Dental Implant Options at Our Kew Gardens Office
Every patient's needs are different, so we offer several types of implant treatment. During your consultation, we'll recommend the option that best fits your mouth, your goals, and your budget.
Mini Dental Implants
Mini implants are narrower than standard implants and are most often used to hold a denture securely in place, so it doesn't slip when you eat or speak. Placement is less involved than with traditional implants, is often completed in a single visit, and typically costs significantly less. Because they need less bone, mini implants may also be an option for patients who have been told they aren't candidates for standard implants. In some cases, your existing denture can be adapted to fit them, which lowers the cost further.
Implant-Supported Bridges
When several teeth in a row are missing, an implant-supported bridge replaces them without relying on your natural teeth for support. A traditional dental bridge is held in place by crowns on the healthy teeth on either side of the gap, which means reshaping those teeth. An implant-supported bridge is anchored to implants instead, so your natural teeth stay untouched.
You also don't always need an implant for every missing tooth. Two implants can often support a bridge that replaces three or four teeth. After the implants are placed, they're given a few months to fuse with your jawbone. Your custom bridge, made to match the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth, is then attached. The result is one of the most stable ways to replace multiple missing teeth.
Single Tooth Implant
A single implant topped with a custom crown replaces one missing tooth without involving the teeth around it. A traditional bridge requires reshaping the healthy teeth on either side of the gap to hold the replacement in place; an implant stands on its own, so your neighboring teeth stay intact.
Because the implant is made of titanium and the crown is made of porcelain or ceramic, the replacement tooth can't get cavities or ever need a root canal. The gums and bone around the implant still need care, though, so brushing, flossing, and regular checkups are just as important as with your natural teeth. With that care, single-tooth implants have excellent long-term success rates and are widely considered the most reliable way to replace a missing tooth.
All-on-4 Full Arch Implant Procedure
If you're missing most or all of the teeth in your upper or lower jaw, or your remaining teeth are failing, All-on-4 can replace the entire row with a fixed set of teeth supported by just four implants.
The implants are placed at specific angles to make the most of your available bone, which often means fewer patients need bone grafting. A full arch of natural-looking teeth is then secured to the implants. Unlike traditional dentures, your new teeth are fixed in place and can only be removed by your dentist, so they won't slip, click, or rub against your gums, and there's no need for adhesives.
In many cases, you'll leave the day of your procedure with a temporary set of teeth. Over the next few months, the implants fuse with your jawbone, and then your final, custom-made teeth are attached.
Why patients choose All-on-4:
- Fewer implants. Four implants support a full arch, so treatment is typically more affordable and less involved than placing an implant for each missing tooth.
- Eat with confidence. Because the teeth are anchored to your jaw, you can bite and chew much more comfortably than with removable dentures.
- A natural look and feel. Your new teeth are designed to fit your face and smile.
Caring for All-on-4 implants is similar to caring for natural teeth, with a few extras. Brush twice a day, clean under the arch with a water flosser or special floss, and keep up with regular professional cleanings and checkups so your implants and gums stay healthy.
Same-Day Dental Implants
If you need a tooth removed, you may not have to wait months with a gap before getting an implant. In many cases, the implant can be placed during the same visit as your tooth extraction, and a temporary tooth can often be attached right away, so you leave with a complete smile.
Combining these steps means fewer appointments and fewer procedures overall. Your implant still needs a few months to fuse with your jawbone before your permanent crown is placed, and you'll stick to softer foods on that side while it heals.
Same-day implants aren't right for everyone. They work best when the bone and gums at the site are healthy and there's no active infection. During your consultation, we'll examine the area and let you know whether a same-day approach is a good fit or whether a traditional timeline will give you a better result.
Bone Grafts and Sinus Lifts
An implant needs a solid foundation of healthy bone to hold it securely. When a tooth has been missing for a while, or has been lost to gum disease, the jawbone in that area often shrinks. If there isn't enough bone left, an implant can't be placed safely, but that doesn't mean implants are off the table.
Bone grafting rebuilds the missing bone. Graft material is placed where bone has been lost, and over the following months your body gradually replaces it with its own natural bone, creating a strong base for the implant. Depending on how much bone is needed, a graft may be placed at the same time as your implant or a few months beforehand. Grafting can also be done right after a tooth extraction to preserve the bone for a future implant.
A sinus lift is a specific type of bone graft for the upper back teeth. Your sinuses sit just above the roots of these teeth, and when bone is lost in this area, there may not be enough height to place an implant without reaching the sinus. During a sinus lift, the thin membrane lining the floor of the sinus is gently raised, and bone graft material is placed in the space beneath it. Once the graft has healed, it gives your implant the support it needs.
