PLACEMENT OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

Missing Tooth Replacement in Livingston & Clark

The procedure for the placement of single or multiple implants is fundamentally the same. This procedure may be accomplished in one or two stages. The area is made numb using local anesthesia (novocaine). The gum is opened to expose the underlying bone into which the implant(s) is (are) to be placed. A small opening is created in the bone and the implant is inserted. At times, the gum is sutured closed over the implant. From this point, healing occurs ranging from 2-6 months during which time bone is fusing (integrating) to the implant surface. During this time, temporary bridges or dentures may be used to minimize any cosmetic or chewing inconvenience.

At the conclusion of the healing period, if the gum had originally been closed over the implant (2 Stage Protocol), a small incision is made to create access for the restorative dentist to proceed with making the replacement tooth.

In a 1 Stage Protocol, the implant is exposed in the mouth, at the level of the gum, during the period of integration.

Under certain circumstances, immediate implant placement is performed. In this instance, at the time that the tooth to be replaced is extracted, the implant is placed into the resultant socket. This procedure is commonly accompanied by bone regeneration.

Interestingly, these procedures are associated with very little or no discomfort post-operatively.

Missing teeth can affect more than just your smile!

Contact us today to take the first step in restoring your dental health and schedule your consultation!

Call us: 973-992-9000

Dental Implants Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.

Dental Implants Presentation

Bone Regeneration

A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. Various techniques used to create sufficient bone have been performed successfully for many years and are fundamental to the implant process. These techniques include socket preservation, ridge augmentation, and sinus grafts. All of these procedures are performed in the office setting with the use of local anesthesia (novocaine). These bone regeneration (grafting) procedures may be performed prior to or at the time of implant placement. The amount of bone grafting required will influence the healing time.

Socket Preservation

Sometimes when you lose one or more teeth, you can get an indentation in your gums and jawbone where the tooth used to be. This happens because the jawbone recedes when it no longer is holding a tooth in place.

Not only is this indentation unnatural looking, it also causes the replacement tooth to look too long compared to the adjacent teeth. Another implication is that there may not be enough bone to support an implant.

At the time of tooth removal, Dr. Eskow will determine if bone grafting of the resulting defect is necessary to preserve the natural contour of the gums and jaw and/or to provide adequate bone to support an implant. The materials used for this process will stimulate the surrounding bone to form new bone.

Ridge Augmentation

When an area has been missing a tooth either as a result of previous removal or failure for a tooth to have developed, the bone volume may be inadequate for implant placement. In these instances, the required amount of bone can be created by bone grafting procedures. This is accomplished by borrowing bone from other areas of your mouth or body. Alternatively, a number of bio-compatible materials alone or in combination can aid your body to produce new bone.

Sinus Grafts

Bone volume in the upper jaw can be limited by the presence of the sinus. The sinus is a hole in the bone which does not provide support to an implant. This deficiency can be corrected by placing bio-compatible bone grafting materials into a portion of the sinus, thereby creating the quantity and quality of bone necessary to support an implant.

At times, the limitation of bone created by the presence of the sinus can be overcome by techniques that avoid opening directly into the sinus to place the graft material. This method involves expanding your existing bone, thereby creating enough volume to stabilize the implant(s).

If enough bone exists to initially stabilize the implant at the time of sinus grafting, implant placement and the sinus graft can be performed as a single procedure.