For patients who want to permanently put their tooth loss behind them, Dr. Cannon and Dr. Agha usually make the same recommendation: dental implants. Why? Because they are the only option that restores an entire tooth from root to crown. With them, a patient doesn’t just feel like they’ve replaced their teeth, but rather like they have gotten their real teeth back. Could dental implants be exactly what you need to enjoy a complete smile again? To schedule a FREE evaluation to discuss dental implants in Sparta, NJ, contact us today.
Dental Implants – Sparta, NJ
The Pinnacle of Tooth Replacement
Why Choose Gentle Dentistry Sparta for Dental Implants?
- Works with Highly Trained Local Dental Implant Specialists
- Dentist Who Studied at the Prestigious Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education
- In-House Financing Available
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small titanium posts that act as artificial tooth roots. Once they are surgically placed into the jawbone, they provide the foundation for your new teeth, whether that be a dental crown, bridge, or denture. Each of these restorations are custom-made to resemble the set of pearly whites you were born with. After the implant post has integrated with your jawbone and your restoration has been placed, it will look and feel as through you had never lost any teeth in the first place!
As the only tooth loss solution to rebuild a tooth from the root up through the crown, dental implants come highly recommended by the majority of dental professionals, including our dentists. Compared to traditional options, dental implants are far more comprehensive, beneficial, and long-lasting.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
You may already know that dental implants consist of a metal root that’s attached to a prosthetic tooth, but what is the process like to actually get one? Once Dr. Cannon or Dr. Agha confirms that you are healthy enough for the treatment, they will refer you to one of our partnered specialists so you’re your artificial roots can be surgically placed into your jawbone. You will then be given time to heal (usually a few months) before you’re asked to return to Gentle Dentistry Sparta. At this appointment, you will be fitted for your replacement teeth, and then your renewed smile will be ready for the world.
Dental Implant Consultation
Before you can receive dental implants, our dentists need to confirm the current condition of your bone and gum tissue. For example, if you need periodontal therapy or bone grafting to heal your gums or expand your bone tissue to make room for an implant, we’ll find out during the initial consultation. We’ll also learn what your specific needs are, such as how many dental implants are needed to complete your smile and which type of restoration you’ll need to go on top. From there, we can begin scheduling future appointments for surgery with one of our trusted implant dentists in the area.
Dental Implant Surgery
During the surgical phase of treatment, you’ll be given anesthetic in order to make your surgery as comfortable as possible. Optional sedation will also be administered at this stage. To place the implants, a small incision is made inside of the gum tissue and an extremely tiny hole is created in the jawbone. This is just large enough for a titanium implant to be placed. Afterwards, the gum tissue is stitched shut and the implant is given time to heal. You’ll be then scheduled for the future phase of your treatment with the implant dentist.
Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment
Since the implant is made from titanium, it can be safely integrated with your jaw’s natural structures. This process will take about four to six months to complete. Once the gum tissue is fully healed, the abutment portion will be placed on top of the implant. This connector is meant to hold the eventual restoration in place for better stability and longevity. The gums will begin healing around the abutment after it is placed, which takes a few additional weeks. At your final appointment, the restoration can be attached.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
When the healing portions of your treatment are finished, you’ll come back to our office to have a custom-made, porcelain restoration attached to the implant. Whether you’re receiving a single implant crown, a bridge, or a full denture, you can expect it to not only look incredibly natural, but feel natural as well. At your final appointment, we’ll attach the restoration, then confirm that it feels comfortable inside your mouth. If we need to make any last-minute adjustments, we will do so before you leave.
Benefits of Dental Implants
More than 3 million people have chosen to replace their lost teeth with dental implants, and hundreds of thousands more implants are placed each year. Why it is behind the booming popularity of this treatment? Dental implants rebuild missing teeth from the roots up, so they offer advantages that other forms of tooth replacement cannot provide. Without a doubt, they are the best way to fill in gaps in your smile.
Lifestyle Benefits
Soon after your restorations are in place, you will begin to experience numerous benefits of dental implants in Sparta, including:
- The ability to eat anything. A survey of denture wearers found that 34% believed their dentures limited their ability to live life to the fullest. If you relate to them, dental implants may be ideal for you. They provide a strong bite force that can allow you to eat virtually any food, including tough meats and fresh vegetables.
- Drink your favorite hot beverages. Dentures might warp when they are exposed to hot temperatures, but implant restorations can stand up to tea, coffee, and other hot beverages.
- Smile with confidence. Implants and the teeth they support are designed to complement your facial characteristics. They are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.
- No slipping and sliding. You will be able to speak freely without worrying that your prosthetic teeth will slip around in your mouth.
Health Benefits
In addition to benefiting you in your daily life, dental implants in Sparta can benefit your overall health in several ways:
- Jawbone preservation. After you lose a natural tooth, the bone that once supported it begins to shrink. Over time, this deterioration reaches the point where your facial shape begins to change. Dental implants stop this process because they stimulate the jawbone and help to keep it strong, healthy, and whole.
- No gum irritation. Implant restorations are not supported by your gums, so you shouldn’t have to worry about your new teeth making your gums hurt.
- Preservation of natural teeth. Dental bridges require that the teeth that support them be filed down in order to fit under crowns. Dental implants are entirely self-supporting; they do not typically require that any of your natural teeth be modified.
- Benefits for overall health. Research indicates that people who have lost five or more teeth are at an increased risk of cardiovascular illness, diabetes, and other conditions. Dental implants support oral health, which is closely linked to overall health.
Long-Term Benefits
Did you know that tooth loss is associated with a shortened lifespan? Dental implants replace lost teeth and might promote longevity. While that is one of their most noteworthy benefits, they offer other long-term advantages as well, including:
- Monetary value. Dental implants may last for several decades (or even a lifetime), which makes them a better monetary value than types of tooth replacement that need to be replaced every few years, such as traditional dentures.
- High success rate. Even after 10 years, more than 90% of dental implant cases remain successful.
- Easy maintenance. Fortunately, caring for dental implants is similar in most ways to caring for natural teeth. Strict oral hygiene and regular visits to your implant dentist in Sparta are a must.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Most adults are eligible to receive dental implants. This can be a welcome realization for individuals who are suffering from tooth loss, no matter how many teeth are missing. With the help of these titanium posts, your dental implant dentist in Sparta, Dr. Cannon, and her team can ensure beautiful results that can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. While it is necessary to have healthy gums, good overall health, and a strong jawbone, she can recommend preliminary treatments that will create a more stable environment once your dental implants are firmly in place.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
With more than 3 million people living with dental implants and more than 500,000 placed each year, you can see that they are a viable option for most adults. Offering far greater stability, functionality, and a longer-lasting tooth replacement solution, dental implants in Sparta can truly change how you embrace life.
During your initial consultation with Dr. Cannon, she will examine your oral cavity and facial structure to determine the following three factors:
- Your oral health and whether you need periodontal therapy or tooth extraction to treat gum disease and/or tooth decay
- Your overall health to determine if you are healthy enough to undergo minor oral surgery
- Your jawbone density and whether you need bone grafting to ensure greater support when placing your implants and custom restoration
Extremely versatile in their ability to treat all types of tooth loss, you can feel confident that you’ll receive a fully restored smile in the end. No matter how many teeth you have missing, you can count on dental implants to replace:
Missing 1 Tooth
Once an implant root has been positioned within the jawbone, it can be topped with a custom-made crown that’s attached using a small screw called an abutment. This can be fitted into a row of teeth without disturbing any of them, leaving most of a patient’s smile untouched and whole. With more than 120 million people living with one missing tooth, this can be an easy solution that doesn’t require altering nearby healthy teeth. It will also drastically improve your ability to eat and speak since even one missing tooth can cause difficulties performing these simple tasks.
Missing Multiple Teeth
If a patient has a larger gap in their smile because of consecutive missing teeth, or if they’ve suffered tooth loss throughout their mouth, a small number of implants can replace them all at once by supporting a bridge or partial denture. These prosthetics are much more stable compared to removable ones and will last much longer, allowing you to keep more money in your pocket.
Missing All Teeth
If you are one of the 36 million people without any natural teeth remaining, it’s time to consider implant dentures. Or maybe you have a denture that you just can’t trust? With four to six implants, a full denture can be secured to the jawbone that will never slip or slide unexpectedly. We can update a patient’s current denture to fit over implants or even provide a completely new prosthetic if needed. With an implant denture, you’ll be free to eat the foods you love, speak with clarity, and enjoy greater confidence because of the new and improved smile you’ll be showing off to friends, family, and colleagues.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
It’s important to understand that every single dental implant treatment is different and has to be personalized based on a patient’s unique situation (as in how many teeth they are missing and where they are located). Because of this, Dr. Cannon will need to give you an exam before she can provide an accurate estimate of what you’ll be expected to pay for implants. Fortunately, you can get this estimate and have all your questions answered at a FREE dental implant evaluation. For most patients, implants are a wise investment because they last so much longer compared to other options, leading to thousands in savings on routine maintenance alone.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Reconstructing a tooth with a dental implant occurs in various steps, each having separate costs. This can make it easier to pay for your new smile because you won’t need to cover the entire amount upfront. With that in mind, it’s important that you consider the following factors below:
- Some patients are not eligible to receive dental implants at first, especially if they have been missing teeth for a long time. Preparatory treatments to make dental implants possible, including tooth extractions, periodontal therapy, or bone grafting, can increase your total costs.
- Sedation or anesthesia is needed to ensure you’re comfortable during your placement surgery. The surgery itself can also vary in cost depending on how many implants need to be placed.
Our office works directly with local, highly-trained dental implant specialists to complete the surgical portion of your care. That means the fees you pay at our office will be separate than what you pay the implant dentist.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
The number of implants you need placed will ultimately be the biggest factor in determining your overall costs. This is because more dental implants means more materials are needed, including titanium for the post and abutment as well as ceramic for the restoration. Much like cars or other customized items, dental implants differ based on make and model. At the end of the day, we’re happy to explain why we use the implants and restorations we do if you’d like to learn more.
Final Dental Implant Restoration
When single dental implants are placed, only a single dental crown is needed to restore it to the fullest. However, multiple implants will need more complex restorations. For example, a pair of implants will need a bridge, while several implants will attach to a dedicated full or partial denture. Regardless of the restoration you need, you can expect it to look and feel natural, giving you the confidence to smile and eat your favorite foods.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Every policy differs, and most dental insurance plans don’t cover dental implant treatment. However, many dental insurance plans can be used to help offset a percentage of certain treatment costs. After reaching your deductible, you can use your yearly allowance to lower the amount you pay for certain steps in your procedure, like periodontal therapy or the restorations. We’ll help you maximize your benefits to keep your future smile affordable.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Even if you do not have dental insurance at this time, there are other ways to make your tooth replacement easier to pay for. This includes our VIP Membership Plan, which provides you a guaranteed list of services and discounts on major treatments like dental implants. You can also pursue CareCredit, a third-party option designed to make it easy to pay for dental treatments in smaller monthly chunks. If you’d like to get started on the process, make sure to sign up for a free dental implant evaluation ahead of your next appointment!
Advanced Dental Implant Procedures
Some patient’s smiles require a little additional TLC before they can jump right into having their dental implants placed. This is because when teeth go missing for long periods of time, your oral structure will start to change shape from factors like jawbone deterioration. Since your facial structure is the foundation for your dental implants, it’s important that it’s strong and sturdy before they get placed. In these cases, our team may suggest any of these advanced dental implant procedures to ensure the best possible treatment results.
Bone Grafting
To have a successful dental implant procedure in Sparta, your implants will need to fuse with your jawbone in a process called osseointegration. This will prevent the structure from deteriorating and ensure that your restorations have a strong and unwavering foundation to be attached to.
If you’ve been missing teeth for awhile, your bone may have eroded because it hasn’t been stimulated. In these cases, we may suggest a simple bone graft in Sparta to replenish its density. We’ll remove bone from a different area of the body and graft it onto the thinned-out areas of the jawbone. After you heal, you’ll then be able to move forward with dental implant surgery.
Sinus Lift
The upper back jaw is often less dense than other areas, and this is where your sinuses are located. If we fear that placing the implants will interfere with your sinuses, we may have to perform a sinus lift in Sparta before you can undergo surgery. For this procedure, we’ll create a window in your gums and bone, raise the sinus membrane, and then place bone grafting material in the window to restore the bone’s density. This process requires a four to 12-month healing period.
PRP/PRF Treatment
The key to a successful dental implant procedure is osseointegration, which is when your implants chemically fuse with your jawbone as you heal from your surgery. To make sure that this process is seamless, we can apply platelet rich plasms to the surgery site. This will drastically increase the healing and osseointegration processes, making the overall treatment more streamlined and faster.
Ridge Expansion
If you’ve had traditional restorations that haven’t been providing your oral cavity with necessary stimulation to maintain its structure, you may require a ridge expansion. As you age and begin losing your permanent teeth, your facial structure will narrow from jawbone erosion, changing the shape of the arch of your mouth. A ridge expansion helps widen your jawbone to create the space necessary to successfully place dental implants.
Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants
When you want to ensure your dental implants in Sparta last for as long as they are advertised to do so, you’ll need to make sure to take care of them just like you would your natural teeth. Not only does this mean practicing at-home oral care, but protecting them from injury, especially if you are active. At Gentle Dentistry Sparta, Dr. Cannon and Dr. Agha are happy to go over the most essential tips to keep in mind following the placement, healing, and restoration of your dental implants. The more proactive steps you take to protect your implants, the better off you’ll be in the long-term.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
When the implants have healed, we’ll go over what your at-home oral hygiene should look like. This includes brushing and flossing techniques as well as other tools available to you to take your oral care to the next level. These steps will keep bacteria known for causing plaque development and gum disease out of your mouth, preventing serious complications like infections and bone loss. For example, you should be brushing for at least two minutes at a time twice a day and flossing once a day. We recommend you use a fluoridated toothpaste approved by the American Dental Association as well.
Eat a Healthy Diet
When you have an occasional snack here and there, it’s usually not a problem. With that said, your diet should include foods that are healthy too, not just starches and sugars. For example, instead of having a bag of chips or candy as a snack during the workday, swap it for your favorite fruit or vegetable. When planning your meals, confirm that there are enough greens, lean proteins, and dairy products in them as well. Doing this will not only protect your overall health, but ensure your gums remain healthy and enamel stays strong.
Break Bad Habits
Whether it’s biting your nails, a pen or pencil while you work, or opening packages and bottles with your teeth, it’s recommended that you discontinue these habits as soon as possible. These habits can easily damage your teeth and dental implants to the point where enamel can crack and dental implants can fail. A great way to get started on this right away is to buy some sugar-free chewing gum to keep your mouth busy. Not only does this help prevent you from unconscious habits that harm teeth, but you can keep saliva production high and neutralize cavity-causing bacteria.
Protect Your Dental Implants
If you grind your teeth or play an active sport where the chance of an injury is higher than usual, a mouthguard/nightguard is essential. Our office is happy to create a fully customized oral appliance for you that protects both your dental implants and your natural teeth. These are significantly better than store-bought versions, which don’t last for long and can be quite uncomfortable to use in the long-term.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Gentle Dentistry Sparta recommends that you visit our office at least once every six months for a routine exam and cleaning. This allows us to examine the restorations we’ve placed on top of your implants and confirm the status of your oral health. The more consistently you are with your dental checkups, the less likely you are to be caught off guard by surprise dental problems (and emergencies) later in life.
Dental Implant FAQs
If you’re unhappy with the look or feel of a traditional denture or bridge, then dental implants in Sparta might be just the treatment you need to fully rebuild your smile. Because they’re the only option that recreates your lost teeth from the root up, you’ll enjoy unmatched strength and stability that will allow you to eat all of your favorite chewy and crunchy foods with ease. To help you get a better idea of what to expect when you choose this treatment, we’ve answered some frequently asked dental implant questions below.
How Do I Take Care of My Dental Implants?
One of the most outstanding benefits of dental implants is their potential to last for 30+ years with the proper maintenance. Luckily, taking care of your implants isn’t all that different from caring for your natural pearly whites. As long as you brush and floss daily, and visit our office for a checkup on a regular basis, then your implants should stay in good shape for years to come.
Does It Hurt to Get Dental Implants?
Believe it or not, the majority of patients who have undergone dental implant surgery have said the procedure didn’t hurt. You’ll be given a potent local anesthetic beforehand to numb your mouth, as well as sedation to help you relax. While you may experience some discomfort and soreness for a few days following your surgery, it’s nothing that isn’t manageable.
Can Dental Implants Replace a Missing Front Tooth?
Yes! Dental implants can replace missing teeth no matter where they were located in your mouth. Your implant dentist in Sparta will be sure to design your custom-made crown, bridge, or denture to perfectly mimic the teeth you were born with. Once your restoration has been placed, no one except for you and our team members should even be able to tell your implants apart from your natural teeth!
How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?
The length of the dental implant process can vary greatly from patient to patient. For most people, it takes between three and six months for the implants to fully integrate with the jawbone and be ready to receive the restoration. If you need a bone graft before implant placement, that can add another six months or so to your total treatment time. However, the only way to know how long your specific implant journey will take is to schedule a consultation with us. We can lay out all of the variables that can affect your treatment timeline to give you a better idea of how long it will be until your smile is fully rebuilt.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
The exact lifespan of dental implants is not set in stone, but they do have the potential to last for well over three decades. Some patients are even able to keep their dental implant posts for the rest of their lives. You can get more years of use out of your dental implants by taking good care of them; that means brushing and flossing regularly as well as visiting your dentist for routine checkups and cleanings.
Generally speaking, dental implants can last significantly longer than traditional tooth replacement options. This is part of the reason why so many dentists recommend them.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Our team is partnered with knowledgeable specialists who will take every precaution when placing dental implants in your jaw. As long as there’s a trained professional overseeing the process, having dental implants placed is indeed safe. Any issues that could affect the success rate of the dental implant procedure – such as a lack of bone density in the jaw or gum disease – will be treated before dental implant surgery is performed. And of course, any existing medical conditions you might have will be taken into account.
What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
Dental implants have a very high success rate, but it’s important to be aware of the factors that might cause them to fail. Common culprits include:
- Peri-Implantitis: Peri-implantitis occurs when the tissues around the implant posts become infected. The damage to the bone and gums can ultimately cause your dental implants to come loose.
- Failed Osseointegration: Your dental implants need to be able to form a lasting bond with your jawbone via osseointegration. However, certain factors – such as a lack of jawbone density – can prevent osseointegration from occurring, thus ultimately leading to dental implant failure.
- Bruxism: Bruxism can cause you to grind and clench your teeth without realizing it. If it isn’t managed properly, bruxism can lead to dental implant failure by putting an excessive amount of pressure on your dental implant posts, thus interfering with the osseointegration process.
- Certain Health Conditions: There are some health issues that might indirectly affect your chances of experiencing dental implant failure. For example, if you have diabetes, you will have a higher chance of suffering from an infection that could put your dental implants at risk.
Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?
Your jaw needs to be fully developed before you can qualify for dental implant surgery. Once you meet this criterion, there is effectively no upper age limit for dental implants; you should be able to have them placed as long as you’re in overall good oral health and have a sufficient amount of bone in your jaw. That said, older patients are generally more likely to have health issues that might affect their candidacy for dental implants, so keep that in mind before you schedule a consultation.