How a Dental Implant in Rocky Point, NY Can Replace a Missing Tooth
A dental implant is both the latest method for replacing a lost tooth in Rocky Point, NY and at the same time a very ancient form of surgery from Central America. A tooth – or even multiple teeth – can be lost due to injury, illness or even heredity. Those who have lost teeth altogether and are in satisfactory health otherwise can benefit greatly from dental implant surgery.
The Origins and Development of Implantology
Oral implants have surprising origins and go way back – well over a thousand years, in fact. The Mayan Indians of Mesoamerica were a remarkably inventive people. Despite never having learned how to use the wheel (except as a children’s toy, oddly enough) or work metal, the Mayans mastered writing, mathematics, astronomy and even some types of surgery.
In 1931, the remains of a young Mayan woman were discovered in Honduras. Someone had placed pieces of seashell in her jaw where teeth should have been. Forty years later, radiological testing revealed that she had lived with these shells in her mouth for some time before her death.
Dental implants in modern history were an outgrowth of orthopedic surgery research during the 1950s. A Swedish surgeon discovered that titanium had interesting properties that allowed bone tissue to adhere to the metal as it grew around it. This made for a very exciting development when it came to hip and knee replacement and broken bones, but it wasn’t long before orthodontists began to apply the same principles. The first modern implant surgery was done in Italy in 1959; an implant device was patented in the USA ten years later.
How the Dentist Implants Tooth Replacements
The first step consists of drilling a very small pilot hole at the site where the new tooth will be inserted. This hole must be widened gradually, one step at a time using graduated sizes of drill bits. This way, the dentist avoids damaging the bone tissue. Once the opening is ready, a small titanium screw is inserted to serve as the root. After some time has been allowed for the bone tissue to grow in around the screw, the patient returns to receive the actual prosthesis, which is custom made from ceramic to match the surrounding teeth.
When the dentist is experienced and the patient is in suitable health, implants have a success rate of 95%.
Tooth Implant Cost
The cost of a single implant can be as much as ,000, depending on the complexity of the operation, which tooth is being replaced and the region of the country (for example, a dentist practicing in Manhattan will naturally have far greater expenses than one with an office in Rocky Point, NY or other small towns in upstate New York). In some cases however, the cost can be less than ,200. If there are multiple teeth to be replaced, the patient may be entitled to a “volume” discount.
Unfortunately, these costs are not often covered by private dental insurance. However, financing is usually available through your dentist’s business office, where a monthly payment plan can be designed to fit almost any budget.
