Dental implants are a permanent solution to replacing missing teeth that provide the same comfort and support as your natural teeth. A dental implant generally takes the form of a screw-shaped titanium post that replaces the root portion of a lost tooth. Dental implants aid in the retention of bone mass in your jaw, which is lost when a tooth is extracted or falls out. In doing so, they prevent the jawbone from deteriorating and maintain your facial structure. Maintaining your bone mass also allows you to preserve the ability to bite and chew a variety of foods.
Did You Know?
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, as many as 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and an estimated 36 million Americans are missing all their teeth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
You may be a candidate for dental implants if you are missing one or more teeth. Dental implants can be used to support a crown, bridge, or denture, which allows them to replace anywhere from a single missing tooth to an entire mouthful of missing teeth. However in order to have dental implants placed, you must have enough bone mass to support them. In cases where you don’t have enough bone mass, a bone graft and/or sinus lift may be able to be performed before having dental implants placed. To determine if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants, schedule a consultation with our Flushing, Queens implant surgeon at New York Dental Solutions today.
What can I expect when having dental implants placed at New York Dental Solutions?
When having dental implants placed at New York Dental Solutions, you can expect to undergo a minor oral surgery that will require local anesthesia. Our implant surgeon will start by making a small incision in your gums to access your jawbone, then they will drill into the bone to make room for the implant. Once the site is drilled, a titanium post will be placed into the bone where a connector piece, called an abutment, will be screwed into the post.
At this point, the gums will be sewn back together around the abutment to heal. While the surgical site heals quickly, the implant will take about 3-4 months to completely fuse with the surrounding bone. Once the implant has fused, your implant surgeon will attach an artificial tooth or teeth onto the top of the implant(s).
What can I expect after having dental implants placed?
After having a dental implant placed, you may experience some minor swelling and discomfort for the first few days. You can expect the incision to heal within a few weeks, however it will take approximately 3-4 months before new bone has formed around the implant. In order to ensure that your implant heals properly, your implant surgeon will provide you with guidelines to follow after surgery.
At a glance, these can include:
- Diet: Eat soft foods for the first few months and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot foods and beverages for the first day since they can cause excess bleeding or burns.
- Oral Hygiene: Gently rinse with warm salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz. water) 24 hours after surgery, then 4-5 times daily for the first few days. You will also need to continue brushing and flossing as directed by your implant surgeon.
- Medications: Take any antibiotics or pain medications as directed.
- Activity: Rest for the first 2-3 days and start to resume normal activities no sooner than day 3 post op.
Once your implants have healed and the dental prosthetic has been loaded, you will need to care for your implants by practicing good oral hygiene and avoiding excessive biting forces. Daily brushing and flossing help to prevent a destructive bacterial infection called peri-implantitis, while a nightguard can protect your implants against excessive biting forces.