Dental Implants – Long Island City, NY

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step in your treatment is a consultation with an implant dentist in Long Island City. They will carefully assess your oral health, learn about your goals for treatment, and answer your questions. Our team may use our advanced CBCT scanner to learn about the state of your jaw and teeth as part of this initial appointment.

After getting to know you and your oral health, your dentist will talk to you about the specifics of your recommended implant treatment. Some patients can begin preparing right away for their implant surgery, while others must undergo some preparatory treatment — such as a bone graft — before they can move forward.

Dental Implant Surgery

During your dental implant surgery, our in-house implantologist, Dr. Steven Bizzell, will insert your dental implants into your jaw at precise, pre-planned locations. The surgery does not take long, and many patients are able to go back to work within the next day or two. During the procedure, our team will ensure your comfort with anesthesia. We also offer various levels of sedation, from mild nitrous oxide to powerful general anesthesia. Before you go home, we will make sure you have detailed postoperative instructions to make your recovery as smooth as possible.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

After your surgery, a remarkable process known as osseointegration will begin. Essentially, this means that the dental implants will fuse with the surrounding bone, enabling them to act as a strong base of support for the artificial teeth that will go on top of them. Osseointegration typically takes at least three to six months.

Following osseointegration, you might undergo a second surgery, during which the heads of the implants will be exposed and small connector pieces, called abutments, will be attached to them. The abutments will serve to secure your new teeth in place.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

After the tissue around your implants has healed, your dentist will get to work on designing the crowns, bridge, or denture that will go on top of your implants. We carefully design each restoration so that its size, shape, and color complement a patient’s oral anatomy and facial characteristics. Once your restoration is in place, you will be able to start enjoying the full benefits of your new, implant-supported teeth.

Day-to-Day Benefits

By replicating the entire structure of missing teeth, dental implants can deliver a number of unique everyday benefits, including:

• Versatility – Our experts can use dental implants to replace a single tooth or an entire mouthful.
• Seamlessness – Once completed, dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth in look, feel, and function.
• Convenience – Implant-supported replacement teeth can be cared for just like the rest of your smile, with no inconvenient routine changes required.
• Improved Confidence – Dental implants will never slip out of place once they’ve integrated with the jawbone. They’ll allow you to eat, speak, and smile with complete confidence once again!

Health Benefits

Even though dental implants can make you look your very best, they have more to offer an enhanced appearance. Many patients can expect to enjoy numerous health benefits as well, including:

• Unmatched Stability – Since implants are firmly rooted into the jawbone, you don’t worry about them moving while you chew or speak.
• Prevent Dental Drift – Dental implants serve as a placeholder to ensure that your remaining teeth don’t drift out of place.
• Jawbone Preservation – Unlike other tooth-replacement solutions, dental implants can preserve the jawbone, keeping it healthy and functional. Not only can they prevent bone loss, but they help maintain the face’s overall shape as well.
• Regained Ability to Eat Healthily – With dental implants, you’ll regain the ability to eat nutritious foods with ease. By sticking to a healthy diet, you can keep your overall health in optimal condition and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Long-Term Benefits

Have you thought about how getting dental implants in Long Island City can benefit you in the long run? If so, here’s what you can expect for years to come:

• High Success Rate – Dental implants have an impressive success rate of about 95%. They’ve proven to be effective even 20 years after they’re placed!
• Youthful Appearance – Since dental implants stimulate the jawbone, they prevent its deterioration and can help you avoid the sunken, aged look that’s common with tooth loss.
• Long Lifespan ­– With proper care and maintenance, your new smile can last decades – sometimes even a lifetime! You won’t have to worry about replacing your implants every few years, which can save you plenty of time and money down the line.

Missing One Tooth

When rebuilding a single tooth, an all-ceramic dental crown can be paired with an individual implant. This conservative approach works well alongside natural teeth, which won’t have to be significantly altered in order to accommodate the new addition.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Individual implants with crowns can also be placed in multiple areas throughout the mouth; alternatively, implant-supported dental bridges are available to fill in gaps left by one or more missing teeth in a row. While traditional bridges required healthy teeth to be filed down for support, this modern prosthetic relies on two dental implants instead as its anchors – one placed on either side. This approach is healthier, sturdier, and longer-lasting.

Missing All Teeth

If you have lost an entire arch of natural teeth, an implant denture can work wonders in replenishing the complete smile you need and deserve. Instead of requiring one implant per lost tooth, these full prosthetics can anchor into place over a small number of strategically placed implants, making them more cost-effective.

Types of Dental Implants

There is not a “one size fits all” price tag for dental implants because the cost of the procedure is determined by your individual treatment plan. There are several factors that influence the amount you pay, such as the number of implant posts and abutments that are necessary. In addition, the types of posts also impact the cost, such as standard or mini posts and titanium or ceramic.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

Besides the qualifications and experience of your dentist, the success of your new smile also relies on the treatment process, which is performed in multiple stages. Each step in your plan has separate costs. This can make it easier to afford your procedure because it gives you more time to pay. On average, you can expect to pay for:

• Initial Consultation – You will need a thorough examination, which also includes digital images and a CT scan.
• Additional Procedures – You may need certain procedures to create the right foundation for your dental implants, like tooth extractions, bone grafting, or a sinus lift.
• Placement Surgery – Sedation or anesthesia are used during your placement surgery to ensure your comfort as the posts are placed into your jawbone.
• Abutments & Restorations – Each implant post needs an abutment to connect your restoration.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

If you’re like many patients, you’re probably wondering why you should spend more on dental implants instead of saving money with traditional treatments? Believe it or not, dental implants are actually more affordable long-term. They have over a 95% success rate to last for several decades, so you should never need to worry about paying to have them replaced. In addition, they improve your oral health to reduce your overall dental expenses.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Unfortunately, most dental insurance companies will not cover the entire treatment, but they may pay for certain aspects depending on your individual policy until you reach your annual limit. We work on your behalf with your insurance carrier to reduce the amount you need to pay.

We accept several forms of payment to cover any remaining balance, including third-party financing with CareCredit. You’re given the funds you need using a payment plan that accommodates your budget. Our dental office staff works with you to find the solutions you need to keep your new smile affordable.

If you’re ready to invest in a complete smile, we can help. Contact our dental office today to schedule your consultation.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Have you heard of peri-implantitis? If not, it’s a form of gum disease, and it’s one of the leading causes of dental implant failure. So, to keep your breath fresh, your gums infection-free, and your dental implants in pristine condition, you need to make oral hygiene a priority. The good news is that you don’t need to buy any special products. Simply brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and rinse with mouthwash consistently!

Eat a Healthy Diet

The importance of eating a well-balanced diet that’s low in added sugar is often overlooked. The reality is that the foods you eat impact your oral health – for better or for worse. That’s why we recommend filling your plate with fresh fruits, cooked vegetables, and other nutrient-dense options. We also encourage our patients to make water their drink of choice since it helps prevent dry mouth, dehydration, and stains.

Break Bad Habits

Be honest… Do you bite your nails when you’re nervous or bored? Do you chew on the ice cubes left over at the bottom of the cup? Do you use your teeth to remove plastic packaging? These are a few of many habits that can damage your teeth and your dental implants, so make an active effort to stop! That way, you’re much less likely to experience a crack in your enamel, a chip in your restoration, or another serious dental injury.

Protect Your Dental Implants

In the previous section, we mentioned the importance of breaking bad habits, like biting your nails. It’s also important to protect your dental implants in other ways, like wearing a mouthguard when you lift weights, participate in sports, or run. You should also wear a nightguard if you grind/clench your teeth at night. This ensures that both your teeth and your dental implants are protected from premature wear and tear.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Lastly, you need to come to our Long Island City office every six months for a dental checkup and teeth cleaning. These routine visits allow us to examine the condition of your dental implant as well as the health of your teeth and gums. Plus, we conduct an oral cancer screening at each appointment, which benefits your overall health as well. In short, these biannual trips to our office are important. So, if it’s been more than six months since you came in, get in touch with us today!