People who are interested in dental implants in Long Island may be a bit confused about why the process involves two steps with at least several weeks between the two phases. They envision having the full implant installed all at once. Instead, the dentist does a surgical procedure first to install rods into the jaw and then closes the gums over those rods. The rods need time to fuse with the jawbone so they function as normal teeth roots do. This process is known as osseointegration, and it happens gradually over several weeks or months. In the meantime, the patient can wear dentures or bridges so there’s no time without false teeth to replace the missing ones.
The second phase begins when a dentist such as Jay B. Lubliner determines that the osseointegration process has reached the point at which the rest of the procedure can be done. Now, custom-designed prosthetics, also known as crowns, can be placed on top of the rods. The dentist must reopen the gums and attach the crowns to devices known as abutments that hold the cosmetic top to the rod in the bone.
In some instances, the abutments must also be customized, but this is not typical since usually the small device cannot be seen in the person’s mouth. As long as the rods are installed properly, the prosthetic tops should line up evenly and look entirely natural. Avoiding individually made abutments is important for most patients, since dental insurance often only covers a certain percentage of the implant cost. In addition, mass-produced abutments actually are better for implant success since they have been precisely designed to fit tightly on the rod in the jawbone.
Dental implants in Long Island might require a customized abutment if the gums are abnormally thin or thick, for example. The dentist may prefer to use a white zirconia device instead of a titanium one if the gum is thin and the tooth is in front. Otherwise, when the individual smiles, people might notice the dark area where the metal abutment is placed.
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