How can we help you?
Choosing a dentist is an important decision. We welcome your questions so you can feel confident in the choices you make for your health. If you do not see your question listed here, give us a call! We look forward to hearing from you.
Implants are specially designed to fuse and integrate into your bone so that they will be strong enough to support a new tooth placed on top of the implant. It takes about 3-4 months for this integration to occur which is why from the time you get the implant to the time you get your new tooth it will take roughly 3-4 months. Sometimes a temporary crown can be placed immediately on the implant at the time of implant placement but this is only on a case by case basis and if a number of criteria are met and the surgeon thinks it is safe to do so.
The good news about implants is that taking care of them is just like you would take care of your natural teeth. You can brush them, floss them, and get them cleaned during your regular dental cleanings. There are some additional cleaning devices that you can get that may be recommended by Dr. Magid or our hygienist. Even though implants can not get cavities they still get wear and tear like natural teeth and need to be monitored during your regular checkups. Implants that are well cared for have the potential to last a lifetime.
As amazing as implants are, they require extensive training, planning, education and skill in order to be able to place them. Dr. Magid has devoted hundreds of hours of continuing education in order to be able to place implants with precision and expertise. Dr. Magid also goes to great length to search out implants and materials that have undergone years of testing to demonstrate that they will offer the highest rate of success. Other costs associated with placing an implant are the actual costs of the implant which are made out of titanium and and all the parts it takes to build a tooth as well as all the machines required to place them. All materials that we use to place an implant are sterilized as well as the implants themselves. Call us if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment.
When a tooth is missing from your mouth it can cause problems in various ways. First and foremost a missing tooth causes the bone where the tooth used to be to recede and shrink which weakens the bone's strength and hardness. Implants actually stimulate the bone to prevent further bone loss after a tooth is lost. In the old days if you were missing a tooth, a bridge would have to be fabricated to replace that tooth which required drilling on healthy teeth in front of and behind the empty space. We do not want to drill healthy teeth if we do not have to, plus having a bridge means that you would not be able to floss in between the teeth because the bridge would be in the way causing more risk of food getting trapped in the gums, causing even more problems. Implants are also made out of titanium which can not get cavities like a regular tooth. Implants restore function, are flossable, predictable, prevent opposing teeth from pushing into the empty space where the lost tooth used to be, and keep adjacent teeth from shifting. They can even stabilize loose dentures that have poor bone underneath so they can clip in and give you confidence that they will stay in. All in all, dental implants are a great choice and the standard of care now to replace missing teeth. Call us if you have an questions or would like book an implant consultation, we are here to help.