Dental implants are today’s best option for replacing damaged or missing teeth. Since they replace the entire tooth from the root to the crown, they are aesthetically pleasing and protect oral health.
Single-tooth dental implants typically cost between $3,500 and $7,000 on the Upper West Side of New York City. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your dental insurance coverage.
About Dental Implants
A dental implant is a prosthodontic appliance placed by your oral surgeon. Dental implants look a great deal like natural teeth and provide excellent chewing ability.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Keep the Jawbone Healthy
A dental implant stands out from other tooth replacements, such as bridges and conventional dentures, because it replaces both root and crown.
With a bridge or denture, the tooth socket remains empty and can begin to break down due to a lack of chewing stimulation. Jawbone atrophy may lead to a sunken facial appearance.
Long-Lasting
While the dental crown may need periodic replacement due to normal wear, the anchor in the jawbone may last a lifetime with excellent dental care.
No Food Restrictions
With dental implants, you can eat nearly anything you like. They provide natural chewing function, and foods like steak, apples, and corn on the cob pose no issues.
Easy Oral Hygiene
Caring for a single-tooth dental implant is no more complex than caring for a natural tooth. Brush and floss properly, and keep every dental appointment to ensure your implant is healthy.
Restore Your Self-Confidence
Patients who are unhappy with their teeth may feel shy about showing them in public. They may avoid smiling, laughing, or eating with others. When you receive dental implants, you will feel free to share yourself with others.
The Dental Implant Procedure
Step 1: Consultation
You will meet with Dr. Park to discuss your needs. Then, you will receive a CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scan to assess your bone density and check the anatomy of your jaw, nerves, and sinuses. The doctor will also take other digital scans and use them to create a 3-D virtual model or physical model of your mouth.
Step 2: Treatment Plan
Using the 3-D model, the doctor will explain the course of treatment and visualize what your smile will look like with implants.
Step 3: Bone Grafting
You can receive a dental bone graft if the CBCT scan indicates lower bone density in the implant area. This procedure places a ground and sterilized bone matrix in your jawbone to encourage the growth of new, healthy bone. Healing takes about six months before the process can continue.
Step 4: Implant Placement
The oral surgeon implants a small titanium anchor in the jawbone. The anchor and bone bond through osseointegration. Osseointegration creates a solid, long-lasting base for the dental implant.
Step 5: Abutment Placement
The surgeon places a stainless steel abutment on top of the anchor. The abutment protects the anchor and holds a dental crown to complete the restoration.
Step 6: Restoration
After the anchor and abutment heal, you will visit a restorative dentist for your crown, completing the process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
What happens if I lose a tooth and don’t have it replaced?
You may feel that you can live with a gap in your smile, but leaving a space between your teeth is more than an aesthetic issue. Your other teeth will drift out of place, becoming crowded or gapped. Overcrowded teeth are challenging to keep clean. Food and plaque can collect in the gaps, creating more opportunities for tooth decay and gum disease.
Can I have all my teeth replaced with implants?
Dr. Park offers implant-supported dentures for patients who need natural teeth extracted. These dentures do not require an implant for every tooth. Implant-supported dentures do not slip, click, or trap food. You can choose between removable and fixed implant-supported dentures.
Call Upper West Side Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Dental implants can be a valuable investment in your self-confidence and oral health. If dental implants appeal to you, please call our Upper West Side Manhattan office at 212-466-6984. We can schedule a consultation to meet Dr. Park and discover whether implants can rejuvenate your smile.