Dental Implants: A Second Chance

Dental Implant FAQ in Bronx NY

Every once in a while life gives us a second chance. For those who are missing teeth, implants are that second chance.

Today, in most cases,modern dental implants can replace the teeth you have lost. The major limiting factors are your bone and your bite.

YOUR BONE:

If your bone is wide enough, and if it is high enough, you can have an implant. An implant must be placed in solid bone. “You can’t put a screw in a hollow door.” If you do not have enough bone, bone grafts will be required. Most bone grafts are rather uncomplicated. Others are more involved. Most people have adequate bone for dental implants.

YOUR BITE:

Forces on implants should be along their long axis (parallel to their length). Implants and natural teeth last longer when your jaw and teeth are in harmony.

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Here are the questions most frequently asked by patients:

How do I know if I am a good candidate for an implant?

Most people are good candidates for implants. Only a consultation with a qualified periodontist can answer this question for your individual mouth.

How successful are dental implants?

Implants are one of the most successful body part replacement procedures. They have over a 96% success rate over 10 years, as opposed to hips (75%) and knees (50%).

What if I don’t have enough bone?

Modern bone grafting techniques allow your periodontist to place implants in jaws where previously there was an inadequate amount of bone.

When is the best time to place implants?

The best time to place an implant is as soon as the tooth is lost, because that’s when the greatest amount of bone is available. If you wait, bone grafting can recreate the bone that has been lost, but it is best not to wait until that happens. When a tooth is lost, its supportive bone melts away, unless an implant is placed.

Can implants stop bone from resorbing when a tooth is lost?

Yes, the process called alveolar atrophy, can be stopped by placement of an implant, due to the physiologic stimulation of the bone. Like natural teeth, implants require good oral hygiene to maintain the bone.

How involved is the process of placing an implant and do they hurt when they are put in?

There should be no pain when an implant is placed. Only a local anesthetic is used.Implant surgery is less invasive and there is less discomfort than with most other dental surgical procedures.Most people only need to take Advil after the surgery.

Call our office at Bronx Dental Implants & Periodontics (Free Parking) Phone Number 718-597-8457 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Cote or Dr. Arsuaga.

What do I do during the time I am waiting to have a crown put in? Is there space there?

During the transition period, temporary bridges or partial dentures are used to replace any missing teeth. You never have to walk around with a missing tooth showing. Usually a final crown can be placed in less than three months.

Why do I need an implant? Won’t a bridge do the same job?

Placing a bridge requires “cutting down” and causing damage to the adjacent teeth. An implant actually replaces only what you have lost without negatively affecting your adjacent teeth. It also helps to decrease the chewing load on your remaining natural teeth. The implant also has the advantage of being a non-removable replacement and adds extra support to the area. A fixed bridge has 3 or more teeth connected together which makes it difficult to clean properly and food gets caught around the bridge. An implant supported tooth is an individual tooth and is much easier to keep clean.

Is a removable partial denture as efficient as implant supported teeth?

No. Removable partial dentures have only 20% of the efficiency of natural teeth or implant supported teeth. It clips onto your existing teeth and rests on your gum tissue. You have to take it out at night.

How long will I have to wait after surgery to get my crown or bridge?

After placement of the implant, it takes anywhere from 0-6 months for an implant to fuse with the bone. Your dentist can then place a restoration (crown or bridge) on the implant after the waiting period.

Tell me more about implants? Are they new? Are they still experimental?

Implants are neither new nor experimental. The first dental implants were placed over 4000 years ago in China and 200 years ago gold posts were used in Egypt. Recently a cast iron implant was discovered in the jaw of a Roman soldier dating back 1900 years. Modern dental implants (titanium screws) first utilized in the 1940’s right after World War II, have been commonplace for over 30 years. The results have been outstanding and very predictable.

What happens if my implant fails?

If it fails, the implant is removed, bone is grafted into the site and a new implant is placed in the exact same site.

Does smoking affect dental implants?

Implants fail 4 times as often in the mouths of smokers as in the mouths of non-smokers.

I wear dentures. Can I still have implants?

Yes, even if you’ve worn dentures for years. It’s just a question of how much bone you have available for implants, or how much bone, if any, needs to be regenerated through modern grafting procedures. Dentures can be stabilized with a few implants or replaced completely with multiple implants, supporting crowns and bridges.

Are younger people better candidates for implants?

No, there is no age limit. The only thing that matters is the health of the patient. While the jaws are still growing, young people should not have implants until they are finished growing.

Will implants last a lifetime?

In healthcare, there are no guarantees. There is a reasonable degree of certainty that the procedures will be successful. Implants have over a 96% success rate over 10 years.

I have a lot of allergies. Is there a chance that I will be allergic to the metal used for the implant and that my body will reject it?

Implants are made of titanium. Titanium has been used successfully in joint replacement (hips, elbows and knees) for over 50 years.

How long will I have to be off work after surgery?

This is an individual decision. Depending on the individual response to the surgery most people can go to work the very next day.

Are implants expensive?

Implants are not expensive if replacing your teeth is important to you. Dental implants are an investment in yourself! An implant can last you the rest of your life, where as a fixed crown or bridge has to be replaced every 5-10 years. In the long run, implants are a much less expensive way to replace a missing tooth.

Will insurance pay for implants?

Insurance policies vary. Some insurance companies do not pay but more insurance companies are including dental implants as a covered expense.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask your periodontist or dentist.