Implants

If you’ve lost some or all of your teeth due to cavities, gum disease, or an injury, dental implants can restore your chewing and biting abilities, as well as your smile. At Advanced Dental Care of Ridgewood, located in Ridgewood, New Jersey, Robert A. Scherrer, DMD, and the team place and restore dental implants. To schedule an appointment at the office, call to speak with a member of the staff or book online today.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small, metal posts that replace your tooth roots. They’re placed into your jaw during an outpatient procedure and fuse with your bone in a process called osseointegration. 

Dental implants support restorations like fixed bridges, implant-retained dentures, and crowns. Dental implants can last a lifetime by practicing good oral hygiene and visiting Advanced Dental Care of Ridgewood at least twice a year.

What are the advantages of implants?

Dental implants provide various advantages compared to other restorations, including:

• Improved oral health
• Easier eating
• Easier speaking
• Durability
• Convenience
  
  

Dental implants can also make you look younger and more attractive. If you’re missing teeth, the skin around your mouth wrinkles and sags. Dental implants restore structure to your jaw, minimizing these and other visible imperfections.

Who can receive implants?

To receive dental implants, you need to be in good physical health. If you have high blood pressure, kidney disease, or an autoimmune condition, make sure to let your provider know. These ailments won’t necessarily keep you from getting implants, but they may increase the risk of complications, including implant failure.

During your initial consultation, the team reviews your dental health history and asks about your goals. They also take X-rays to determine your gums' health and assess the bone volume in your jaw.

What does getting implants involve?

Dental implants typically take at least three appointments over a year. If it's determined that your gums and jaw can support implants, your doctor places them during a brief outpatient procedure. Your mouth heals for several months afterward as the implants integrate with your bone.

After the implants fuse to your jaw, you return to Advanced Dental Care of Ridgewood. An intraoral scanner takes impressions of your gums and remaining teeth. Then, your impressions are sent to a dental laboratory that makes your crowns, implant-retained dentures, or fixed-bridge.

When the lab finishes your restorations, you visit the office for a final appointment. Your provider then bonds your restoration to the implants, rehabilitating your smile.

Do dental implants require maintenance?

If you want to keep your dental implants in great shape, it’s important to brush and floss regularly. In addition, visit Advanced Dental Care of Ridgewood every six months for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.

Dental implants are tough, but they can chip or crack. To lower the risk of damage, the team recommends wearing a mouthguard if you play sports or a nightguard if you grind your teeth while sleeping.

To see if dental implants are right for you, request a consultation at Advanced Dental Care of Ridgewood. You can call the office or reach out online to schedule an appointment.