Dental Implants – Springfield, NJ

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The very first step is to always undergo an initial consultation where our team will review your situation and determine the best way to rebuild your missing teeth. This should involve checking your medical/dental history and if there are any underlying or developing problems in your mouth. If so, we can perform preliminary procedures to get you ready for dental implants, such as gum disease therapy and bone grafting. Once you’ve finished any of these treatments, we can begin planning out your implant process.

Dental Implant Surgery

Getting your dental implants embedded into your jawbone will involve minor oral surgery. Dr. Henkin will first completely numb your mouth with a local anesthetic to keep you entirely pain-free throughout your procedure. She’ll make a small incision in your gums so that we can reach the area in your jawbone where your implant will be placed. Once we’ve placed the metal post, she’ll suture your gums closed around it so that it can heal. We’ll be sure to also fit a dental cap above the implant to protect it and maintain the shape of your gums while you recover.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

For the next several months after your surgery, your titanium post will undergo what’s called osseointegration. This is the process where the implant will bond with the jawbone tissue to create the stable foundation needed to keep your restorations in place indefinitely. You can expect this step to take around three to six months depending on the patient and your situation. After you’ve healed, you’ll come back to us to receive your abutment—the small metal connector that will link your new tooth to your implant. You’ll be sent home afterward to recover from that.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Once your gums are healed from the previous appointment, you’ll return to us to receive your new crown, bridge, or denture. We’ll double-check that it fits properly, improves your bite, and that you’re satisfied with the results before sending you on your way. We’ll also answer any questions you might have and provide you with instructions on how to make the most of your newly rebuilt smile for many years to come!

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Because implants are held within the jawbone just like real teeth, patients are able to eat whatever they like and don’t have to worry about their prosthetic moving around in their mouth. This also makes it easier to expand your diet and make sure it contains a variety of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and proteins.
• The restorations attached to our implants are custom-made by Henkin in our on-site dental lab, meaning she can perfect every tiny detail to ensure the perfect look that blends with the rest of the teeth. Whether you need a single crown, bridge, or denture, you can expect it to look natural and beautiful once attached to your implants.
• Speaking is never a problem with dental implants because they don’t shift out of place while in use. This can help you avoid embarrassing situations or conversations when spending time with friends, family, or co-workers.

Health Benefits

• Practicing oral hygiene with dental implants is almost identical to how it was before you had them placed! This means you can reduce your risk of cavities and gum disease more easily going forward. Simply brush and floss as normal and keep up with your routine dental checkups at Skyline Dental!
• The jawbone naturally starts to shrink after tooth loss, but dental implants actually renew blood flow to the area and encourage the growth of new healthy tissue, ensuring the implants (as well as the remaining teeth) always have a strong base. This also works to reduce the risk of future tooth loss, a common problem for those missing even just one tooth!
• Dental implants do not require the modification of existing teeth just so they can be placed. That means you can maintain more of your natural enamel and still get your teeth replaced without worry.

Long-Term Benefits

• With standard oral hygiene and routine dental checkups, a dental implant can easily last for three decades or more. In fact, many patients enjoy their dental implants for the rest of their life! This can’t be said for traditional solutions like bridges and dentures, which usually need to be replaced every 10 and 5-7 years respectively.
• By filling the gap in your smile with dental implants, you effectively prevent dental drift. This is where remaining teeth begin to shift out of place as a way to compensate for the missing space.
• Dentists note that dental implants are actually one of the most cost-effective solutions for tooth loss because you don’t have to worry about replacing them every several years. While they can be expensive now, they remain a worthwhile investment to nearly everyone that receives them!

Who’s a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Fortunately, most healthy adults are good candidates for dental implants. Here are some of the important criteria you must meet.

• Good Overall Health: Placing dental implants is a surgical procedure, so you will need to be healthy enough to undergo a minor surgery.
• Great Oral Health: Issues like cavities and gum disease can increase your risk of dental implant failure. Any oral health issues need to be addressed and eliminated beforehand.
• Adequate Jawbone: You must have a strong enough jawbone to successfully support dental implants.

If you aren’t a good candidate for dental implants right away, this doesn’t mean that you can’t become one in the future. Many patients need to complete preliminary treatments, like tooth extractions, gum disease treatment, or bone grafting before getting dental implants. We can help to schedule these preparatory procedures to get you back on track. Then, we can move forward with the dental implant process.

Missing One Tooth

A single dental implant and a crown can be positioned between two healthy teeth without disturbing them at all. This is very different compared to a traditional bridge in which the nearby teeth have to be shaved down to hold the prosthetic.

Missing Multiple Teeth

A small number of implant roots can also be used to secure a dental bridge or partial denture. Compared to their removable counterparts, these implant prosthetics not only have a stronger hold but have been shown to last much longer.

Missing All Teeth

Tired of your denture constantly shifting around in your mouth? Just four to six implants can give you a set of teeth you’ll never have to worry about again. That’s all it takes to anchor a full denture to the jawbone that a patient can trust to always stay in place. Implant dentures are more comfortable than regular ones and also enable a patient to have a stronger bite, meaning they can enjoy a wider variety of foods with ease.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

To ensure that your titanium posts are successful, we’ll need to make sure you don’t have any underlying or existing oral health issues that can lead to failure. If we detect any problems, we’ll likely need to perform preliminary services before going forward, such as gum disease treatment, bone grafting, and tooth extraction(s). Though these can increase the overall cost, they’ll be necessary for the longevity of your restorations.

The surgery will also come with its fees. The great news is that we can complete the entire process in-house, so you won’t have to worry about getting billed by multiple providers. This can also cut down on time, money, and hassle so that you can have a smoother experience rebuilding your smile.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

We’ll also need to consider a few factors for the price of your dental implants, including:

• Number of missing teeth : Replacing one tooth is cheaper than rebuilding an entire arch of missing teeth.
• Type of restoration : Crowns, bridges, and dentures will each come with their price points. Also, the smaller the restoration, the more affordable it is.
• Materials used : Dental implants constructed out of zirconia are usually less expensive than titanium ones.
• Brand : Various manufacturers make implants differently. Our team, however, will only work with those who offer the products that best fit your dental needs.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

While it’s true that dental implants usually cost more than other options, they also tend to last much longer thanks to their overall durability. This is a key point to keep in mind because while traditional bridges and dentures might have to be replaced after about 5 to 7 years, you can often keep dental implants for 30 years or more. In other words, you won’t need to pay for new dental implant posts nearly as often, making them a very wise investment in many cases.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Most insurance companies won’t offer coverage for dental implants, but there might be some exceptions. For instance, they may be able to help pay for some of your preliminary treatments as well as the final restoration. Of course, be sure to double-check with your provider so that you know how your benefits can help make dental implants more affordable for you. Our staff can also help with this part for a smoother and stress-free process.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

If you aren’t currently covered by insurance, you might explore alternative financing solutions to make your treatment more manageable. Our practice is happy to be partnered with a third-party financier known as CareCredit. With their plans, you can end up paying off the overall cost of dental implants through monthly installments with little to no interest!

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

After dental implant surgery, it’s incredibly important that you take proper care and maintenance of your new smile to ensure a successful recovery. Your biggest priority during this period is to leave the forming blood clot on your surgery site untouched. That way, your gums can heal properly around the implant. To that end, make sure you avoid:

• Spitting (use tissues or swallow your saliva)
• Drinking from a straw
• Smoking (at least for the first day)
• Touching the surgical site with your fingers or tongue

Common Side-Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

If you’ve never had oral surgery before, you may be unsure which side effects are normal and which ones you should be concerned about. While you’re healing, here are some normal side effects that you can expect in the first few days after your procedure:

• Intermittent Bleeding – This is normal and can last for several days. You can remedy it by placing a small amount of pressure on the gauze that’s located on the surgical site.
• Swelling – You’ll experience this in the first 72 hours, and it may last over a week. You can help it go down more quickly by placing a cold compress on the cheek or jaw.
• General Discomfort – You can alleviate it by taking prescribed or over-the-counter pain medication as directed.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

It’s strongly recommended that you stick to a soft-food diet for the first few days following your oral surgery. Before your procedure, you should stock up on items like:

• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Soup (make sure it’s not too hot)
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Scrambled eggs
• Pasta

You can return to your normal diet as soon as you feel up for it. However, you should continue to exercise caution with crunchy, tough, chewy foods and avoid chewing directly on the dental implant site.

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

After getting dental implants in Springfield, it’s incredibly important that you keep your mouth clean to ensure the titanium posts successfully integrate with the surrounding bone tissue. Even though it’s okay to brush your teeth the day after surgery, you’ll need to be very careful around the surgical sites. Make sure you rinse your mouth with warm salt water two to three times a day, ideally after eating. Avoid using mouthwashes that contain high levels of alcohol, such as Scope or Listerine.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Once you’re all healed-up and your dental implants have successfully fused with the jawbone, you’re ready for the final step of the process – the attachment of your artificial teeth! After your prosthetic (i.e., crown, bridge, denture) is attached, you may experience minor sensitivity and discomfort. Luckily, that can easily be managed with pain medication. You’ll be ready to make the most of your beautiful new smile!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Although dental implants are immune to cavities and decay, it doesn’t mean the rest of your smile is completely safe. You’ll still need to practice good oral hygiene every day to ensure the surrounding gums and any remaining natural pearly whites are clear of bacteria and plaque. Brush twice a day, floss daily or after meals, and rinse with mouthwash frequently. These measures can significantly reduce your chance of developing issues like decay and gum disease, which can place your implants at risk of failure.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Dental implants can help you regain 80% or more of your natural biting power, so you can expect to be able to munch on all your favorite foods. That said, your new teeth won’t be invulnerable to damage. That’s why you’ll need to watch out for meals consisting of particularly hard foods. You’ll also want to avoid sugary options, as they can make it easier for bacteria to accumulate and spread. Instead, try including meals high in calcium and vitamin C for healthy gums and a strong jawbone.

Break Bad Habits

The last thing you want is to accidentally damage your dental implants down the road. Refrain from using your teeth as tools or biting hard objects that can end up chipping, breaking, or otherwise harming your posts, like ice cubes. Also, it’s best to quit smoking and/or chewing tobacco as this can be consequential for both your dental implant and your overall health.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are sturdy, natural-looking, and incredibly durable, but they aren’t immune to damage. Whether you participate in physical activities or typically grind/clench your teeth during sleep, you’ll want to look into purchasing custom mouthguards or nightguards for bruxism. These oral appliances can provide a cushion for your smile while protecting your enamel and restorations from becoming compromised or worn down.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Even after receiving dental implants, it’s best to visit your dentist every six months or sooner for regular checkups and cleanings. These appointments will allow them to monitor your progress and oral health, and they’ll be able to provide early prevention treatment for any issues they might detect. Not only will this help keep your smile healthier in the long run, but this will also ensure your implants remain as healthy and reliable as possible.