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Logo - Making You Smile Cosmetic Dentist Studio

The single implant is the most common dental implant treatment to replace one tooth. There are few instances when you will need a single implant. The loss of one isolated tooth is the most common.

This typically happens when:

Your dentist will, most probably, give you two options: a single dental implant or a permanent fixed bridge. Unless you are missing additional teeth, these are the two options available to you.

Let's evaluate: first off, how long does each option last?

A single dental implant's has a life span of several decades.  Scientific studies have found that 89.5% of single implant will still function after 20 years. Not every implant will last that long, however.  We can safely say that 85% of all single implants will be functioning in 30 years after placement. That is a very high number for a replacement of a body part.

Fixed bridges don't last that long. 87% of all fixed bridges will remain functional after 10 years. That number drops to 69% after 15 years.

Compare that to 80% of cemented hip replacement functioning in 20 years and 80 to 85% of knee replacement functioning in 20 years.

From a time frame perspective the single dental implant beats all other dental and medical replacement procedures by a long shot.

Check out our other blogs on single implants for additional comparative considerations.

The best way to iron out the details and gain a complete understanding is to have a one-on-one discussion with your dentist. Please contact us for a consultation and we will provide you with the details for an informed decision based on you actual condition.

At Making You Smile we are committed to providing you transparent, complete and comprehensive options and costs before starting any treatment. Call us at 646 484 0197 for a consultation.

 

We can make your experience at our office as easy as falling asleep.  We can also guarantee that you will not remember anything. Sedation dentistry is your best option for pain-free dental work. We can get a lot of your dental work done, and reduce the number of future visits while you snooze.

We offer sedation dentistry in our office delivered by a highly-trained and state-licensed full-time anesthesiologist. Imagine a seamless experience of receiving the care you need without the hassle or worry.

Is sedation dentistry for you?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, sedation dentistry is for you:

Sedation dentistry can be used for any treatment and will help you avoid the fear and the anxiety.

We recommend sedation dentistry to all of our patients. In particular, sedation dentistry is beneficial for:

Sedation dentistry uses of medication to help you relax and not remember your dental appointment. To learn how it works: http://www.advancedsedation.com/patient-information/sedation-for-dentistry-faqs/adult-patients/

Find out more about our anesthesiologist, Dr. Mendia:  http://www.advancedsedation.com/meet-the-doctors-3/

At Making You Smile NYC, we provide you with services that will make your dental experience the least stressful and most beneficial to you and your oral health.

When considering the cost of a dental implant it is important to understand the different elements of a single implant.

The replacement of a missing tooth with an implant consists of three items:

  1. The implant itself: This the equivalent of the root of the tooth which goes inside your gums. This is the part that you don't see and that supports the tooth replacement. In the transparent model below you can see an implant and the tooth roots.
  2.    The tooth replacement: This is the tooth part that you see when you smile.
  3. The connecting part: This is what makes the tooth replacement connect to the implant. In the picture below it is the silver part protruding from the gum.The final assembly will look like this: 

Pricing out the parts:

When considering the cost of a dental implant, all the items above need to be considered.  When you are quoted a price for a dental implant, ask if the connecting part and the tooth are included.

Make sure that the connecting part is custom made and not generic.  Generic connecting parts contribute to cement entrapment and are the leading cause of implant failure.

Finally, consider the longevity of the dental implant compared to the fixed bridge option. See our other blogs on single implants for a complete understanding of how long a dental implant lasts what the costs are for future replacements.

From a financial perspective, the upfront cost of an implant is about 20 to 40 per cent more than a permanent bridge. However, once you factor the need to replace the fixed bridge over the years, then the single implant becomes the more cost-efficient option. The break-even point is about 7 years when the implant becomes the more cost effective choice as you can see in the below diagram.

Dental insurance coverage depends to a great extent on the rules and exceptions set in the contract between the insurance company and your employer. A comparative financial option is easily obtained once the insurance information is provided.

A one-on-one discussion with your dentist is the best was to iron out the details and gain a complete understanding.  Please contact us for a consultation. We will provide you with the details for an informed decision based on you actual condition.

At Making You Smile we are committed to providing you with transparent, complete and comprehensive options. We will also happily go over any cost estimates before starting any treatment. Call us at 646 484 0197 for a consultation.

 

Is getting a simple implant the right choice for you?

The most common dental implant treatment is the single implant to replace one tooth.

There are few reasons for needing a single implant. The most common is the loss of an isolated tooth. This usually happens following a cavity that is irreparable, a root canal that went badly or the fracture of a tooth that cannot be fixed.

Most probably the options given to you are a single dental implant or a permanent fixed bridge. Unless you are missing additional teeth, the decision you are faced with is to choose between those two options.

Let's evaluate which option is the more conservative?

Conservative dentistry has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with preserving the tooth structure. Adult teeth are not naturally replaceable. Once the tooth calcifies when we are young, a new tooth structure cannot be formed.  Thus the most valuable substance in dentistry is the tooth structure.

The first treatment option should always been to attempt to save a tooth. Once saving the tooth is no longer an option,  because the tooth needs to be removed or has already been removed, it is crucial to think of conservative dentistry when replacing the tooth.

Let's take a look at the options:

Fixed Bridge

The fixed bridge option requires the cutting of two teeth (Figure 1) on each side of the missing tooth to support the bridge. (Figure 2)

Figure 1: the cut teeth

Figure 2: the fixed bridge

Figure 3: bridge in place over cut teeth

 

This procedure compromises the long term survival of the two additional teeth. An uncut untouched tooth will survive much longer in your mouth without needing treatment compared to a tooth that has been cut.

In conclusion: when tooth structure preservation is taken into account, a single implant that does not require cutting adjacent teeth is 100% the conservative option. (Figure 2)

Single Implant

From a conservative perspective, a single implant is by far the best option as it does not require the cutting of additional teeth. Teeth do not grow once they are cut. Therefore the most conversation option is to avoid cutting the teeth. (Figure 4 & 5)

Figure 4: the implant between untouched teeth

Figure 5: the tooth over the implant

For additional comparative considerations, check out our other blogs on single implants.

A one on one discussion with your dentist is the best was to iron out the details and gain a complete understanding.  Please contact us for a consultation and we will provide you with the details for an informed decision based on you actual condition.

At Making You Smile we are committed to providing you transparent, complete and comprehensive options and costs before starting any treatment. Call us at 646 484 0197 for a consultation.

 

 

 

What steps are needed to have a single tooth implanted?

If you did not have the tooth removed yet, the following are the usual steps:

 

Appointment 1: Diagnosis and treatment option presentation

Appointment time 1 hour; actual work time 10 minutes

At this appointment, we evaluate your particular tooth that needs to be replaced, take x-rays, and make a plan with you. We discuss the options, time frame, and expectations. We answer your questions and concerns, and present you with the cost and financing options.

 

Appointment 2: Tooth Extraction and bone graft placement:

Appointment time 1 hour; actual work time 30 minutes, + two 10 minutes follow ups

We remove the tooth very gently, ensuring minimal injury to the gums and bone. The technical name for this is  an atraumatic extraction for implants. This usually takes a little more time compared to the old method of grabbing the tooth and pulling on it. The tooth is often cut in pieces to avoid disturbing the precious bone and gums around the tooth.

The bone graft is placed in the option spot to ensure the body healths with maximum volume of bone and gums to prepare for the implant placement.

Healing time: 4-6 months

 

Appointment 3: Implant Placement:

Appointment time 1 hour; actual work time 30 minutes, + one 10 minutes follow ups

We place your implants and verify with x-rays that everything is optimal.

Healing time: 6-8weeks

 

Appointment 4: Impressions

Appointment time 40 minutes; actual work time 30 minutes.

We take a mould of the position of the implant in your mouth so we can have the laboratory fabricate the custom abutment and tooth.

Laboratory time: 3 weeks

 

Appointment 5: Custom abutment and tooth delivery:

Appointment time 40 minutes; actual work time 30 minutes.

All in all: Five appointments and actual work time of about 2 hours.

Variations

Every mouth is different so it's possible to have some variation in the time lengths for this procedure. The length of time can depend on whether the tooth was already remove, and the available volume of remaining bone and gums. Also it is sometimes possible to combine steps when the clinical conditions permit thus speeding up the process further, for example, a same day implant or immediate implant.

 

A one-on-one discussion with your dentist is the best was to iron out the details and gain a complete understanding.  Please contact us for a consultation and we will provide you with the details for an informed decision based on you actual condition.

At Making You Smile, we are committed to providing you with  transparent, complete and comprehensive options and time frames before starting any treatment. Call us at 646 484 0197 for a consultation.

 

 

How does does a single tooth implant procedure take?

It depends on few variables. The most common variable is when you start counting; do you still have the tooth that is going to be replaced or the tooth is already gone?

Let’s consider few scenarios:

  1. If your tooth was extracted more than 2 months ago:

This scenario is the fastest way to get a tooth on an implant. It is possible to place the implant and make the crown in 8-9 weeks. However this assumes that you have enough bone and good quality gums to get going immediately.  In this scenario, the implant can be placed and about 6 weeks later and impression could be made and the crown delivered to you about 2-3 weeks later. That’s it, 8-9 weeks start to finish.

What if I need bone or gum grafting? In this case, healing time and sequencing may add anywhere from one month to several months until the final crown. It depends on how much, where, and what needs to be rebuilt.

  1. If you still have the tooth:

If the tooth that needs to be replaced is still in your mouth then the time frame is longer.  It is necessary to remove the tooth and place bone graft to preserve and prepare the gums and bone to receive an implant which will last decades. Usually this adds 4-6 months of healing time. After that healing time, you pick up the time frame as discussed above.  Total treatment time is 6-8 months.

Note: Sometimes it is possible to extract the tooth and place the bone graft and implant at the same time. This would save few months of healing. However, if we want to aim for the most predictable and best outcomes for the long term, the optimal conditions for this option are rarely present (about 10% of the cases).

Next Steps:

A one-on-one discussion with your dentist is the best way to iron out the details and gain a complete understanding.  Please contact us for a consultation and we will provide you with the details for an informed decision based on you actual condition.

At Making You Smile we are committed to providing you with transparent, complete and comprehensive options and time frames before starting any treatment. Call us at 646 484 0197 for a consultation.

 

Does it hurt to have a single tooth implanted?

The short answer is, of course, NO.

The long answer is also NO.

It may hurt to think that you are going to lose a tooth, and there is no doubt that the experience of losing a tooth can be disheartening. That being said, the physical pain from the procedure is completely bearable and manageable.

Most patients are able to go to work and function normally the day after the procedure, albeit with some limitations. These limitations include important functions such as giving a presentation in front of a large group, meeting new clients, or being in front of your CEO. The night of, most patients report mild discomfort with very little pain. We have had many patients go straight to work the afternoon after their procedure and perform their desk job or email work without any problems.

We encourage our patients to take it easy for the rest of the day, eat ice cream, and do work from home, if desired.  They usually don’t listen to us, and we find out later that they went shopping, they drove somewhere for 4 hours to meet someone, or they engaged in planned activities with friends and family.

How is this possible?

The reason they can do that is because we start suppressing any pain before the procedure is done. Pain killers and antibiotics are given prior to the procedure. Good numbing is done during the procedure and post-operative pain control is carefully prescribed and managed.  This ensures that the treatment, at all stages, fits within the confines of daily life with minimal interruption. You will surely notice that something was done in your mouth but the pain will remain minimal.

A one-on-one discussion with your dentist is the best way to iron out the details and gain a complete understanding.  Please contact us for a consultation and we ensure you get the information and details needed to make an informed decision based on your specific condition.

At Making You Smile we are committed to providing you a pain-free experience. Call us at 646 484 0197 for a consultation.

 

If you've spent much time online or reading the news lately, you've surely seen the news about flossing.
A refresher: The Associated Press released a piece about the efficacy of flossing.
Their conclusion? 
"Medical benefit of dental floss unproven"
Many are rejoicing and tossing their floss to the curb but I'm here to inform you that it's not that simple. There are strings attached.
The article in the Associated Press is factual. The title is correct. However, there have been a multitude of interpretations that are very misleading.
The bottom line
The article concluded that there have not been any rigorous controlled independent long term studies which showed the benefit of flossing.
Here's what we do know: 

The benefits of flossing:

1. By and large, there are no negative effects to flossing.
2. Not flossing, in turn,  causes gum inflammation that leads to bleeding gums.  Try not flossing for a week and start again and you will see bleeding for few days until the inflammation is gone.
3. In my decades of experience, I can say with certainty that we see less dental disease in people who floss.  Everyone at Making You Smile NYC flosses and recommends flossing to their patients and family members.
The downside:
1. Let us know when researchers find one.
 Floss

A final thought:

A tooth has 5 sides: the cheek side, tongue side and chewing side are all cleaned by the toothbrush.
What about the other two sides?
The two other sides are the ones facing other teeth and sadly, the brush can't reach those. Floss on the other hand does a fine job of getting to those hard-to-reach places. The toothbrush and floss work together to ensure all 5 sides get the attention they need.
Therefore if you decide not to floss, you should probably consider not brushing either, and we'll be seeing a lot more of you at Making You Smile NYC.
At Making You Smile NYC, we are committed to preventive care.  We strongly believe that flossing will reduce the likelihood of dental disease, and so do the American Dental Association and a long list of professional dental organizations.
For those of us in the dental community, treating disease is more profitable than having patients with healthy teeth. That being said, it is our ethical duty to make the best recommendations for the oral and overall health of our patients and the lot of us want you to floss.
The decision is yours: to floss or not to floss, that is the question.
Your Team at Making You Smile NYC

Straightening teeth is often considered a cosmetic treatment, but it can also improve your health! Here are 5 reasons why straightening your teeth could have a dramatic effect on your oral health:

1: Receding gums

Receding gums may be due to teeth positioned outside the natural contour of the jaw. By properly aligning the teeth, the health of the gums spontaneously improves.  In this before and after picture, you can see how the receding gums improved after the Invisalign treatment aligned the teeth properly.

2: Wear and fracture

The upper and lower teeth work as a box and a lid, with the upper teeth being the lid.  If the opposite happens the box does not close properly and shortening of the teeth by wear, and or chipping occurs.  Aligning the teeth properly reduces the excessive friction and protects the teeth from further damage.

3: Open bite and wear of the back teeth

Nature designed the front teeth to bite into food and the back teeth to chew on the food.  This distribution of the roles also allows the front teeth to protect the back teeth from excessive wear as the back teeth are subject to much more force due to their proximity to our jaw joint. When the front teeth don’t come together properly, not only is the biting capacity reduced, but their protective function against the wear of the back teeth is eliminated.

4: Daily flossing and brushing

Crowded teeth prevent proper home care and increase the chance of plaque (bacteria) and calculus (stone formations) accumulations around the teeth leading to loss of gums and bone due to the crowding. This is very well documented in the scientific literature that crowding increases the bone loss around teeth.

5: Spaces

Spaces between teeth can lead to food accumulation causing gum disease. By closing the gaps between teeth, the health of the gums is improved.  However due to the loss of the bones and gums that occurred in the past, some missing gums remain, as the picture illustrates. Early treatment prevents this outcome.

In previous blogs, we discussed how bacteria in our mouths convert the carbohydrates we ingest into acids while corrode the teeth and cause cavities.

Bacteria + Carbohydrate from diet and snacking = acids which melt the teeth causing cavities

What if there was a way to strengthen the teeth against the melting effect of the acid-producing bacteria?  Enter Fluoride.

Topical application of fluoride modifies the surface crystalline structure of our teeth and thus makes the teeth surfaces stronger and resistant to the attack of the acids.

If your Caries Risk Assessment is moderate or high, then fluoride options are recommended.

We have three options to use fluoride:

  1. The most effective way is immediately after a professional dental cleaning and polishing.  The hygienist cleans all deposits on your teeth and polishes the plaque and the thin biofilm that forms within the hour after polishing the teeth. This is the best opportunity to apply fluoride on the cleaned tooth surface.  Studies have shown that the best way is to use fluoride varnish, and not fluoride foam.  Fluoride varnish is a slightly gummy paste applied to the teeth which should be left undisturbed for an hour to obtain the full effect. It is applied by the hygienist after a professional cleaning depending on your caries risk assessment.
  2. The second source of fluoride is in tooth paste. Depending on your caries risk, either an over-the-counter fluoride toothpaste or a prescription toothpaste is indicated. In either case everyone should do the following to obtain maximum benefit from any fluoride toothpaste.
  1. The third option is to use a mouthwash with fluoride, this is an option to consider if your caries risk assessment recommends it.

At Making You Smile NYC, everyone gets a Caries Risk Assessment to evaluate the risk of future cavities. Book your appointment today.

 

 

 

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