What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants can give you a beautiful smile by replacing damaged or missing teeth with artificial ones that look and function like real teeth. It’s a safe, smart alternative to ill-fitting dentures or bridgework. Based on your needs, we can create implants for a single crown (artificial tooth), multiple crowns, or an entire bridge (a row of crowns).
How we perform the procedure depends on the type of implant and the health of your jawbone. It’s important to keep in mind that dental implantation can require more than one procedure over a course of several months.
Are You A Candidate for Dental Implants?
Dental implants may be a good choice for you if you:
- Have one or more missing teeth
- Have enough bone to secure the implants or are able to have a bone graft
- Have healthy gums and tissues
- Don’t have any health issues that will hinder bone healing
- Are unable or don’t want to wear dentures
- Want to improve your ability to talk
- Are willing to commit several months to the process
- Don’t smoke tobacco
Before the Dental Implant Process Starts
Before starting the dental implant process, Dr. Heering will:
- Provide a thorough dental exam, including x-rays, 3D images, and models made of your teeth and jaw.
- Review your medical history, including medical conditions you have and medications you take.
- Develop a treatment plan customized to your needs that factors in how many teeth you need replaced, as well as the condition of your jawbone and remaining teeth.
- Discuss anesthesia options, including local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia. You will be instructed about eating and drinking before surgery depending on what type of anesthesia you have. If you have sedation or general anesthesia, you’ll need someone to drive you home.
The Dental Implant Process
Dental implant surgery is performed in the office, in stages, with healing time in-between procedures.
Placing a dental implant involves several steps, including:
- Damaged tooth removal
- Jawbone prep (grafting when needed)
- Dental implant placement
- Bone growth and healing
- Abutment placement (a metal post, attached to the jawbone, that supports the new tooth)
- Artificial tooth placement
This whole process can take several months from beginning to end. Depending on your situation, the type of procedure performed, and the materials used, some steps can be combined. Comprehensive anesthesia services are available for all surgical procedures.
Can I Still Have a Dental Implant If I Have Bone Loss?
Dental implants are placed in the jawbone. If your jawbone isn’t thick enough or is too soft to support the implant, you may need bone grafting before you can have dental implant surgery. A bone graft creates a sturdier foundation for the implant.
There are multiple materials that can be used to build up a jawbone, including natural bone (taken from another location in your body) and synthetic bone (a material that simulates real bone).
There are a couple of different types of bone grafting techniques.
After a tooth has been extracted, the empty socket may need additional bone material to help create a strong foundation for a replacement tooth. This is called socket preservation. This type of grafting can sometimes be performed at the same time as the implant surgery.
If bone loss is severe, due to trauma or disease, ridge augmentation or a sinus lift may be needed—both of which require more extensive bone grafting.
It can take several months for the transplanted bone to grow enough new bone to support a dental implant. The condition of your jawbone determines how much bone you need and how long it takes to grow.
Placing the Dental Implant
To replace the tooth root, a metal post is placed inside the bone. You’ll have a gap where your tooth is missing, however, you can get a partial, temporary, removable denture for appearance while you wait for your bone to heal and grow.
Bone Growth
When a metal implant is placed in your jawbone, the jawbone grows into and melds with the surface of the dental implant. This process, which can take several months, provides a solid base for your new artificial tooth—just like roots do for your natural teeth.
Placing the Abutment
Once the bone is securely integrated with the surface of the implant, you may need additional surgery to place the abutment—the metal post where the crown will eventually attach. This minor surgery is typically done with local anesthesia. After the abutment is placed, the gums need to heal for about two weeks before the artificial tooth can be attached. Your dentist will attach your new, artificial teeth, which can be removable, fixed, or a combination of both.
Surgical Care
After each phase of dental implant surgery, you may need pain medications or antibiotics. You may also need to eat soft foods while the surgical site heals. We usually use dissolvable stitches, so you won’t have to have them removed.
How to Care for Your Dental Implants
You will have a few follow up appointments with Dr. Heering to check on your implants. Day-to-day maintenance of your implants includes:
- Brushing your teeth and flossing thoroughly
- Seeing your dentist for regular checkups
- Not eating foods like hard candy, which can break your crowns
- Avoiding tobacco and caffeine, which can stain your new teeth
Office Location
We are conveniently located at:
2115 Klockner Road
Hamilton, New Jersey 08690
Office Hours
Monday9 am – 6 pm
Tuesday9 am – 2 pm
WednesdayClosed
Thursday9 am – 6 pm
Friday9 am – 12 pm