lefkowitz. If you are in or near Dumont, New Jersey, and are missing one or more teeth, consider replacing them with dental implants.

What causes tooth loss?

Typically, children lose their primary teeth by the time they are 12 years old. The secondary teeth that replace the primary teeth are permanent. Unfortunately, there are several factors that could cause permanent teeth to be lost or require extraction.

Decay

Tooth decay is typically due to poor nutrition, lack of access to dental services, and poor oral hygiene habits. When decay isn’t addressed, it will advance and cause the tooth to deteriorate and ultimately either fall out or require extraction.

Gum Disease

Gingivitis is a condition that develops due to plaque buildup on the teeth. It is a mild form of gum disease. If detected and treated in a timely manner, the gums and teeth remain healthy. However, if not addressed, it can advance to periodontal disease, which can ultimately cause the bone around the teeth to deteriorate- which causes teeth to loosen, fall out, or require extraction.

Age/Medications

Patients over the age of 55 and who are taking certain medications for heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol are at an increased risk of tooth loss. This is because one of the most common side effects is dry mouth, which speeds up tooth decay.

Injury/Trauma

In some cases, a patient’s teeth are completely healthy, but they experience a fall, traffic accident, or some other injury/trauma to the face/mouth. In some cases, the tooth can be saved- even if it has been knocked out of the socket. However, you must receive treatment within 30 minutes, and you must bring the tooth with you- without touching the root.

What are the consequences of missing teeth?

Whether you’ve been living with tooth loss for some time or you’ve recently lost one or more teeth, it’s important to consider tooth replacement options such as dental implants. If you don’t, there are several consequences you may be facing:

Loss of function: you use your teeth to speak clearly and to bite/chew food. If you are missing one or more teeth, your ability to do these things is significantly impacted.

Uneven bite: when a tooth comes out, the neighboring teeth shift to fill in the gap, which results in malocclusion, or misalignment. This increases your risk of developing TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder.

Overgrowth: when a tooth is missing, the opposing tooth will grow until it partially fills the gap because it has nothing to stop it.

Bone loss: your tooth roots are in the jawbone, which stimulates it and keeps it healthy and active. When you lose one or more teeth, the bone isn’t getting that stimulation, so it deteriorates.

Quality of life: while your missing teeth may not bother you, studies show that individuals who are missing teeth have a lower quality of life.

Replace Missing Teeth with Dental Implants

For patients in Dumont, New Jersey who are missing teeth, Palisades Dental Care offers several tooth replacement options. The most popular one is dental implants.

Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement solution that looks, feels, and functions like natural teeth. A dental implant is a titanium screw that is implanted into the jawbone, creating a stable base for:

The prosthetic tooth/teeth are matched to your remaining natural teeth. At Palisades Dental Care, we use several criteria to determine whether you qualify for dental implants:

Missing 1+ teeth
Over the age of 18
Adequate bone density or healthy enough for bone graft surgery
Healthy oral tissues
No underlying health issues that impact healing
Unable/unwilling to wear dentures
Non-smoker or willing to quit
Willing to dedicate up to a year or more to the process
Interested in improving functionality

What to expect

There are several steps involved in getting dental implants. The process will take a minimum of several months and could take more than a year, depending on your situation.

Consultation

If you’re considering dental implants, the first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kryzman or Dr. Lefkowitz at Palisades Dental Care. During this visit, you will undergo a thorough examination, including x-rays and impressions of your mouth. We will discuss your options for implants:

Endosteal: most common

Subperiosteal: less common, ideal for patients who don’t have adequate bone density and are unable to undergo bone graft surgery

If you require additional dental care such as bone grafting, extraction, or other procedures, we will discuss these at this time. If you have any questions or concerns, bring them up and we will discuss them. If you have dental anxiety, the consultation visit is the time to let us know.

Additional Work

If you have a damaged tooth, it will need to be extracted. This will be done separately from other procedures, and you’ll need time to heal afterward before moving on. You need adequate jawbone density for implants to be placed. If your jawbone is not adequate, the next step is to complete any bone graft or sinus lift surgery. Most patients require at least 4 months to heal from this surgery. This gives the jawbone time to fuse with the new bone.

Implant Placement

Once you have healed from any additional procedures, the implant can be placed. At this time, an incision will be made in the gum and a hole drilled in the jawbone for the implant to be placed. You will be given anesthesia for the procedure, so you will not feel anything. You may feel some discomfort for a few days after surgery, but once you have healed, you won’t be able to feel the implant. Healing typically takes 4 to 7 months.

Healing Cap Placement

Once the jawbone has healed around the implant, a cut will be made to expose the implant and a healing cap placed on it. This will direct the gum to heal around, not over, the implant. This takes up to 2 weeks.

Abutment/Temporary Crown Placement

Once the gum has healed around the healing cap, it will be removed, and the abutment placed onto the implant. This is the connector that holds the prosthetic tooth on the implant. At this time, a temporary crown will be placed until your permanent crown is ready- which usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.

Permanent Crown Placement

The permanent crown will either be cemented in place or screwed in place. A cemented crown looks more natural, but a screwed-on crown is easier to remove if something happens with the implant.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer several advantages over other tooth replacement solutions:

Prevents bone loss
Makes you look younger- prevents facial sagging
Restores bite force
Restores smile
Can be matched to remaining natural teeth
Supports neighboring teeth
Won't decay
Easy to care for- just like natural teeth 

Cost of Dental Implants

The average cost of dental implants ranges from $3,500 to $6,500. This cost does not include additional procedures such as extractions and bone grafting. In many cases, dental insurance will cover at least a portion of these procedures. Our office staff will work with your provider.

Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today

If you are missing one or more teeth, contact Dr. Kryzman or Dr. Lefkowitz at Palisades Dental Care in Dumont, New Jersey today. We can help you consider your options for tooth replacement. We look forward to helping you replace your missing teeth and restore your smile.

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