For patients with missing teeth, dental implants offer a comfortable, secure, and natural-looking solution. Implants are small titanium posts embedded in the jaw bone to provide support for a range of restoration types, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. At Aesthetic Oral Arts in New Hartford, NY, Dr. Timothy Pfister can place and restore dental implants to fully reconstruct the strength and appearance of your smile. Unlike other practices which refer patients to a separate physician for implants, Dr. Pfister can perform every stage of implant treatment, ensuring you receive high-quality care from start to finish.
Understanding Dental Implants
A dental implant is a small post crafted from biocompatible titanium. The post is embedded into the jaw bone to replace the root of the lost or extracted tooth. Then, the implant fuses with the surrounding bone tissue to create a stable base for a restoration. By replacing the entire tooth, from root to crown, an implant-supported restoration provides a natural-looking and highly stable method for replacing lost teeth.
Am I a Candidate for Implants?
The best way to determine if you are a candidate for a dental implant is to schedule a consultation at our office. Qualifying patients for a dental implant must:
- Be in good oral health
- Have a sufficiently dense jaw bone
- Be free from gum disease
- Not smoke, or be willing to give up smoking for a period of time
During your appointment with Dr. Pfister, he can perform a cone beam CT scan of your jaw to assess the density of the bone tissue. He will examine your overall oral health and treat any underlying conditions which could compromise your implants. If you do not have sufficient jaw bone tissue, Dr. Pfister can perform a bone graft or sinus lift to strengthen your jaw and provide a strong base for your restoration.