Dental Implants - Wall Township, NJ

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

As with any extensive dental procedure, the first step in getting dental implants is to schedule a consultation so that you can confirm that it’s really the best decision for your smile. After we examine your mouth using the latest technology, we’ll be able to determine whether you can get dental implants right away or if you might need to have preparatory treatments like bone grafting and gum disease treatment first. Before you decide whether you want to move forward with the dental implant process, we’ll give you an estimate of the costs as well as a timeline.

Dental Implant Surgery

Implant surgery will be scheduled after your mouth has fully recovered from any preliminary work. We’ll numb your mouth and make small incisions in your gum tissue so that we can work with the jawbone. When we place your implants, we’ll insert them at specifically chosen locations in a way that avoids damaging nerves and any other important natural structures. After making sure your implants are properly placed, we’ll close the gum tissue and attach a cap to each post to shield it during the healing process.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Your dental implants need to join with your jawbone through a process called osseointegration so that they can function like a natural part of your mouth. The osseointegration process takes about three to six months, depending on how quickly your mouth can heal. Then, once we’ve confirmed that your implants are now firmly in place, your implant dentist can attach a special piece called an abutment to each post. An abutment is what is used to keep a dental crown, bridge, or denture secured to the implant post.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

“Restoration” is another word for a replacement tooth. You’ll be ready to start the process of receiving your final restoration after abutments have been placed. We’ll take an impression of your mouth as it is now so that a team of professional ceramists can create a dazzling crown, bridge, or denture with the correct fit and appearance. Once the final restoration arrives at our practice, we’ll schedule one final appointment so that we can attach it to your abutments. Once they’re in place, your new smile will be complete, and you’ll be able to use it to speak, eat, and smile to your heart’s content.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Improved oral health – Brushing and flossing are easier than ever with dental implants. Unlike dentures and dental bridges that can be hard to maneuver, you can maintain better oral health and minimize your risk for tooth decay (on regular teeth) and gum disease.  
• Improved bite force – Because dental implants bring back an entire tooth from root to crown, a patient can eat whatever they like with complete confidence.
• More youthful appearance – Dental implants help to fill out your cheeks and create a more youthful appearance.
• Better quality of life – Unlike denture-wearers who report feeling self-conscious or embarrassed by their prosthetics, dental implants can help you to embrace a better quality of life by giving you the confidence needed to smile, speak, and eat in front of others.

Health Benefits

• Natural teeth stay in place – Dental drift is no longer a concern when wearing dental implants. Instead, your natural, healthy teeth will remain firmly in place because your implants will replace your missing teeth.
• Continuous jawbone stimulation - Dental implants provide internal support for the jawbone and prevent the bone loss that usually occurs after tooth loss, helping someone look younger and healthier as the years go by.
• Healthy teeth remain unaltered – While a dental bridge requires altering healthy adjacent teeth, dental implants are positioned within the vacated socket, fusing with the jawbone and requiring no altering of your natural, healthy teeth.
• Longer life – Systemic issues like heart disease and diabetes are less of a concern when you choose dental implants. The reason is that tooth loss often affects more than just your oral health. By replacing your missing teeth, you will not only improve your overall health and wellbeing, but you’ll work to extend your lifespan as well.

Long-Term Benefits

• High success rate – With a 95% success rate, dental implants are one of the most reliable tooth replacement solutions available. Even after 10 years, when placed by a skilled implant dentist, their success rate remains 90-95%.
• Improved longevity – With proper maintenance, dental implants can be trusted to last a very long time. Some cases report patients never having their implants replaced, which means they have the potential to last a lifetime!
• Cost-effective solution – Although expensive upfront, dental implants can actually save you money in the long run. Instead of buying adhesives and special cleaning supplies, you’ll simply enjoy a prosthetic that doesn’t have to be replaced every 5-10 years like a denture or dental bridge.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

If you are missing one or more teeth, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to restore your smile using dental implants. The only way to know for sure, however, is if you schedule a consultation with a member of our dental team. During your visit, you can expect us to look at:

• Oral Health: If you show signs of gum disease or severe tooth decay, periodontal treatment or tooth extraction may be necessary before receiving your dental implants.
• Overall Health: You must be healthy enough to undergo minor oral surgery. You should also not have an autoimmune disorder or chronic health condition.
• Jawbone Density: If you lack enough jawbone density, we may need to perform a bone graft to strengthen what will be the foundation for your new smile.

Missing One Tooth

With millions of Americans missing at least one single tooth, the ability to eat and speak can become increasingly difficult. Fortunately, if you fall into this category, we can help! A dental implant root is placed into the jawbone and topped with a custom-made porcelain crown. The surrounding teeth don’t have to be adjusted or reshaped at all, and the crown itself will be color-matched to blend with the smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

In most cases, two implants are all that’s needed to secure a bridge or partial denture to the jaw that can replace several teeth at the same time. This is often a big relief for patients who are missing multiple teeth and fear their only option is a traditional bridge. Compared to removable prosthetics, implant bridges are not only much more stable but last longer and look more natural as well.

Missing All Teeth

If you want a prosthetic you can always rely on to stay in place, we recommend considering an implant denture. Four to six implants can be placed along the jawbone, and the denture simply snaps onto them. Implant dentures are smaller and more comfortable than traditional ones, and they enable you to recover almost all of your bite strength so that you can eat your favorite foods with greater ease.

Preliminary Treatments & Implant Placement Surgery

Some patients require preparatory procedures before they’re able to undergo dental implant surgery, like bone grafting, sinus lifts, and gum disease treatment, which all incur their separate fees. Not to mention, the surgery itself will have its own cost, in addition to any sedation or anesthesia that will be required. Because the procedure will be completed in-office, you won’t need to worry about paying for a separate specialist or facilities.

Factors Affecting Dental Implant Treatment Cost

There are several factors that can affect the overall price of your treatment, including:

• Number of Implants. The number of implants you need to have placed will depend on how many teeth are being restored. To restore one tooth you’ll need one dental implant, two implants can secure a dental bridge, and it may require four to eight implants to restore an entire arch of teeth.
• Type of Restoration. The cost of crowns, bridges, and dentures all differ. Naturally, the fewer replacement teeth needed, the lower the cost.
• Materials Used. Implants can sometimes be made from zirconia or titanium, and the restorations can be made from acrylic, porcelain, or other materials. Your implant dentist will discuss these options with you during your initial consultation.

Long-Term Savings with Dental Implants

Even though dental implants have a higher up-front price tag than traditional restorations, they’re able to last for up to 35 years with the proper maintenance, which is four times the average lifespan of traditional restorations. That means that you’ll be able to enjoy fewer visits to your implant dentist and more time getting the most out of your grin.

Will Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

It’s not common for dental insurance companies to cover the cost of dental implants because they consider it to be a “cosmetic” treatment. However, that’s beginning to change with some providers, so to be sure, we encourage you to reach out to your insurance company directly. Our team is proudly in-network with several policies , and we’re happy to file claims for our out-of-network patients as well.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

In addition to welcoming dental insurance, we also offer a Shore Points Wellness Savings Plan that can provide you with 20% off of all services, including dental implants. For just $299 a year for a single adult, it covers three exams, two cleanings, all necessary X-rays, and an emergency exam as well.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

The lifespan of dental implants depends on the patient’s health and lifestyle. To ensure that implants last, it is important to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash daily. Attend your dental checkups and cleanings as well. Don’t be munching on anything that is too hard or sticky. With proper care, dental implants last several times longer than traditional bridges and dentures. They can even last upwards of 30 years!

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

Before the procedure begins, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic. You will most likely be sedated as well, which will lower your body’s ability to register pain. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort during your surgery, but your mouth may feel sore in the following days. Any pain can be managed with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications and cold compresses. If your discomfort worsens instead of improving after two or three days, give us a call so we can ensure that there aren’t any underlying issues.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

When placed by a skilled professional, dental implants have a success rate of over 95%. While it is uncommon, dental implant failures can occur. It is usually a result of one of two reasons:

• Peri-implantitis: This is a form of gum disease that develops from poor oral hygiene and can damage the bone and gums supporting the implant.
• Failed osteointegration: Sometimes, the implant may fail to integrate with the jawbone. This can happen with patients who have a low jawbone density to begin with.

Other causes of dental implant failure include chronic teeth grinding, tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, certain medications, radiation to the head and neck, and some health conditions, like diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and autoimmune disorders.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

While it is possible to get dental implants if you smoke, smokers tend to have a higher rate of dental implant failure. Smoking tobacco products causes dry mouth, slows down healing, and can interfere with the implants’ ability to fuse with the jawbone. Smoking can also cause you to develop dry socket. This is when the blood clot forming over the implant site dislodges. Ultimately, smokers should give up smoking for at least two weeks before the procedure and wait for two to three months before resuming the habit again. Of course, this is a great opportunity to kick the habit for good!

Making Oral Hygiene a Priority

If your oral hygiene routine was not up to par before receiving dental implants, you’ll need to make a drastic change once your new teeth are in place. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing are essential in preventing peri-implantitis – a condition similar to gum disease that attacks and negatively affects your dental implants. With a regular oral hygiene routine, however, you can minimize your risk and continue to enjoy your new smile.

Eating a Healthy Diet

Along with good oral hygiene should be a healthy diet. Too much sugar and starch will not only increase your chances of developing diabetes and heart disease, but they will worsen your oral health and put you at risk for gum disease and decay. Swapping out unhealthy foods for better alternatives such as calcium-enriched foods, leafy greens, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables will help you feel better and embrace a better quality of life with your dental implants.

Breaking Bad Habits

To avoid damaging your prosthetics, you’ll need to break up with some of your unhealthy habits. Smoking can weaken your immune system and make it difficult for proper healing to occur during recovery. Biting your fingernails, eating ice, and chewing on inanimate objects can cause significant chips, cracks, and fractures to your customized restorations.

It may not be easy to give up these habits, but you’ll need to if you want to ensure the success and longevity of your smile.

Protecting Your Dental Implants

While you’re committing to give up bad habits, also consider protecting your dental implants with a customized mouthguard. Whether you play sports or grind your teeth at night, this unique oral appliance serves as a cushion between your upper and lower arches. Not only will it absorb more of the blow should you sustain a hard hit during a game, but it will also minimize jaw pain and reduce your risk for damage to your dental implants while sleeping.

Scheduling Regular Dental Checkups

There are many things you can do at home to keep your dental implants looking and feeling their best, but your implant dentist can go the extra step to help you avoid decay and damage. Your dental implants cannot develop cavities, but your natural teeth can, which is why we must see you every six months for routine dental checkups and teeth cleanings.