Dental Implants — Marlton, NJ
Get a Smile That’s Worth a Thousand Words
Dental implants are the preferred way to replace your missing teeth, and it’s easy to see why that is. Some tooth replacement solutions only give you back the visible portion of your teeth — but the supportive root structures of your teeth are necessary to maintain optimal oral health. That’s why dental implants in Marlton, NJ are considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. Whether you’ve lost one tooth or a full row of teeth, contact South Jersey Center for Dental Medicine to schedule your consultation with our experienced implant dentist Dr. Sandberg today.
Why Choose South Jersey Center for Dental Medicine for Dental Implants?
- Partnered with Dr. Sandberg, a Trusted Local Implant Specialist
- High-Quality and Natural-Looking Restorations
- Dentist with 30 Years of Experience
What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth that is surgically inserted into the jawbone. Instead of sitting on top of the gums, it’s designed to replace the entire missing tooth structure from the root up to the visible chewing surface. Because dental implants are made of biocompatible titanium, they’re able to bond with the surrounding bone tissue over time. Once fully healed, they can support a personalized restoration like a crown, bridge, or denture. You’ll end up with teeth that look and feel completely natural!
The 4-Step Dental Implants Process
Dental implants require a unique, multi-step process, including a surgical procedure. The entire process can take several months, but the results are well worth the wait! Dental implants replace the roots of the missing teeth, allowing patients to experience additional benefits than what you can get with traditional dentures and dental bridges. While every treatment is unique, everyone can expect these four main steps.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
The first step in the dental implant process is the initial consultation. During this time, we will examine your smile to see if you are a good candidate for this tooth replacement option. We will also discuss the goals you have for your smile. Sometimes, patients require preliminary procedures before they are able to move forward in the process of getting dental implants. This includes bone grafting, gum disease treatment, and tooth extractions. Once your jawbone and gums are healthy enough, we can move forward with your treatment.
Dental Implant Surgery
At South Jersey Center for Dental Medicine, we partner with local specialists to complete your dental implant placement procedure. This way, we can ensure that you are getting the best quality of care possible. The procedure will begin with numbing the area with a local anesthetic. A small incision is made into the gums to access your jawbone. The implants are placed at precise angles and locations. Then, the gums are closed. Finally, a protective cap is placed over the post. This cover has two purposes — it keeps the treatment site free from food, bacteria, and other debris as the dental implant fuses with the supportive tissues, while also maintaining the shape of the gum tissue so the restoration can be attached.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment
Once the implant post is in place, patients will need to wait 3-4 months for us to attach their permanent restoration. During this time, the implant posts fuse with the gum and jawbone tissue in the process known as osseointegration. Then, you will need another minor procedure where the abutments are placed onto the implant posts. Impressions are taken so your restoration can be customized just for you.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration
The last step is to return to the dental office to have your restoration placed. This is your crown, bridge, or denture depending on the number of teeth you are replacing. We will examine your smile to make sure everything looks and feels as it should. Then, you will be sent on your way to reap the benefits of your complete smile!
Benefits of Dental Implants
Using your neighboring teeth to anchor tooth replacements like fixed bridges and removable dentures can lead to future problems. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about those issues with dental implants in Marlton. Three major advantages of implant dentistry are:
- Dental implants are free-standing and don’t involve altering or stressing adjacent teeth.
- Dental implants can’t get cavities since they are composed entirely of titanium.
- They preserve the jawbone around the dental implant. Bone often shrinks (resorbs) when the damaged tooth is removed but implants preserve the bone.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
Once the dental implant is placed and has fused with the jawbone, you will return to our dental office where we’ll attach the prosthetic tooth or teeth. One or more dental implant posts can be used to support any number of replacement teeth, from a single dental crown to a full arch denture. Depending on the extent of the tooth loss, our implant dentist may recommend a number of tooth replacement solutions including:
- Single tooth: To replace a single tooth, we will place a dental implant post and attach a dental crown.
- Multiple teeth: Numerous consecutive and nonconsecutive teeth can be replaced by attaching a permanent bridge or partial denture to dental implant posts.
- Full arch: A full denture can be secured with two to four to six implant posts.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
If you compare the cost of dental implants with traditional dentures or bridges, you’ll find that the dental implants tend to be higher, but we won’t be able to give you a specific number for treatment until Dr. Vidya has had the chance to look at your smile and put together a plan for replacing your missing teeth. Also, because part of the process occurs outside our office, we may not be able to quote the total amount you’ll owe for your implants. However, our team can walk you through the process and try to answer your financial questions during your consultation.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Handled in a specialist’s office, the placement surgery can cost various amounts due to the number of implants you’re receiving, whether you have sedation, as well as other factors. The specialist’s office can give you a more accurate estimate for your surgery. Prior to this procedure, you may require gum disease treatment or tooth extraction to prepare your mouth for implants. Overall, these procedures will add to the total you owe, and we can break down these costs for you during your consultation.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
Remember, implants consist of three basic parts: the post, the abutment or connector, and the restoration. Like most products, dental implant parts come in various brands that can offer unique features. Depending on your needs, the chosen type will best suit your smile, and that choice may influence the cost.
How Dental Implants Can Save You Money
Although dental implants do come with a higher price tag upfront, they sometimes prove to be the least expensive option overall. If you get traditional tooth replacements, you’ll have to pay every 5 years or so to substitute a new one. Those costs add up over time! In contrast, dental implants can last longer than 25 years without needing replacement. In the long term, implants could lead to significant savings or be equal to traditional bridges or dentures. In this case, why not get the greatest bang for your buck?
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
There may be some exceptions, but generally, dental insurance policies do not apply to dental implants. However, parts of the treatment may be covered. For instance, if you require preliminary work, like gum disease treatment, this procedure may be partially paid for by your insurance. The restoration is also most likely to be included in your benefits, reducing your out-of-pocket cost.
Making Dental Implants Affordable
Regardless of your insurance status, our team offers ways to keep your costs reasonable. If you don’t have dental insurance, you can join our oral health savings plan, which includes not only free preventive care but also a 10 percent discount on all other dental services. We also can break up the total amount you’ll pay into smaller monthly installments through financing with CareCredit or Wells Fargo Healthcare Advantage.
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement for a reason; they’ll quickly restore your smile with lifelike results! Still, the fact remains that these metal posts need daily care to work well. Anything less will cause them to fail early, forcing you to spend time and money to get costly replacements. The good news is that we’ll help you with dental implant care at our Marlton office. To learn relevant tips and tricks, please keep reading or call us soon.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Dental implants may not decay like enamel, but they do depend on a healthy mouth to function. Placing them near weak teeth or gums tends to make them unstable. In fact, a severe case of gum disease could loosen nearby implant posts. This issue would increase the risk of your new tooth failing or falling out.
Luckily, good oral hygiene tends to prevent such outcomes. Twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing make oral issues less likely and reduce the threats to your implants. That way, the habits help your new teeth last longer and stay strong effectively.
Eat a Healthy Diet
While dental implants should let you eat as usual, junk food is still a danger to them. Sugary and sticky meals can wedge debris between your implant posts. As that happens, the pieces may result in nearby tooth decay or gum disease – conditions that often cause implant failure.
On the other hand, a mouth-healthy diet lets your dental implants thrive. Foods with calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C are especially notable. When you get their nutrients, you strengthen your jaw’s bone tissue and lessen your odds of getting gum disease.
Break Bad Habits
Thanks to their sturdy materials, dental implants can endure a lot of forces and irritants. However, they’ll still fail or break if you practice really bad oral habits. Such actions put your restored smile at risk.
To be honest, various oral habits can cause implant failure. Just look at tobacco use – it delays your recovery from surgery and keeps the posts from working. Similarly, chewing fingernails, ice cubes, and pencils may break your implants’ porcelain surfaces.
Protect Your Dental Implants
While durable, dental implants will break when placed under intense pressure. You’ll want to act and protect them from injuries and incidents.
Perhaps the best way to defend your implant posts is using a mouthguard. With a special one for sports, you’d shield your teeth (natural or not) from accidents and collisions. Meanwhile, a nightguard would stop you from grinding your upper and lower arches at night. An ideal approach would be to get both appliances, as they’d work together to keep your implants safe.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
However much you may try, you can’t just care for dental implants on your own. This effort would regularly miss or overlook obstacles to your treatment’s success. For that reason, you should attend dental checkups and cleanings. These visits let us monitor your implants and assess their stability.
To be clear, dental checkups stand as top-tier preventive oral care. They prevent threats to your implants by diagnosing and treating your smile. With help from a trained and resourceful dental team, that effect is only natural. So, please get a checkup at least every six months or so.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Can I Tell If My Dental Implant Is Failing?
Dental implant failures are exceptionally rare. However, they can still happen on occasion. Some common signs that could indicate a dental implant failure include severe pain around the implant, inflamed or swollen gums, or a feeling that your dental implant is loose. If you notice any of these signs, there still might be time to save it. Give us a call right away so we can examine your implant and take action.
Am I Too Young to Get Dental Implants?
Most dental professionals will not place dental implants in patients who are younger than 18. This is because if dental implants are placed before the jaw is finished growing, it could interfere with further bone development and result in complications. Most people’s jaws aren’t fully developed until young adulthood. During your consultation, we will examine your smile and discuss whether or not dental implants are the right solution for you at this time.
How Long Does Dental Implant Surgery Take?
This depends on how many dental implants you are having placed. On average, placing a dental implant takes between one and two hours. This includes the time that is needed to administer anesthesia and dress you for a sterile surgical atmosphere. During your consultation, we can give you a more accurate estimate so you can plan for the day accordingly.
Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?
Your customized replacement teeth are crafted based on impressions that your dentist takes of your mouth. Once your restorations are placed, no one should be able to differentiate them from your natural teeth. Because dental implants are placed in the jaw like tooth roots, you don’t need to hold your jaw in a strange position to keep them in place like you might have to with poorly fitting dentures.
How Soon After a Tooth Extraction Can I Get Dental Implants?
In some cases, if the jawbone is strong enough, dental implants can be placed right away. However, dentists usually recommend waiting three to six months for the mouth to heal. Waiting longer than this can cause the jawbone to shrink due to a lack of stimulation from the tooth roots. The answer to this question will ultimately depend on the specifics of your case. We will discuss this with you during your consultation.