Dental Implants in East Brunswick & Marlboro

What is a dental implant?

Implant teeth consist of three parts: a titanium post, an abutment, and a crown. The post is the implant that is screwed into the jawbone below the gum line, and the crown is the visible part of the replacement tooth. New Jersey Oral Surgeon Marten N. Ladman, DMD will place the implant and abutment, and your general dentist completes the final restoration.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are made of titanium, a metal that fuses with the bone through a process called osseointegration. Titanium is biocompatible with living bone and has the unique ability to integrate with your jaw, providing a solid attachment for the new tooth, much like roots serve as an anchor for a natural tooth.

How quickly should a missing tooth be replaced?

Your jawbone is like a muscle, in that it must be regularly stimulated to maintain its volume. Therefore, when a tooth is extracted or falls out naturally, the jawbone begins to deteriorate almost immediately. In fact, studies show there is a 25% decrease in bone width within a year of tooth loss. The sooner you replace a missing tooth with an implant, the sooner it will be able to provide the stimulus the jaw needs. When a jawbone lacks the adequate bone mass to support an implant, we perform a bone grafting procedure to bulk up your jaw. Simply put, having a dental implant placed right away greatly reduces the need for bone grafting.

Dental Implants: The Process

Consultation and Treatment Plan

To get a clear picture of your current health, our doctors begin by gathering your medical and dental histories and necessary imaging of your jaw. During the initial consultation, we discuss your treatment options with you and form a plan that ensures that the treatment you choose meets your oral health goals.

Extraction

We extract your tooth, if necessary, and occasionally, we place the implant at the same time of extraction.

Bone Grafting

If your jawbone lacks sufficient mass to accept an implant, we perform a bone graft to strengthen the target area. Typically, several months of healing is needed after bone grafting before we can place an implant.

Dental Implant Surgery

During the implant procedure, we insert a titanium screw into your jawbone. We administer anesthesia to ensure you’re comfortable during the surgery, which takes about 1-2 hours.

Osseointegration

After placing the implant, we cover it with the surrounding soft tissue and let it sit for 3 months to fuse with the bone.

Final Restoration

After osseointegration is complete, we place an abutment on the implant which connects with the final crown restoration. Your general dentist places the final restoration

We use advanced technology and the latest techniques to ensure our patients experience safe, comfortable, and affordable dental implant placements. Please call our friendly team for more information. Get started on your journey to renewed health and a restored smile today!

Considering the Cost of Dental Implants

Dental implants have been available for several decades. However, for most patients, they are still a relatively new concept. When considering the cost of dental implants and comparing quotes, there are several important points that should be kept in mind.

Longevity

When comparing the cost of dental implants to other tooth replacement methods such as dentures and bridges, it is important to take into consideration the longevity offered by dental implants that is not always afforded by other, more traditional methods.

While dentures and bridges are initially less expensive, their affordability can be short-lived. Because these older methods require repair and replacement every 5-10 years, they are often more expensive over time. By contrast, dental implants, when properly placed and cared for, can last a lifetime.

Jaw Bone Health

Over time, when a tooth is missing, the jaw bone deteriorates. So while a denture or bridge may seem to function similarly to a tooth, underneath the surface damage is being done to the jaw bone and ultimately to the structure of the face. This can result in the distortion of the shape of a person’s face, leading to additional cosmetic costs down the road.

On the other hand, dental implants are made of titanium, which actually integrates with the jaw bone, strengthening it and stimulating bone growth. This preserves the natural strength and quality of the mouth, lessening problems in the future.

Quality of Life

Dental implants can be seen as a long-term investment not only in terms of money, but also in terms of quality of life. A dental implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth. In addition to allowing the patient to eat the same healthy foods he or she has always enjoyed, it also eliminates the day-to-day hassles and possible embarrassment that are frequently caused by dentures.

Comparing Dental Implant Quotes

There are several steps (and often multiple professionals) involved in the placement of a dental implant. When comparing quotes, it’s important to factor in the cost of each of these steps:

• Exams/office visits
• Tooth/root extraction
• Bone Grafting
• Placement of the titanium root (the “dental implant”)
• Placement of the crown
• X-rays, pre/post operative care

Financing for Dental Implants

First, check with your dental insurance carrier to see what portion, if any, of dental implants they cover.

There are health care credit companies that offer no-interest and low-interest loans for medical procedures including dental implants.

Dental Implants are an investment in your health as well as your appearance. A full set of teeth makes eating a pleasure again, making it easier to eat a balanced, healthy diet. A full set of teeth also preserves the contours of the face, keeping you from looking old before your time.