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For people who are missing one or more of their natural teeth, modern dentistry offers a number of natural-looking and highly effective solutions for replacement. However, none of these solutions comes as close to replicating the look, feel, and stability of natural teeth as dental implants. This is because dental implants replace not only the visible portion of the tooth, but also the supporting structures that lie beneath the gum line. The results are nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth and can last, with proper maintenance, for decades, if not a lifetime.

The Silverstrom Group is unique among dental practices in that we are able to perform and oversee every stage of the dental implant process under a single roof. While many dentists advertise their ability to restore dental implants, most have to refer the actual implantation of the posts that anchor the restorations out to a qualified oral surgeon. Our dentists and staff, however, have extensive training and certification in both the placement and restoration of dental implants. Our practice also features a state-of-the-art dental laboratory, where we custom-craft the crowns, bridges, and dentures that are attached to the implant posts. By managing the entire dental implant process in house, we are able to save you time and money while ensuring results of the highest standard.

If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, or if you are searching for a more secure replacement for your removable partial or full dentures, you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. Please contact our Livingston, New Jersey dental practice today for further information or to schedule a complimentary consultation.

What Are Dental Implants?

The actual dental implant is a sturdy titanium post that is surgically embedded into the jawbone, where it serves as a replacement for the original tooth root. Once the titanium has integrated with the jawbone and the gum tissue has healed around the implant (a process that takes between three and six months), a realistic-looking artificial tooth is attached to the post. Because titanium is not recognized by the human body as a foreign material, the likelihood of implant rejection is extremely small.

Dental implants are far and away sturdier and more stable than removable tooth restorations, allowing patients to regain the freedom that they enjoyed with their original teeth. Implants can be used to support a single crown, a bridge, or even a full set of dentures. Patients emerge from the process with restored chewing and speaking abilities, and can be secure in the knowledge that their restorations will not slip or shift out of place. Indeed, patients are able to chew, speak, laugh, and smile with complete confidence once again.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

On a practical level, the replacement of missing teeth with dental implants offers solutions to a number of potentially serious oral health problems. Over time, if missing teeth are not replaced, the underlying bone and gum tissues, no longer needed for their intended purpose, fall into disuse and begin to degrade. In the meanwhile, the remaining teeth respond by drifting out of their ideal position toward the vacant space. As a result, the bite weakens and the face begins to sag, leading to a sunken appearance.

Because the human body accepts the titanium implant posts as part of its natural anatomy, the bone and gum tissues are essentially forced out of retirement and back into active duty. Any remaining natural teeth are prohibited from shifting out of position, and the mouth returns to full health and functionality.

Of course, the aesthetic benefits of dental implants are equally substantial. Because the replacement teeth are anchored below the gum line, the resulting restorations are more natural looking than those that rest on the gums. Indeed, there is no discernable difference between a smile restored with dental implants and a smile full of healthy natural teeth.

Candidacy for Implant Dentistry

Candidates for dental implants include those who are missing one, several, or all of their natural teeth, as well as those who have teeth so badly damaged that they will require extraction. It is important to note that the placement of dental implants is a serious and highly invasive surgical procedure. Therefore, candidates should be in good general health and not have any conditions that would make it unsafe for them to undergo a surgical procedure.

Suitable candidates should also have sufficient bone density in their jaws to support the titanium implants. Those who lack the sufficient bone density may have to undergo a bone-grafting procedure before they are able to be fitted with dental implants.