The Most Natural Way to Replace Missing Teeth – Dental Implants in Queens
If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth, we invite you to read this page to learn more about the benefits of dental implants. Our Queens practice, serving Bayside, Flushing, Whitestone, and surrounding communities, features a friendly, knowledgeable staff that would be pleased to answer any further questions you might have about implant dentistry or to schedule an initial consultation with one of our two esteemed dentists. Please contact Gentle Dental in Bayside today.
- An Introduction to Implant Dentistry from Our Queens Practice
- The Benefits of Dental Implants
- The Traditional Dental Implant Procedure
- Same-Day "Mini" Implants to Support Overdentures
An Introduction to Implant Dentistry from Our Queens Practice
The human tooth is a remarkable instrument. Strong, durable, and highly efficient, a healthy adult tooth can withstand hundreds of pounds of biting pressure per square inch, hundreds of times each day, without suffering pain or damage. The natural root of the tooth is equally impressive, keeping the tooth attached to the jawbone and stable in the mouth while supplying it with vital nutrients. Unfortunately, although each tooth in the human mouth is a structural marvel, teeth are not indestructible. Disease, trauma, heredity, and other factors can lead to the loss of teeth and the need for dental restoration.
Modern restorative dentistry has made it possible to replace missing teeth in a variety of effective, aesthetically pleasing ways. There is, however, only one method of restoration that replicates the entire structure of a natural tooth, from root to crown. Comprised of an artificial tooth root made of titanium and a meticulously crafted replacement tooth, dental implants come closer than any other dental treatment to restoring the strength, stability, security, and natural beauty of one’s own natural teeth. At Gentle Dental in Bayside, we are pleased to offer superior implant dentistry to Flushing and other Queens residents who are missing one or more of their original teeth.
Under the watchful guidance of Drs. Marianna Knop and Andrew Ilyabayev, patients who receive dental implants at our Bayside practice are assured of results that look and feel entirely natural. Each stage of the dental implant procedure is handled by professionals who are among the most reputable and experienced in implant dentistry. Throughout Queens and the rest of Long Island, Gentle Dental is renowned for achieving consistently exceptional results in even the most complex dental cases. Our fastidious approach to dentistry ensures that each of our patients who turn to us for dental implants receives treatment that is wholly focused on his or her individual needs and goals, with an eye on long-term oral health and satisfaction.
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The Benefits of Dental Implants
There are few prosthetic devices in modern medicine that are as dependable, versatile, and effective as dental implants. Implants can be used to resolve any number of serious dental problems, from the replacement of a single missing tooth to the restoration of an entire set of teeth that were seemingly damaged beyond repair. Although the technology behind implant dentistry has continued to evolve, leading to further refinements in their appearance and durability, the treatment itself is one of the most proven and time-tested in dentistry. Indeed, there are implants that were placed in the 1960s that are still functional to this day, and dental implantation has a higher success rate than any other implant procedure in medicine. Truly, as reliable a technology as dental implants have proven to be, the most important consideration of patients will be the qualifications and experience of the dental professionals to whom they’re entrusting their oral health. This is why Gentle Dental urges anyone who is interested in dental implants in Flushing, Bayside, or other Queens communities to rely on the collective experience and expertise of our renowned dentists.
The aesthetic and oral health benefits of dental implants are considerable, even compared to other fine methods of restoration featured at Gentle Dental. These benefits include:
- Stability and security: Unlike traditional, removable dental appliances, dental implants are fixed securely into the jawbone and will remain in place indefinitely. The titanium used in the artificial tooth roots is not recognized as a foreign substance by the body; therefore, the jawbone will grow around the implant, accepting it as an integrated part of the mouth. The restorations attached to the implant will have a stable base, allowing the patient to speak, chew, and smile with renewed confidence.
- The ability to bite and chew with confidence: Dental implants can withstand far greater biting pressure than removable bridges and dentures. Foods that might be difficult or impossible to eat with other restorations – steak and crunchy fruits and vegetables, for example – can return to the diets of dental implant recipients.
- Teeth that look and feel completely natural: The trusted dental professionals of Gentle Dental supervise every stage of the dental implant process, ensuring results of uncompromising quality. Our dentists craft replacement teeth to the most exacting standards so that the crowns, bridges, and dentures that are attached to our dental implants look, feel, and function like natural teeth.
- Durability and longevity: For anyone in search of a long-term solution to missing teeth, dental implants represent a clearly superior choice. Implants require no special care beyond a healthy oral hygiene regimen and regular dental appointments. If cared for properly, dental implants can last for many years and even decades.
For many patients, the tangible benefits of implant dentistry at our Queens practice are accompanied by more personal benefits: increased self-confidence and poise, a greater willingness to smile, and an overall improved outlook on life.
By any measure, there are relatively few disadvantages to implant dentistry. Treatment with dental implants at our Bayside practice does necessitate a serious personal and financial commitment, in addition to a substantial commitment of time. Because the bone supporting the implants must heal before restorations can be attached, it is not an ideal treatment for anyone seeking immediate results. Furthermore, suitable dental implant candidates must be in generally good health and have sufficient bone to support the implants. Fortunately, many patients without sufficient bone have the option to undergo bone grafting, a procedure in which the jawbone is surgically restored to the density required of dental implants. There is, ultimately, a slight chance that the dental implants will fail; however, this risk is extremely minimal when the implant procedure is handled by competent, experienced dental professionals.
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The Traditional Dental Implant Procedure
Patients who are considering dental implants will first attend a thorough, informative implant dentistry consultation at our office serving Flushing, Bayside, and other communities throughout Queens. It is important to Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev that their patients are fully informed about whatever procedures they are considering so that they can feel comfortable and confident in their decision to proceed with treatment.
The actual implantation of the titanium tooth root is a highly delicate surgical procedure. After administering anesthesia to the patient, the oral surgeon makes an incision in the gum, exposing the jawbone underneath. The titanium root is then placed into the jaw, and the incision is sutured closed. The length of the procedure will depend largely on how many dental implants are being placed and the health of the patient’s mouth. If there is not sufficient bone to support the implants, bone grafting will have to be performed before the implants can be placed.
Once the dental implants have been inserted into the jaw, the bone and other supportive tissue will need time to heal around them. This healing process, known as osseointegration, generally requires between three and six months, but is fundamental to the success of the implants. While the implants are fusing with the jaw, patients are fitted with temporary dental crowns, dental bridges, or dentures, depending on how many teeth are being replaced.
Once the dental implants have fully integrated into the jaw, our dentists will affix beautifully crafted, completely customized replacement teeth to the implant posts. Because these new teeth are rooted beneath the gum line, they represent the most natural looking dental restoration possible. At this point, patients leave our office with vibrant, healthy smiles that are as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing.
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Same-Day "Mini" Implants to Support Overdentures
For those patients who are missing all of their teeth and wish to replace them with something more secure and stable than removable dentures, Gentle Dental is pleased to offer the option of implant-supported overdentures. These resilient, natural looking dentures simply snap onto implant posts so that both the upper and lower dentures are completely stable, restoring the control and chewing ability afforded by healthy natural teeth. Furthermore, in many cases, we are able to secure overdentures with "mini" dental implants, so called because the titanium screws placed into the jaw are a mere 1.8 millimeters in diameter and between 10 and 18 millimeters long.
Unlike traditional dental implants, the placement of mini dental implants at our Queens practice does not require extensive oral surgery. Indeed, the minute size of the implants allows our dentists to insert them directly through the gum and into the jaw. As a result, there is no need for an osseointegration period, and the overdentures can be snapped onto the implants immediately. A complete set of dentures can be secured by a mere four implants, each carefully and gently placed into the lower jaw. Although a period of adjustment is necessary for most patients, these exceptionally durable overdentures fit comfortably, restore beauty to the mouth, and allow wearers to resume normal function immediately.
If you are missing most or all of your natural teeth, whether or not you are currently wearing removable dentures, you may be an ideal candidate for implant-supported overdentures. If you have any questions about implant dentistry or would like to schedule a consultation to discuss dental implants, contact our practice serving Flushing, Bayside, and other Queens communities today.
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Bone Grafting
The success of dental implants is directly proportional to the amount of bone present to support the implants. Without sufficient bone, the implants would lack the strong, solid foundation they need to remain firmly in place. It is ultimately this stability that distinguishes dental implants from other methods of restoration.
Fortunately, bone grafting enables patients who might otherwise be precluded from receiving dental implants to become suitable candidates for the treatment. Bone grafting can be used to increase the width or height of bone, as well as to regenerate new bone in areas where, due to injury, tooth loss, disease, or genetics, there is a void in the bone. It can even be used as a preventive measure, reinforcing the bone following the extraction of a tooth. This is a particularly useful technique if the tooth extraction is being performed in preparation for dental implants.
Bone Grafting Techniques
There are several effective grafting techniques, the most common of which is called guided bone regeneration. Through this technique, donor bone is grafted onto the treatment site and covered by a biologically compatible membrane. The donor bone not only replaces missing bone, but also promotes the natural growth of new bone. The membrane that covers the treatment area allows this new bone growth to occur without interference from surrounding oral tissues, such as gum tissue. The bone to be grafted may be harvested from elsewhere on the implant recipient’s body, or may derive from an animal, synthetic, or posthumous human source. The rate of success for implant dentistry is nearly as high for patients who undergo bone grafting as for those who have sufficient natural bone.
Generally, bone grafting will add about four to six months to the dental implant procedure; however, this investment of time is often what ensures the success of implantation.
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Learn More about Dental Implants Available to Our Flushing, Bayside, and Other Queens-Area Patients
At Gentle Dental, our practice is founded on the ideal that dental care should be focused entirely on the comfort, safety, and satisfaction of the patient. Our commitment to meeting and exceeding the needs of our patients in a genial, hospitable atmosphere has allowed us to build an extensive history of successful results. We would welcome the opportunity to help you fulfill your dental goals as we have helped thousands of other patients throughout New York and beyond.
Whether you are missing one, some, or all of your natural teeth, we invite you to contact Gentle Dental today to learn more about the benefits and wondrous possibilities of dental implants and implant dentistry. Our Queens practice welcomes patients from Bayside, Flushing, Whitestone, Fresh Meadows, College Point, and communities throughout Long Island, Manhattan, and beyond.
To learn more about dental implants and the benefits of implant dentistry, Bayside, Flushing, and other Queens residents may fill out and submit the form below.
Gentle Dental
35-30 Francis Lewis Blvd.
Bayside, NY 11358
Ph. 718.461.0100
