New York City Dental Implants

Serving Manhattan's Upper East Side, Upper West Side and the Surrounding Areas

Tooth loss can have a major impact on a person’s dental health, quality of life, and confidence. Removable dentures and dental bridges have been the go-to options for years to replace missing teeth, but these fixes come with significant drawbacks. Fortunately, they are no longer the only options for tooth replacement. Dental implants can help patients restore their beautiful smiles permanently, and they come highly recommended by dental professionals all over the world. Restorative dentist, Marc Lazare, D.D.S., M.A.G.D. practices general and cosmetic dentistry in New York City and specializes in restoring the dental implant(s) once the Oral Surgeon or Periodontist has performed the surgical procedure of placing the implant fixtures. Dr. Lazare will coordinate appointments and procedures to make everything more seamless from the initial placement of the implant(s) to the final restoration(s).

For more information on our New York City dental implants, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.

Dental implants have become the gold standard in dental medicine for replacing missing teeth, as they spare the surrounding structures while also preserving the levels of bone in the jaw. The artificial teeth function as normal teeth and help strengthen the dentition as a whole. Implants offer a more permanent tooth replacement solution that helps patients maintain their quality of life.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a two-part device that permanently replaces both the visible part of the tooth and the root structures beneath the gum line. During an easy, minor surgical procedure, a biocompatible titanium post is placed into the bone of the jaw to replace the tooth’s root, and a replacement artificial tooth is secured to its surface inside the mouth. The post will integrate with area bone over time and remains securely fixed for the patient’s lifetime. A custom-designed artificial tooth, also called a crown, is attached to the screw above the gum line.

Implants are often indistinguishable from natural teeth, except when seen on dental x-rays. They feel and function like normal teeth. The color, shape, and size of each new tooth will be crafted to match the surrounding teeth. Dental implants can provide patients with a more beautiful smile, replacing missing teeth, unhealthy teeth, or teeth that do not match the set due to imperfections in their size, shape, or color. Implants are highly customizable, so individual results may vary.

An implant can support a single crown, a fixed bridge, or overlying implant-supported dentures. Practitioners and patients alike see dental implants as a superior treatment option over other types of tooth replacement in most cases, especially when only a single tooth is missing.

A fixed dental bridge will also stabilize the area of a single missing tooth, but this procedure requires the teeth on either side of the treatment site to have some surrounding tooth structure ground down to allow room for the materials of the three-unit crown fixture to be placed. Implant-supported dentures combine a permanent fixture with removable dentures for cases where multiple dental implants are not feasible.

Approved Types of Dental Implants Available

Endosteal implant surgery is the more popular two-part implant procedure.

Endosteal Implants

Endosteal implant surgery is the more popular two-part implant procedure, during which the surgical screw, cylinder, or post is first implanted into the patient’s jawbone. After adequate healing of the surrounding bone and soft tissues, the tooth is secured to the post.

A single crown can be fixed into place, or multiple artificial teeth in the form of a bridge or denture can be connected to the post.

Subperiosteal implant consists of a metal frame that is situated below the gum tissue.

Subperiosteal Implants

Rather than being screwed into the jawbone, a subperiosteal implant consists of a metal frame that is situated below the gum tissue, resting over the jawbone. As the gums heal, they fix the frame in place, so it is secured to the jawbone. The frame contains one or more posts so the artificial teeth can be mounted. Each post rises above the gum line so the new teeth can be attached. This technique is not as popular or common as endosteal implants.

Same-Day Dental Implants

In many cases, patients undergo dental implant surgery following tooth extraction. Typically, dental surgeons will delay implant placement for approximately four to six months following the removal, allowing the socket to heal. Experts have studied this practice for over a decade, however, and find that in select cases, it is more advantageous to place an implant directly following the extraction.

According to an article in the 2015 National Journal of Maxillofacial Surgery, the immediate placement of a single tooth following extraction is best suited for teeth lost due to trauma, fracture, root canal failure, and root absorption caused by residual baby teeth. Some dental professionals believe that bone growth is especially apt to occur following tooth removal. The implant may require between two and six months for the addition of a crown due to the initial lack of contact between the bone and implant.

Why the Dental Implant Procedure?

Almost every restorative dentist will highly recommend dental implants as the best option available after natural, healthy teeth. Some patients are born with undersized teeth, vacant areas where the teeth should have grown, or have lost one or more of their teeth due to trauma or decay. Dental implants can restore a full set of teeth and a beautiful smile, creating a stronger and healthier mouth. The artificial tooth and root structure feel natural in the mouth, so patients cannot distinguish between their natural teeth and those that were surgically placed. Thanks to the enhanced chewing power that implants provide, patients can enjoy every type of food and gain the added bonus of an improved appearance. Properly designed implants can also improve speaking issues related to oral health.

When the root structure of the tooth is not present in the maxilla and mandible (the upper and lower jawbones), the bones can actually shrink, resulting in a much older appearance, and even causing facial collapse. Undergoing an implant procedure helps patients to maintain the normal anatomy of the area. Because the teeth are an important component of one’s overall aesthetics, their restoration can help people to regain confidence. While dental implants may require routine adjustments over time, they are designed to last a lifetime and require no special care other than brushing, flossing, and cleanings with a dentist.

Candidates for Dental Implants

Replacement teeth through dental implants are an excellent permanent solution to severely damaged or missing teeth. Implants are best suited for patients whose jawbones are fully mature, a process that is completed by the late teen years or early twenties. There should be ample tissue to work with, so those with poor quality or insufficient bone due to bone loss are not ideal candidates, as the implants must be either anchored or supported by bone. Bone grafts may be required before these patients can receive implants.

Issues can also arise when there is not sufficient space between the teeth to accommodate an implant, or when important anatomical structures are present at the implant site. Some chronic diseases affect patient candidacy for the procedure as well. Those with ongoing sinus issues, diabetes, or osteoporosis may have problems with the quality of the maxilla and mandible.

Smokers may also be at risk for inferior results. It is important for Dr. Lazare to assess each patient’s expected outcome so he can provide realistic expectations for what dental implants can accomplish for both the health and aesthetics of the mouth.

Through carefully designed treatment plans and placement selection, implants can be a great way to address bone loss or missing teeth. Dr. Lazare will assess each patient’s health history, take digital scans or impressions of the mouth, and capture digital dental X-rays during the initial appointment.

A CAT scan can also be performed to address bone quality and an approach for dental implant placement. Even in patients who may not have enough bone material in certain areas of the jaw, implants may still be an option on a case-by-case basis. After placement, the implant will encourage new bone formation. During consultations, Dr. Lazare works with each patient to develop a treatment plan that is suited to their individual situation.