Dental Implants in Manhattan

If you are missing one or more teeth, a dental implant is a great option to replace your teeth and restore your confidence when you smile. Unlike traditional removable dentures, dental implants become a permanent part of your mouth. They look and feel just like your natural teeth. They are incredibly durable and have the added benefit of being low maintenance. You brush and floss dental implants as you would your natural teeth. Dental implants from our Manhattan office also improve your oral health and prevent bone loss.

Manhattan dentist Dr. Chavez in NYC works carefully with you to ensure that your implant fits perfectly. If necessary, he will perform bone grafting and bone expansion before he places your dental implant. Bone grafting is a technique used to increase bone in the jaw so that a dental implant may be placed. Bone expansion is the widening of the residual ridge to make enough room for a bone graft and/or a dental implant.

When multiple teeth need implanting, Dr. Chavez prefers to perform All-on-X procedures when possible. All-on-X utilizes one to two more implants to provide extra stability in the mouth and jaw for a hybrid denture. (Hybrid dentures are not removable.) We all lose bone density as we age. We can prepare for this bone loss ahead of time by using more implants to ensure a solid foundation for the hybrid denture. 

Please contact Blue Line Dental in Midtown Manhattan for more information on how dental implants could benefit you. 

The Dental Implant Placement Process: What To Expect

• Initial consultation – To begin the process of getting a dental implant in New York, you’ll need to come and see Dr. Steven Chavez for an implant consultation. He will take x-rays, examine your mouth, and discuss your health history to determine if implants are right for you. If you’re approved, he will begin developing your treatment plan and schedule you for implant placement surgery.
• Implant placement surgery – At your implant placement appointment, Dr. Chavez will begin by cleaning and numbing the treatment area. We also offer dental sedation with nitrous oxide for your comfort. Once the area has been prepared, Dr. Chavez will create an opening in the gum and jaw tissue, and place a metal implant into the area where your missing tooth used to be. Then, he will clean, sanitize, and suture the area and send you home. 

• Recovery & follow-ups – You’ll come back to our office for a few follow-ups as you heal. It takes about two weeks to heal from the initial surgery, but it will take up to six months for your implant to fully bond with your mouth. During your follow-ups, Dr. Chavez will check on your recovery, and begin crafting your permanent implant restoration, such as a dental crown.
  
• Final implant restoration – Once your mouth has fully healed and your final dental crown or other implant restoration arrives at our office, you’ll come back for one final appointment. Dr. Chavez will check the fit of your crown, then attach it permanently to your dental implant. Finally, you’ll be sent home to enjoy your newly-restored smile.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental implants can last 30+ years with proper care, making them a much more long-lasting alternative to dentures and dental bridges. Many patients are able to keep their dental implants for the rest of their lives.

Dental implants also do not require much special care to keep them in good shape. You can treat your implants just like natural teeth. Brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes, and floss once per day.

You’ll also want to come and visit Dr. Chavez for six-month oral exams and teeth cleanings at Blue Line Dental. At each checkup, our team will clean your teeth and your dental implants, and Dr. Chavez will check on them to make sure that your mouth is in great shape.

How Do Dental Implants Support Jaw Bone Health?

When you lose a tooth, the underlying jaw bone material begins to weaken. Normally, your jaw bone is stimulated by the pressure of chewing and biting. But once you lose a tooth, this stimulation is no longer provided, and the jaw bone will begin to weaken in a process known as “bone resorption.”

Dental implants prevent this. Because your dental implant is surgically implanted into your jaw bone, it stimulates the jaw bone tissue, just like a natural tooth would. When you chew or bite, this force is sent into the jaw bone, which keeps it from weakening. 

It’s also important to note that dental implants are the only type of tooth replacement that can prevent jaw bone loss. While dentures and dental bridges can replace missing teeth, they do not stimulate your jaw bone, so the underlying bone will continue to deteriorate over time.