Dental Implants
A way to restore your smile when you have missing or severely damaged teeth.
As your Brooklyn Dentist, dental implants are a key solution that we recommend for patients who have a missing tooth or missing teeth. This technology didn't exist 25 years ago. Until now, people with missing teeth had to use a bridge (false tooth supported by adjacent teeth), or removable dentures. These are both uncomfortable and a nuisance. Now a missing tooth can be replaced, and the owner will forget they even have a fake tooth. Their smile and ability to chew normally will return.
Dental implants have many advantages over traditional treatment for missing teeth. They have the function and appearance of a normal tooth, and they don't harm neighboring teeth by relying on them for support. Another plus for a dental implant, is that they help protect the jawbone. When a tooth is missing and a bridge is used, the bone that originally surrounded the missing tooth can begin to deterioate. Implants help keep the jawbone healthy.
*Note: some implant methods are a two step process (called 2 stage) in which the actual screw or post that holds the artificial tooth is installed later, after the root bonds. Some implants are designed to be a one step process instead. This is referred to as single stage, and doesn't require a second surgery. *The second surgical cutting required with two stage is very minor.
After the new root or implant has bonded, an artificial tooth matching the surrounding teeth is placed. This new tooth is so natural, one can forget they even lost a tooth to begin with. Dental implants can also be used for multiple missing teeth, and have proven to be a successful, life long solution for missing teeth.
A key to a successful implant is the quality of the jawbone hold the implant in place. Different types of implants exist: Root form, artificial bone substitute, endosteal and subperiosteal (plate form).
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a metal root device that is placed within the jawbone by a local Brooklyn periodontist (Periodontist: a dentist specialized in gums and other structure around the teeth). The surrounding bone will accept and fuse with this artificial root, but since there is no periodontal ligament, the tooth will feel slightly different when chewing. Dental implants can be used to support multiple cosmetic dentistry prosthesis, and they can also be used as an anchor for an orthodontic procedure.Dental implants have many advantages over traditional treatment for missing teeth. They have the function and appearance of a normal tooth, and they don't harm neighboring teeth by relying on them for support. Another plus for a dental implant, is that they help protect the jawbone. When a tooth is missing and a bridge is used, the bone that originally surrounded the missing tooth can begin to deterioate. Implants help keep the jawbone healthy.
How is a dental implant placed?
The first thing that happens is the new false root, which looks like a screw, is placed into the jawbone. The new root and the bone begin to bond with each other over the next few months. During this bonding time, a temporary tooth can be worn over the missing tooth area.*Note: some implant methods are a two step process (called 2 stage) in which the actual screw or post that holds the artificial tooth is installed later, after the root bonds. Some implants are designed to be a one step process instead. This is referred to as single stage, and doesn't require a second surgery. *The second surgical cutting required with two stage is very minor.
After the new root or implant has bonded, an artificial tooth matching the surrounding teeth is placed. This new tooth is so natural, one can forget they even lost a tooth to begin with. Dental implants can also be used for multiple missing teeth, and have proven to be a successful, life long solution for missing teeth.
A key to a successful implant is the quality of the jawbone hold the implant in place. Different types of implants exist: Root form, artificial bone substitute, endosteal and subperiosteal (plate form).
