Dental Implants on the Upper West Side of Manhattan
Glassman Dental Care provides dental implants on the UWS of NYC. Call 212-787-4860 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and dental appointments allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you’ve lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile, your ability to eat and speak properly, and your oral health.
Glassman Dental Care’s very own Dr. Benjamin Jacobs is one of the leading dental implant surgeons in NYC. With Dr. Jacobs’ expertise in tooth extractions and the placement and restoration of dental implants, we are able to offer our patients dental implant surgery and the restorations that attach to them all under one roof.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are titanium posts that are used to replace the roots of teeth that have either fallen out or were extracted as a result of tooth decay or accidental trauma. Smoking, gum disease and other systemic diseases, such as diabetes, are also common causes of tooth loss. Either way, dental implants can offer a new tooth or set of teeth that look, function and feel very similar to the natural teeth they thought they had lost forever.
What is the Dental Implant Process?
An implant is a synthetic tooth root that is surgically placed into the jawbone by our dental implant surgeon. The implant post is usually made of medical grade titanium, a metal that is completely biocompatible with human bone. A replacement tooth, usually a ceramic crown, is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Many patients prefer permanent crowns, which are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for dental implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease. Having said this, our skilled dental implant surgeon, Dr. Jacobs, has treated patients who present with all kinds of challenging oral ailments and conditions, making him a top choice for dental implants on the Upper West Side.
Single or Multiple Dental Implants
Dental implants are versatile. If you are missing only one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth crown will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few dental implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages of Dental Implants Over Dentures or Bridges
As a practice that provides dental implants on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, we serve a discerning clientele. For our patients, a restoration that looks, feels, and functions just like natural teeth is a priority. Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone and can be unstable. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, or even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically outlive even you. Plus, dental implants are better than real teeth in one respect -- they can’t get cavities!
What is Post-Treatment Care for Dental Implants?
Consider your implant-supported teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same number of regular checkups each year. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements the longer they will last.
Implants are the modern choice for tooth replacement. No messy adhesives, no embarrassing slipping, no “teeth-in-a-glass” at night. With dental implants, you can laugh, eat, speak and smile just as you would with your natural teeth. Every day, more people from all over the world, as well as our little corner of Manhattan, are discovering the wonders of dental implants, one of the most exciting developments in contemporary dentistry.
Learn More about Teeth Replacement using Dental implants
Dental Implant Frequently Asked Questions
How do dental implants work?
Most people that need false teeth find that bridges and dentures are uncomfortable. Implants are fused to the jawbone and provide stable support for an artificial tooth or teeth. Dentures or bridges can be mounted to implants so they won’t slip or shift, making them more comfortable. Another advantage is that implants make it easier to speak and eat. Dental implants feel more natural than regular dentures and bridges.
For dental implants to be an option, a person will need to have healthy gums and bone support for the implant to be fused to. When you visit our Upper West Side office for a consultation, we’ll assess your oral health to make sure dental implants are a good fit for you. After you get implants, you need to take steps to keep them healthy and visit the dentist on a regular basis e to have long-term success.What are the safest and most popular types of dental implants?
Endosteal implants: These are implanted surgically into the jawbone. This procedure needs two different surgeries; the second surgery is performed to connect the post of the dental implant after the gum tissue from the first surgery has healed. During the second surgery, an artificial tooth or teeth is attached to the posts, one by one. In some procedures which require multiple teeth to be replaced, a bridge or denture may be used to group them.
Subperiosteal implants: This procedure consists of a metal frame that your dentist fits into your jawbone, just below the gum tissue. Once your gums heal, a second procedure is then performed, and the frame is then fitted to the jawbone with posts that are placed into the frame. Implanted teeth are then mounted to the posts.Why choose dental implants?
Over the past decade, we’ve seen dental implants become increasingly popular with our UWS patients. They choose dental implants because they:
- Preserve facial structure
- Help keep you looking younger
- Allow you to eat what you want
- Are a life-long solution
- Improve quality of life
- Preserve healthy teeth
- Preserve facial structure
What are the advantages of dental implants?
- Dental Implants are supported by a post in your jawbone, the same as a root supports a natural tooth.
- Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth or many teeth.
- Dental implants can restore efficiency, so you can enjoy all your favorite foods without any pain.
- Dental implants can prevent the embarrassment of having missing teeth.
- Dental implants can allow you to speak properly and without the embarrassment of dentures falling out of place.
- Dental implants can never get cavities or be sensitive to different temperatures.
- Dental implants eliminate compromise of harming adjacent teeth, like when fitting a bridge between two teeth.
- Dental Implants are supported by a post in your jawbone, the same as a root supports a natural tooth.
What are the disadvantages of dental implants?
We recommend dental implants to most of our patients, but there are still some downsides to this procedure:
- The process can take time and has to be completed in steps.
- At least two surgeries are necessary to complete the process.
- There is a chance that an implant could become loose and need replacement.
- Insurance companies do not cover most of the dental implant process.
- The process can take time and has to be completed in steps.
Do dental implants need particular care?
Dental implants are like natural teeth and you care for them the same way. You will still be required to visit your dentist for professional cleaning 1-2 times a year. During some of these regular check-ups, you may be required to get the bite of your implant-based restorations re-evaluated, and adjustments may need to be made. During this evaluation, your dentist will use x-rays to ensure that the implants are maintaining your bone structure.
How much do implants cost in New York City?
The cost of a single dental implant post in NYC can run between $1200 and $3000, depending on the material used, size of the implant, and the type of implant restoration. Luckily, many surgeons and dentists in Manhattan offer patients discounted pricing if they need more than one implant restoration.
How effective are teeth implants?
Dental implants can last a lifetime with maintenance at the dental office and proper home care. In general, their success rate is over 98%, depending on where they are placed and the integrity of the implant restoration (implant crown). Patients who smoke do not have as high a success rate.
How painful is it to get dental implants?
Most implant surgery can be done with only minimal discomfort using local anesthetic (novocaine). After the numbness wears off, you may experience some discomfort, which can be minimized by taking Ibuprofen. The amount of pain and discomfort is dependent on how involved the procedure was and how many implants were placed. Most patients can return to work shortly after the procedure.
Will insurance cover dental implants?
Your dental insurance may cover part of the implant procedure and restoration. The out-of-pocket cost can be financed through third party finance companies, allowing for low monthly payments. If you have a FSA (Flexible Spending Account) or an HSA (Health Savings Account), you can use that money to pay for your Implant procedure and restoration.
Can dental implants be done in one day?
Dental implants and a provisional restoration can be placed the same day, allowing the patient to leave our Upper West Side office with an esthetic and functional fixed solution. However, in many cases the jawbone is not adequate and may need bone and soft tissue graftering, making the procedure a three step process.
The first step is the extraction of the failing tooth, followed by bone grafting to ensure there is enough bone for the successful placement of the titanium implant.
Step two occurs 3-4 months later. This is when the implant titanium fixture is placed in the reinforced bone. Once the implant has fused with the surrounding bone, the fabrication of the implant restoration can begin.
Step three consists of the fabrication of the final implant restoration, which is a metal-free crown attached to an abutment that screws into the implant fixture. The crown is secured to the abutment, either by cementing or screwing it in.
How long does it take for dental implants to heal?
Once a dental implant is placed in the bone, it will take about 6-16 weeks for the bone to heal tightly (integrate) around the titanium metal fixture.
Can I eat after implant surgery?
Yes, for the first couple of days after implant surgery you can eat a soft diet. After the initial healing, a regular diet can be resumed.
Are dental implants as strong as natural teeth?
Dental implants are made of titanium and are built to last for many years, or even a lifetime. The crowns or dentures attached to the implants may have to be replaced over the years.
Are dental implants safe for senior citizens?
There’s no upper age limit for dental implants. Healthy senior citizens are ideal candidates for dental implant procedures. Elderly patients who are medically stable are suitable candidates for dental implants, which improve oral function and quality of life. Seniors who smoke or have underlying medical conditions can get dental implants, however, their success rate is not as high as those who do not smoke and are healthy.
What's the difference between dentures and implants?
Dentures are held into place by surface area contact, training the lips and the tongue. On the upper arch there can be a suction-like fit. The lower arch is not usually secured as well. Often patients need denture adhesive to help secure dentures.
Dentures are removable and the jaw underneath them will atrophy over a period of time. Implants prevent this atrophy and secure the dentures to make sure they don’t move during chewing or fall out while speaking. Implant-supported dentures can be fixed, which means only a dentist can remove them, or snap-on dentures, which are secured by attachments that fit into the implants. This makes the final restoration secure but can be removed by the patient for cleaning.
Everything You Need to Know about Dental Implants
Dental implants look like healthy natural teeth.
Dental implants are strong and stable, so they look, feel, fit, and function like a natural tooth once the procedure is complete.
Dental implants are designed to last.
Restorations like dental bridges last 5-7 years on average, and even with proper care they may only last up to 10 years. Dental implants are a long-term solution, so they are more cost-effective. Dental implants can last a lifetime and may only need slight adjustments.
With dental implants, you can enjoy life without worrying about your teeth.
With dental implants, you don’t need to be embarrassed about what your teeth look like because implant-based restorations look natural. You can speak normally without worrying about your dentures slipping and you can continue to eat all of your favorite foods.
Dental implants allow you to keep your natural facial shape and smile.
When you have missing teeth, your face can appear prematurely aged due to facial collapse. Implants will help preserve the bone structure needed to maintain the natural shape of your face.
Dental implants can protect your healthy bone.
When you leave empty spaces in your mouth after you have lost a tooth or multiple teeth, it can lead to additional health issues, including deterioration of the jawbone, causing it to lose its strength and firmness. Dental implants prevent bone loss and stimulate the growth of the natural bone.
Keep your teeth in your mouth, not in a cup like dentures.
Dental implants are like natural teeth, they stay in your mouth. Dentures need to be taken out every night and put back in each morning. Even worse, dentures can also slip or fall out of your mouth unexpectedly.
You will get 0 cavities with dental implants.
Even though you will still need regular cleaning and check-ups with dental implants, you will never again get the dreaded news that you have a cavity.
Dental implants protect your real teeth.
Getting a bridge causes the surrounding teeth to be compromised because they are used as supports, or abutments, to hold the bridge in place. A dental implant is fastened to the jawbone, leaving the surrounding just as healthy as they were before the implant was placed.
Dental implants are more predictable than other restoration methods.
Dental implants have a track record of being reliable, with most patients experiencing long-term success.
If you need dental implants on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, call 212-787-4860 to schedule an appointment.