Patient FormsDental Implants – New York City, NY
The Modern Gold Standard for Replacing Teeth
It probably goes without saying that losing even a few teeth can have dramatic repercussions on your oral health and your life overall. The best solution is to have your natural teeth reimplanted, but that often isn’t possible; thus, the next best thing is to find a replacement that accounts for the entire missing dental structure. That is where dental implants come in, as they offer many benefits that you would miss out on with a more traditional replacement option. Call today to set up your initial consultation with Dr. Sanchez and Dr. Shim to discuss replacing missing teeth with dental implants in New York City, NY.
Why Choose FS Dental Arts
for Dental Implants?
- Complete Implant Services In-House
- A Uniquely Welcoming Environment
- Beautiful, Long-Lasting Restorations
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small post made from titanium. It doesn’t look much like a tooth, but that is because it’s not the part that other people are supposed to see. Instead, it is actually inserted into the jawbone via surgery. Then a crown or bridge or denture can be attached to it. That way, the restoration can fill in the empty space above the gums while the implant post acts as an artificial root, holding the new tooth or teeth in place.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
At FS Dental Arts, each of our dental implant cases is custom-tailored to match our patient’s individual needs. For this reason, no treatment is the exact same. However, all of them include four main steps: the initial consultation, dental implant surgery, which is conducted in-house, a healing period and abutment attachment, and the final restoration placement. To learn what your individual plan will look like, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our talented implant dentist in New York and member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, Dr. Francisca Sanchez.
The Initial Consultation
The first step on your journey towards a complete and functional smile is to call our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Sanchez. During this visit, our team will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth and take any necessary diagnostic images. Dr. Sanchez will then review all of the findings as well as sit down with you to ask about your smile goals and answer any questions you may have about the process, helping determine whether dental implants are right for you. Once any of your concerns have been addressed and you decide to move forward with treatment, our front desk staff will schedule the next phase of your treatment plan.
Dental Implant Surgery
Dr. Sanchez has completed additional training and is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, allowing her to offer in-house, start-to-finish treatment. This means that the surgical placement of your implant posts will be completed by the same team that you’ve come to trust!
We will access the jawbone by creating a small window in the gumline and insert the dental implants. Typically, patients are able to return to work the day following their treatment, as the recovery time is generally fast. We do recommend that you avoid working out and take time to rest as any local anesthesia or sedation is wearing off.
Osseointegration & Abutment Attachment
Following your surgery, you will undergo a three to six-month recovery period in which your gums will heal around the implant posts and they will fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This is a crucial step to ensure the long-term success of the procedure. Once this has occurred, you will return to our office so we can attach small, metal connector pieces called abutments to the tops of your dental implants.
Securing the Final Restorations
Once our dental laboratory has finished crafting your final prosthetic and your gums have healed around the abutments, Dr. Sanchez will be ready to restore your smile. Before the process is complete, our team will walk you through how to properly care for your replacement teeth and schedule any necessary follow-up visits or checkups and cleanings that will be due, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to do that later on.
Benefits of Dental Implants
The advantages of getting dental implants over traditional replacements are many and include the following:
- Much more versatility for more patients.
- Improved stability.
- Easy maintenance.
- Potentially better health.
- Longer-lasting results.
- And much more!
Especially when you look at the other options, implants stand out as the clear preference for dentists and patients alike. No wonder implants are considered the gold standard!
Day-to-Day Benefits
Implants can be used to support basically any restoration, meaning they can replace any number of missing teeth. In other words, regardless of your tooth loss situation, implants can meet your needs.
With normal dentures, there are certain foods your false teeth can’t handle well. Dental implants, on the other hand, can be used to chew all kinds of foods, including those that might give traditional denture-wearers trouble.
Taking care of dental implants is very similar to taking care of your natural teeth. Daily brushing and flossing—along with regular appointments with Dr. Sanchez —will keep your prosthetic teeth in excellent condition.
Health Benefits
Did you know that dental implants can help you stay healthy? They stimulate the jawbone and keep it strong, while it shrinks over time with traditional replacements. Implants also let you enjoy a varied and nutritious diet. Instead of choosing more processed, softer foods, you can enjoy raw vegetables, whole grains, and other options that help you lead a healthy lifestyle and have a higher quality of life.
Long-Term Benefits
As long as you’re taking good care of them, you can expect implants to last 30 years or longer. Compare that to traditional dentures and bridges, which have to be replaced at least every 5 to 10 years. When you look at the total lifespan of your replacement options, you may find that dental implants can save you money, time, and stress in the long run. Rather than paying for new prosthetic teeth frequently, you may pay more upfront, but it’s an investment in your smile worth making for the rest of your life!
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Not everyone is qualified to get dental implants. You need enough jawbone density to support the posts, and your smile needs to be free of gum disease and other infections. We can perform an examination to determine whether you’re eligible for implants before you move forward with the procedure. The next steps will largely depend on how many teeth are missing, as the number of implant posts required as well as the type of restoration they support will have to be taken into account.
Missing One Tooth
The simplest dental implant process is the use of a single implant post and crown to replace a lone missing tooth. The implant is all that’s needed to hold the crown in place; there’s no need for us to make any alterations to your teeth, so the rest of your natural smile is preserved.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Thanks to the versatility of implants, there are a couple of different approaches to using them to replace multiple teeth. They can be used to support a dental bridge if you only need to fill in a single gap left by multiple consecutive teeth, but they are also useful for supporting partial dentures.
Missing All of Your Teeth
It normally takes around 4 to 6 implants to support full dentures, although the exact number may vary depending on the techniques use and the size of your jawbone. Dentures are often permanently attached to implants, but there’s also an option to make them removable if you would prefer.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Dental implants provide the most comprehensive solution for replacing missing teeth. That said, you’ll want to know about the overall price of the procedure before committing to anything. We can give you an estimate to work with after your initial consultation. When considering the price, remember that dental implants can last for decades while traditional bridges and dentures are more likely to break or wear down to the point of needing to be replaced in just 10 years or so. Read on to learn more about the cost of dental implants in New York.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Our team will assess your oral health and decide whether you’ll require preliminary treatments to ensure the success of your restorations. Many patients have to undergo preparatory procedures such as gum disease therapy, bone grafting, or even tooth extractions before they can start the implant treatment. While these can increase the overall cost, they’ll be essential for building up your smile again.
The surgical placement will also impact the price of your dental implants. The exact amount you’ll pay will be impacted by several factors like the location in your mouth where the metal posts will be placed and the kind of sedation or anesthesia used during your appointment. Fortunately, we perform your entire implant process in-office, so you won’t have to worry about traveling to an outside specialist.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
Other than the process itself, the parts of your dental implants will also affect how much you’ll pay. Here are several components to consider:
- Number of implants – Rebuilding a single tooth with one dental implant will cost less than having to restore an entire arch. That said, getting an implant denture will be more cost-effective than receiving multiple individual crowns and bridges.
- Type of restoration – Your implants will have restorations fitted on top of them, each with its unique price. For instance, a dental crown will cost much less than a full denture.
- Materials and size – Implants are constructed from various materials, such as zirconia and titanium, and they also come in different sizes, which can influence the overall cost.
- Brand of dental implants – While several companies manufacture dental implants, our team only works with the highest-quality products to rebuild your missing pearly whites.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Dental implants do come with a high upfront price, but you’ll be happy to see how cost-effective they are in the long run. Unlike traditional restorations, like dental bridges and dentures, your implants will be directly embedded in your jawbone. Not only will they provide a more stable and lifelike foundation for your new teeth, but they’ll also help preserve your other natural pearly whites and be more comfortable for your gum line. You also won’t have to repair or adjust your restorations as frequently, which can save you more money over the years.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
While every insurance plan is different, many won’t offer coverage for the entire dental implant process. If anything, they’ll help cover a portion or percentage of the procedure, such as your restoration(s) or any necessary preliminary treatments. For this reason, you’ll want to confirm the details of your policy with your provider before beginning any work on your smile. You can even speak with our friendly and knowledgeable staff, as we can help you navigate your insurance plan and capitalize on your benefits to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
If you don’t currently have dental insurance, it doesn’t mean you’ll have to break the bank to rebuild your missing teeth. At FS Dental Arts, we understand the importance of having a complete smile and being able to afford the necessary treatments to achieve this. That’s why we are partnered with CareCredit—a third-party financier that can split up the cost of your dental procedures into monthly installments. These plans often come with little to no interest, meaning you’ll be able to stay within your budget while effectively restoring your smile!
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
After investing much of your time and finances into restoring your smile with modern, lifelike dental implants in New York City, you will want to take precautionary measures to help protect and care for them. Fortunately, this is a relatively simple feat since you maintain them much like your natural pearly whites. Below, our team has included some helpful tips to help maximize the lifespan of your new and improved smile.
Prioritize Your Oral Hygiene
Even with dental implants, brushing, flossing, and rinsing your mouth each day will still be an important part of your dental hygiene routine. This will help minimize the build-up of harmful oral bacteria and plaque within your mouth, preventing peri-implantitis, one of the most common causes of implant failure, from developing. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, floss at least once a day, and rinse with an ADA-approved mouthwash to keep your smile healthy.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Carbohydrates, protein, and fats are all crucial to your diet, but the key to good physical and oral health is balance. If you find yourself snacking on sugary and starchy foods regularly, try substituting these foods for fresh fruits and vegetables every once in awhile. The reason being is that carbohydrates are a key fuel source for harmful oral bacteria, so when you’re constantly exposing your mouth to processed foods that are high in these, you’re likely putting your smile at a greater risk of infection.
Break Bad Oral Habits
Do you bite your nails, chew on pens and pencils, or regularly use your teeth to open packages? These harmful habits can wear down your new restorations as well as impact your dental implants. The best favor you can do for your newly rejuvenated smile is to break any oral habits that could lead to dental implant failure.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Do you grind your teeth at night or when you’re stressed? Do you participate in any sports or hobbies that could put your new prosthetics in harm’s way? Protecting your smile is absolutely essential! Be sure to invest in a customized nightguard or athletic mouthguard to minimize your risk of damaging your restored smile.
Schedule Routine Dental Checkups
Dr. Sanchez offers comprehensive dentistry, which means that you can schedule your routine checkups and cleanings with our team at FS Dental Arts as well. These visits will allow us to keep a close eye on your dental implants and make sure that they continue to function properly and remain healthy.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you’re missing one or more teeth, you know how difficult it can be to complete daily tasks, like eating, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. Fortunately, dental implants are available to give you your smile back, but you may still have some unanswered questions about the process. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about dental implants in New York. If you don’t see the information that you’re looking for below, don’t worry. Give us a call, and we’d be happy to answer your questions and get you started with an initial consultation.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
The lifespan of dental implants typically depends on the health and lifestyle choices of the patient. To ensure that dental implants last, it’s important to brush, floss, and rinse with a mouthwash on a daily basis. See your dentist regularly, and avoid chewing on anything particularly hard or sticky. With proper maintenance, dental implants can last upwards of 30 years. This is several times longer than traditional bridges and dentures.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
The jawbone doesn’t have very many nerve endings, and your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic before the procedure begins. You will also most likely be sedated, lowering your body’s ability to register pain. While the surgery itself shouldn’t hurt, your mouth may be sore for a few days afterward. This can be managed by taking recommended over-the-counter and prescribed pain medication as directed. Cold compresses can also help. If discomfort worsens instead of improving after two or three days, give us a call.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
For most patients who are in good health, dental implants are very successful when placed by a qualified professional. If you have low jawbone density or gum disease, these issues will need to be addressed ahead of time to make dental implant surgery safer and more successful. If you have diabetes, cancer, or another medical condition that could make surgery or healing risky, we will discuss this during your consultation. Your health is our number one priority.
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
Most dental professionals will not place implants in patients who are younger than 18. If dental implants are placed before the jaw is finished growing, it could interfere with further bone development and potentially result in complications. Most people’s jaws aren’t fully developed until young adulthood. Some people’s jaws take until their mid-20s to fully develop. In general, men’s jaws take longer to develop than women’s jaws do. During your consultation, we will discuss whether or not dental implants are the right option for you at this time.