Dental Implants in Carnegie Hill, NYC

Dental implants are the most comfortable and permanent solution for missing teeth. Similar to natural teeth, dental implants consist of a root and crown – the visible part of the tooth that’s used to chew. The root holds the tooth securely under the gum and is anchored to the jaw. When you get a dental implant, the tooth root is replaced with titanium. 

When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and crown. To replace a tooth, the surgeon first replaces the root with a small dental implant. Then, time is allowed for bone to heal and grow around the dental implant. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for your new artificial teeth. A support post, also known as an abutment, is then placed on the implant and the new replacement crown is placed on top of the post. Often, a temporary replacement tooth can be attached to the implant immediately after it is placed.

Dental implant surgery replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth, which are similar to real teeth in both appearance and function. This procedure provides a better fit and causes no bone damage, unlike dentures or bridgework. Dental implant surgery is performed in multiple stages, using several procedures and may require several months for your new restorations to heal properly.

Dental implant treatment takes into account many factors, such as the condition of your jawbone, your medical history, current medications, etc. During your initial consultation, several anesthesia options will be presented to you including local anesthesia, sedation, and general anesthesia to ensure a pain-free procedure. Any dietary restrictions will be discussed with you prior to the procedure.

Dr. Ruben Cohen employs the technology to place your implants precisely and with minimal chair time, even when placing multiple dental implants.  This can be done in one single appointment lasting only an hour, also known as “Teeth-in-an-Hour.” Due to the less invasive nature of this procedure, patients often experience less postoperative pain, less bruising, and less swelling. Typically, patients can resume their normal activities the following day.

A diagnosis for dental implants consists of a series of X-rays and models that will provide a clear picture regarding your specific condition.

Dental implants should be considered if you have the following:

• One or more missing teeth
• Inability or unwillingness to wear dentures
• Healthy oral tissues
• A jawbone that has reached full growth
• Adequate bone to secure the implants

During your consultation, your surgeon will review your current health and goals and determine whether dental implants are the right fit for your smile goals. They will then devise a comprehensive treatment plan suited to your needs.

After your procedure, you will be fitted with temporary teeth as you heal before receiving your permanent prosthetics. There are many options available for your temporary teeth, all tailored to your specific requirements. If you need a replacement tooth while the implants are healing, temporary removable teeth or a temporary bridge can be made. If all of your teeth are missing, we can usually modify your present complete denture or make you a new temporary denture. 

If you would prefer non-removable teeth during the healing phase, temporary transitional implants usually can be placed along with the permanent implants, and temporary teeth may be made and inserted the same day. Depending on your particular situation, some implants can be placed and “loaded” immediately. This means a temporary or permanent replacement tooth can be placed on, or shortly after, your procedure.

The permanent replacement teeth are usually attached to the implant when adequate healing has occurred and your jawbone is firmly fused to the implant. Depending on a variety of factors, it may be possible to begin this phase of your treatment immediately or shortly after implant placement. We will review the most appropriate treatment sequence and timing for your particular situation.

The dental work required to complete your treatment is complex. Most of the treatment journey involves crafting the new teeth before they are placed. Your treatment begins with specialized impressions that allow us to produce a replica of your mouth and implants. We will also make “bite” records so that we see the relationship of your upper and lower jaws. With this information, we will make the abutments that attach your replacement teeth to your implants. 

Frequently, we can use “off-the-shelf” abutments. Other times, custom abutments must be made of gold or a tooth-colored ceramic material. As you can imagine, these custom-made abutments add to the cost and treatment time involved. Which abutment to use is a decision that often cannot be made until after healing is complete and impressions have been made.

Typically, once your implants are placed, you can expect your tooth replacement treatment to be completed between one to 12 months. It is challenging to give patients a specific timeframe for when their treatment will be complete until after the implants are ready for restoration.

Although it is natural to be concerned about the pain that may be caused by these procedures, most patients do not experience severe or significant postoperative pain. Pain medication and antibiotics will be prescribed for you to make your recovery as easy as possible. Occasionally, some people develop postoperative infections that require additional antibiotic treatment. Even though great care is taken to place the implant precisely, adjacent teeth are sometimes injured in the placement process. 

Additionally, there is a chance that the nerve in the lower jaw, which provides sensation to your lower lip and chin, may be affected. If you are missing a significant amount of bone, it may be difficult to place an implant without infringing on the nerve space. Although we take great care to avoid this nerve, occasionally it is irritated during the procedure, resulting in tingling, numbness or a complete lack of sensation in your lip, chin or tongue. Usually these altered sensations will resolve within time. Be sure to consult your dentist if symptoms persist.

As with natural teeth, it is important that you clean implant-supported restorations regularly with toothbrushes, floss and any other recommended aids. You should also visit your dentist several times each year for hygiene and maintenance. Your implants and their associated components are subject to wear and tear and eventually will need repair, including clip replacement, relines, screw tightening, and other adjustments.

Implants typically have a long lifespan. When patients are missing all of their teeth, long-term studies of more than 30 years show an 80-90% success rate. For patients missing one or several teeth, recent studies show a success rate of greater than 95%, which compares favorably with other areas in the body that receive implant replacement including hips and knees. However, if one of your dental implants doesn’t heal properly or loosens over time, you may need to have it removed. After the site heals, another implant usually can be placed.