Dental Implants – Commack, NY

What Are Dental Implants?

As titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone, dental implants restore both the roots and crowns of teeth. Offering continuous jawbone stimulation, they help to prevent facial sagging as well as restore bite function and chewing power. With optimal maintenance over time, dental implants can last 30+ years.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Getting dental implants requires a unique, multi-step process that spans several months. This might seem like a long time, but the benefits are well worth the wait! At Silfa Dental, we are proud to complete the entire dental implant process at our practice, so you won’t need to worry about working with a local specialist. Every patient’s treatment looks a little bit different, but here are the four main steps that you can expect.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

During your consultation with us, we will review your oral health and medical history to make sure you are a good candidate for this procedure. If needed, it may be necessary to complete preliminary procedures, like gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, or bone grafting. Then, we can plan the rest of your treatment. During this visit, we will walk you through what you can expect step-by-step – including the timeline and the cost.

Dental Implant Surgery

We complete the entire dental implant treatment in-house, so you don’t need to worry about working with an outside specialist. Your procedure will begin with numbing the area with a local anesthetic. An incision is made into the gums so the implant posts can be strategically and precisely placed in the jawbone. Then, the gums are closed, and protective caps are placed over the posts so the area can begin the healing process.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement

Over the next few months, the osseointegration process will take place. This is when the titanium implants fuse to the jawbone. This is what gives the implants so much stability, like your natural teeth. Then, you will need another small procedure to have abutments placed on the posts. Impressions will be taken of your smile so your final restorations can be crafted.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

Lastly, you will return to our dental practice to have your restoration placed. This is your crown, bridge, or denture depending on how many teeth you are missing. We will check to ensure that your smile looks and feels great. Then, you will be sent on your way to enjoy all of the benefits of your new smile!

Benefits of Dental Implants

As one of the best ways to rebuild missing teeth, you can be certain to appreciate a wide range of advantages with dental implants that you won’t be able to find with other traditional tooth replacement options. Not only do they benefit your oral health, but they can also promote a better quality of life in the long run. Keep reading to learn more about the various advantages that you can expect from your results.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Boosts smile confidence : Dental implants are specifically designed to look and function exactly like natural pearly whites. This means that you shouldn’t have to worry about your restorations accidentally moving or slipping out of place when eating or speaking. For this reason, you’ll feel much more confident in showing off your smile, which can end up boosting your emotional well-being as well as your immune system.
• No dietary limitations : More traditional tooth replacements like dental bridges and dentures will require you to be more cautious about the foods you eat. However, dental implants can help restore 80% or more of your natural biting power, meaning you’ll be free to expand your diet to include your favorite meals as well as more nutritional food choices.
• Simplified maintenance : Unlike dental bridges and dentures, you won’t have to use special products or techniques to clean your dental implants. Simply brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash like with normal teeth! This means it’ll be much simpler for you to practice good oral hygiene, allowing you to significantly reduce your risk of issues like decay and gum disease.

Health Benefits

• Preservation of the jawbone : Instead of relying on other natural teeth or your gum line to support your restorations, dental implants will be embedded directly into your jawbone for maximum and natural support. This will also help stimulate circulation in the jaw, promoting stronger bone tissue and preventing problems like jawbone deterioration and facial sagging.
• No gum irritation or tooth sensitivity : For dental bridges, your enamel will need to be prepared beforehand, which can lead to some tooth sensitivity. Dentures will rest atop your gum line and can create soreness or irritation as the prosthetics lose their fit. Dental implants, however, will work and feel just like natural teeth, allowing you to avoid these issues completely.

Long-Term Benefits

• Long-lasting solution : Compared to dental bridges and dentures, which typically last around 10 years before needing replacements, dental implants can go for decades to a lifetime with proper care. Not only are they incredibly long-lasting, but they also have a success rate of over 95% even 10 years after being placed. This means you’ll be sure to enjoy reliable and lifelike results for many years to come.
• Cost-efficient treatment : While dental implants come with a higher upfront cost compared to more traditional tooth replacements, they can actually save you more in the long run. Traditional restorations and prosthetics tend to need replacements more often and they often require special products to maintain them. With dental implants, you’ll just need to clean them every day and visit your dentist every six months to make the most of them.

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

Dental implants can make your grin whole and healthy for a lifetime. That said, they won’t have such effects on their own. Implants need regular care to help your smile. Otherwise, damage and other issues could cause them to fail. It’s thus a good thing you can trust Silfa Dental; we’ve listed some great tips on dental implant care in Commack. By learning them, you can make your new chompers last. Read on to find out more, or book a visit soon!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

True, implants don’t get cavities. Their materials are decay-proof due to being artificial. You should still clean the posts daily, though. Your mouth will suffer long-term problems if you don’t.

You see, implants require a healthy mouth to work. Oral issues around them can cause instability. For instance, gum disease could make your gums recede and loosen an implant. It’d then erode the bone tissue that supports your new tooth.

Luckily, good oral hygiene lets you avoid these dilemmas. Just brush twice daily, floss once daily, and rinse with mouthwash. That way, your implants should stay firm.

Eat a Healthy Diet

At their best, implants let you eat as you please. However, they do have limits. It’s best to eat a healthy diet to ensure they last.

You see, unhealthy stuff can have harsh effects on implants. Sticky and sugary items often wedge between the posts. From there, the food debris can decay nearby teeth. You could then develop implant failure as a result.

Of course, a healthy diet protects against these outcomes. Foods rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C are crucial. By eating them, you’ll avoid gum disease and strengthen your jaw.

Break Bad Habits

Implants are highly durable in the long run. Still, they can’t withstand everything. Avoid or break bad oral habits that can cause implant failure. 

In fact, there are several things you should quit. One example is smoking – tobacco delays your recovery and leads to implant failure. Another habit to stop is chewing on hard objects. Whether it’s a fingernail, ice cube, or pencil, biting such items can chip your implants.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Implants are specially designed to withstand your bite. Even so, they can (and will) break if put under enough force. That means you should protect them with good dental tools.

If possible, wear a mouthguard to keep your implants safe. One for sports will defend the replacement teeth from injuries. Meanwhile, using a nightguard overnight will prevent constant tooth grinding.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

While you may be cautious, you can’t care for implants alone. There will always be issues that you could overlook or miss. So, make sure to see your dentist often. They’ll monitor your mouth and keep your implants functional.

In particular, get regular checkups – they’re the best form of preventive dental care. These visits would stop implant threats before things worsen. After all, they let your dentist assess your smile and treat minor issues early. The result is a restored smile that stays healthy.