Dental Implants in Branchburg & Berkeley Heights NJ

Tooth Replacement for Missing Teeth

What Are Dental Implants?

A natural tooth consists of a root and a crown. If you compare natural teeth to implant-supported replacement teeth, you’ll see they have the same basic parts. Both have a crown (the visible part used to chew food). Both have a root that holds the tooth securely under the gum and is anchored into the jaw.

The difference is that the dental implant is made of titanium – the same time-tested material used by surgeons for artificial joints. When you lose a tooth, you lose both the root and the crown. To replace the tooth, the surgeon first replaces the root with a small dental implant.

Time is allowed for the bone to heal and grow around the dental implant. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth.  A support post (abutment) is then placed on the implant and a new replacement tooth (crown) is placed on top of the abutment.

In many cases, a temporary replacement tooth can be attached to the implant immediately after it is placed. If all of your teeth are missing, a variety of treatment options are available to support the replacement teeth.

Surgical Advances

Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Dr. Maloney is able to place single stage implants. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them but do require a minimum of six weeks of healing time before artificial teeth are placed. There are even situations where the implant can be placed at the same time as the tooth extraction – further minimizing your number of surgical procedures.

Dental implant placement is a team effort between an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and a restorative dentist.  Dr. Maloney performs the actual implant surgery, initial tooth extractions, and bone grafting if necessary.  The restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.

Do you need Dental Implants? Call us today at Branchburg Office Phone Number 908-218-0300 to make an appointment.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Call Branchburg Office Phone Number 908-218-0300 to make an appointment at our Branchburg office.

The procedure to place a dental implant takes 30 to 60 minutes for one implant and usually 2 to 3 hours for multiple implants. The number of appointments and time required, vary from patient to patient.

Dental implants can be placed using local anesthesia or under IV sedation/general anesthesia. These different options will be discussed at your consultation and you and Dr. Maloney will decide on which option is best for you.

First the surgeon makes a small incision in the gum tissue to reveal the bone, then creates space using special instruments, and finally inserts the titanium implant. The gum tissue is then closed with resorbable sutures. A follow up visit is then scheduled for 1-2 weeks later.

When Are Dental Implants Placed?

Implants are often placed 2-3 months after extraction. At times, an implant may be placed immediately after extraction of a tooth. This may involve a little more risk, but greatly shortens the overall treatment time. When infection or other problems with the bone are present, immediate implant placement may not be an option.

If your tooth has been missing for some time, the adjacent supporting bone is likely to shrink. This occurs because the root of the natural tooth has to be present to stimulate the bone. If you don’t have adequate bone present, you may benefit from having additional bone grafted into the area either before or during the time of implant placement.

Need more information? Would you like to make an appointment? Call our office at Branchburg Office Phone Number 908-218-0300 to speak to a staff member.

Replacing Missing Teeth

Replacement Teeth | Somerville NJ

Your teeth affect your whole body. When they’re healthy, you’re healthier too. A missing tooth can affect your bite, speech and eating choices. As you rely more on your remaining teeth, you increase the chance they will wear out prematurely, or be damaged or lost.

Who would want their appearance and health to deteriorate? That’s the natural consequence of missing teeth – the jaw literally melts away. Generally, people will lose 25% of their supporting jawbone structure within the first year after tooth loss. Dental implants are more easily placed when teeth are first extracted because bone replacement becomes more complex as time passes.

Implants act just like your natural teeth. They safeguard and preserve your bone structure, oral health and appearance. Your dentist and the implant surgeon will provide you with options so that you can make the most informed decision concerning tooth replacement.

Tooth Replacement Options

You can select from a number of different options to replace your missing teeth – from temporary to long-lasting solutions.

A good candidate is anyone missing one or more teeth, or who is unhappy with their dentures. Age is not a factor. However, smoking, diseases such as diabetes, and a history of radiation therapy to the area, have been shown to lower the success rate of implant placement. X-rays of your jaw will be taken to evaluate whether they will accommodate implants. Detailed x-rays may also be required to determine if other tests or procedures are needed to place implants properly.

Why Select Dental Implants Over More Traditional Types Of Restorations?

There are several reasons: A dental bridge can sacrifice the structure of surrounding good teeth to bridge the space of the missing tooth/teeth. In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night may be inconvenient, not to mention dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and embarrassing to some.

Would you like more information? Call our Branchburg office at Branchburg Office Phone Number 908-218-0300 to make an appointment or speak to a staff member.