1: When was the last time you made a tooth on an implant?
Implant dentistry involves surgically placing an implant into your jaw to replace the missing root of your tooth and making a tooth on the implant. Some dentists only know how to place an implant into your jaw but do not know how to make a tooth on the implant. This might mean that they won’t know where to correctly place the implant. Unfortunately if your implant is placed incorrectly in your jawbone, the tooth over the implant will neither look nor function correctly.
2: What kind of connection (abutment) are you making on my implant?
There are two kinds of connecting elements between the implant and the tooth, the first is a custom abutment, and the second is a generic, off-the-shelf abutment. Always demand that a custom abutment be made.
Everyone’s gums are shaped differently and so most of the time, a generic abutment wont fit properly. This leaves space for cement to settle where it shouldn’t and often it’s too deep in the gum to remove. This is the leading cause of implant failure.
Custom abutments are made to measure, which makes removing and cleaning any excess cement easy and predictable. If someone quotes a cheap price, it is likely that they are using a generic and less expensive abutment.
3: How long has the implant model you are going to give me been in use?
In implant dentistry, the newest treatment option is not necessary the best. Would you take blood pressure medication that just came on the market or one that has been in use and proven to work for decades?
With dental implants, a good outcome has to be proven over a long period of time, as the implant must function in your mouth for decades.
Ask that the company, brand and particular implant model have been in clinical use at least 15 years. Why so long? Companies will discontinue implants if they are proven to not work according to recognized standards. That being said, it takes many years for all the flaws of a particular model to be recognized. If a brand or implant model has been in use over 15 years, it is likely a safe option.
4: How long has the implant manufacturing company been in business?
We expect the implant to be functional for decades. Over this period of time, the tooth/abutment on the implant may need to be changed. Is the manufacturing company going to be around to get the parts needed for repairs?
Are you going to be stuck with an implant that no one knows how to service and that has discontinued parts? It is best to use an implant made by a company that has been in business for at least 20 years.
Fortunately, the top 5 dental implant companies have been around for at least that long. If someone quotes a cheap price it is likely that they are using an implant from a newer company. It is also possible that they are using a “clone” implant, made to look similar to one of the top implant brands but without the years of research to support its longevity.
5: How many years did you study dental implants in a formal setting?
There is no official American Dental Association specialty in implant dentistry. All licensed dentists are allowed to place and restore implants.
The most efficient and comprehensive way to study implant dentistry is within the confines of a dental school or hospital based “Implant Program”. Training implant dentists spend at least two years performing implant procedures under the direct supervision of experienced implant dentists. The same supervision concept is used when student dentists are taught how to make fillings, caps, etc.
Fortunately, this learning format has been used for many years to train general dentists and specialists alike in implant dentistry. A note of caution, however, some specialist dentists claim an expertise in implant dentistry without having had any formal training in the field.
Dental implants are the long-term replacement of missing teeth without the destruction of the adjacent natural teeth.
Why choose Dental Implants?
They restore your smile and chewing capacity to that of your natural teeth.
Dental implants are a replacement of the root: the part of the natural tooth that lies beneath the gums. They are similar to the natural root in that the implant is anchored directly into our jaw bone. This provides the foundation to attach a natural-looking ceramic replacement of your tooth.
Dental implants will allow you to restore your smile and chewing capacity to that of your natural teeth. A dental implant is the most functional, most long lasting, and most cost-effective replacement of missing teeth.
At Making You Smile, we'll provide you with the entire range of options and procedure related to replacing your missing teeth with dental implants. We have the experience and expertise to walk you through our comprehensive cosmetic analysis of your entire mouth.
"What is a Dental Implant?" is the first article in a series that answers your questions about dental implants as a permanent solution for replacing severely damaged and missing teeth.
Do you have questions about dental implants and cosmetic dental procedures? Please do not hesitate to contact us to assess your dental implant options or book an appointment on ZocDoc.
In the previous post, we introduced you to CAMBRA, Caries Management by Risk Assessment, which evaluates the possibility of developing certain diseases in the future. Now we'll go into further detail on how it all works.
How is Caries Risk Assessment done?
We meet with patients and collect information about their dental history and current condition and make projections for future risk. Once we establish a risk level, we can develop and appropriate plan to reduce future risk.
Some of the information we collect for cavities includes:
The American Dental Association and the California Dental Association developed extensive lists of items to be evaluated. After we review of all the information, we determine the Risk Level as either Low, Moderate or High.
At Making You Smile, everyone gets a risk assessment for caries and a customized caries management plan for a future free of cavities.
Reduce your chance of developing cavities with a regular checkup at Making You Smile Cosmetic Dental Studio - call 1-646-484-0197 in Manhattan or book an appointment via ZocDoc.
Composites are the most common dental restorations used in dentistry today. Also known as bondings, dental composites are tooth-colored fillings used to repair damaged teeth.
Composites come in different shades and can be matched to the particular color of your tooth. Usually they blend very well with your teeth to provide beautiful, seamless, and long-lasting bondings and tooth fillings.
Composite fillings are made of malleable thick paste that can be molded in the mouth to the shape of the tooth. Once the shape is achieved, they are hardened with a special blue light which is applied to the filling or bonding. Some people mistakenly call these blue lights "lasers".
Composites are used any time a small part of the tooth structure needs to be replaced due to cavities, chips, or wear. Dental composites are used to replace up to a third of the tooth being repaired.
If the damaged area is larger than a third of the tooth, composites are no longer the best option. In fixing larger areas of a damaged tooth, composite dental bondings are harder to maintain in the long term, and are more difficult to blend with the existing tooth. In this case, a ceramic (porcelain) restoration would be used to fix the chipped tooth.
At Making You Smile, we feel these composites are the best option to repair small problems with your teeth and ensure long lasting, positive results. For more information on composite, call us today (646) 484 0197.
Cosmetic dentistry offers endless possibilities for rebuilding confidence in the person you broadcast to the world. Our smiles are often the first impression we give, and cosmetic dentistry helps ensure it's the best one.
Dentistry can alter, modify and enhance both the teeth and gums surrounding your teeth ensuring long-lasting and all-encompassing results. The options for cosmetic dental procedures are extensive, they include bondings, veneers, whitening, ceramic restorations, and Invisalign. For gum restoration, we offer dental cleanings, gum enhancements, and gum and teeth re-contouring, among other options.
There is a wide range of problems that a cosmetic dentist can address such as tooth color, position, shape, old fillings and old crowns (caps), gummy smile, receding gums, and amalgam pigmented gums.
At Making You Smile, we work with you to determine which treatment options are best for you. We perform a comprehensive cosmetic analysis of your entire mouth to come up with the optimal recommendations for you. For more information, visit our Cosmetic Dentistry page, or Make an Appointment.
