Please call 718-383-0024
You may be surprised to learn that about 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Tooth decay, trauma, gum disease, other medical conditions such as cancer, and simple everyday wear can all lead to tooth loss.
You have choices when it comes to replacing lost teeth, but the one that is considered the gold standard by dentists is the use of a dental implant. At Brooklyn City Dental our dentists and staff want you to be able to enjoy all the benefits that your natural teeth provide, and we believe dental implants provide them.
Before our dentists recommend an implant, we schedule a consultation. If you’re missing one or more teeth, or you need to have a tooth pulled due to disease or decay, an implant may be your best option. You need to be in good health overall, have healthy gums, and a strong jawbone to accommodate an implant.
Your dentist at Brooklyn City Dental describes your options and makes a recommendation for treatment based on a thorough oral exam and your medical history. If implants are the best option, your dentist moves to the next step.
Before you get an implant, your dental team takes impressions of your mouth. This is so that your dentist can choose the best size, shape, and color for your prosthetic tooth.
When it’s time for your implant appointment, your dentist begins by placing a titanium rod in your gum. This rod acts as an artificial root for your replacement tooth. The rod is secured, or implanted, permanently into your jawbone.
Each time you bite down, your natural tooth root stimulates your jawbone, increasing blood flow and keeping your bones healthy. Your dental implant serves the same purpose, encouraging healthy tissue growth and providing a stable base for your crown.
During the procedure, our team administers anesthesia so that you’re comfortable as we make a small incision in your gum so that the titanium rod reaches your jawbone.
Once the post is inserted in the socket of your missing tooth, your dentist closes the incision. After that, you wait for your mouth and jawbone to heal. Your gum and bone grow around the titanium rod, so that it remains secure in your jaw. This part of the process usually takes about 6-12 weeks.
Once your jaw has healed and your artificial tooth root is secure, we schedule an appointment for abutment and crown fitting. The abutment is a small connector that attaches the titanium rod to the crown, or the part of the tooth you can see.
It’s at this point that the impressions our staff took of your mouth at the first appointment come into play. Your crown is custom-made based on those impressions, so that it fits into your mouth perfectly, matching your natural teeth and your bite.
Once the abutment is attached, your dentist places your customized crown, and your implant is complete. You treat it exactly as you do your other teeth and care for it by brushing twice a day and flossing daily.
Implants allow you to talk and chew normally and help your mouth function properly. Implants maintain your oral health, and perfect your smile. If you’d like to learn more about dental implants and the procedure for placing them, schedule an appointment today at Brooklyn City Dental.
