Somerset Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group places dental implants as a solution for patients who are missing teeth or who have severely damaged or diseased teeth. Our doctors work closely with restorative dentists and use advanced guided surgery technology to create replacements that look, feel, and act like real teeth.
The professionals in our practice are highly skilled oral surgeons with decades of dental implant experience and extensive training. We have been supporting Somerville and Hillsborough for nearly 50 years and welcome the opportunity to provide you with high-quality care in Somerset and Hunterdon Counties.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots surgically placed in the jawbone to provide a secure foundation for replacement teeth. The goal is to restore a natural-looking smile and create a long-lasting replacement for missing or damaged teeth, and they can replace up to a full arch of missing teeth with one prosthetic. If you have experienced tooth loss — or, if your dentist or oral surgeon recommends tooth replacement — you are most likely a candidate for dental implants.
Our doctors have seen the full spectrum of dental implant cases in their formal training and years in practice. We can assist Somerset and Hunterdon County patients with their implant placement needs ranging from standard to the most complex.
Dental implants offer a variety of benefits compared to other tooth restoration options. Namely, they:
Look, act, and feel more like real teeth.
Provide a lasting solution to missing and damaged teeth.
Don’t typically require alterations to neighboring teeth.
Help prevent the erosion of bone in the jaw.
Our Approach to Dental Implants
Our doctors and staff have created a warm and comfortable environment for patients to receive care. Because of our practice’s longevity in the Somerville, Lebanon, and Hillsborough, we often develop relationships with patients and their families that span years. Being accessible and available defines our approach to patient treatment.
Placing dental implants is a collaborative effort between our oral surgeons and a patient’s restorative dentist, who will oversee the restorative part of the process. Together, your oral surgeon and your dentist will develop a treatment plan to fit your needs. The oral surgeon will place the implants surgically, and the dentist will fit, produce, and attach your new crowns. The result should be a long-lasting, natural-looking replacement tooth.
The Dental Implants Process
The Consultation
Your first step will be an appointment at our offices in Somerset County or Hunterdon County area. During your initial consultation, our oral surgeons will:
- Assess your overall needs.
- Share with you an informative video covering the ins and outs of dental implants.
- Take a CT scan to review the condition and amount of supporting jawbone.
- Discuss your general health.
- Answer any questions you may have about insurance and costs so that you will be financially prepared for your care.
After your initial consultation, Somerset Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group will develop a treatment plan and contact your general dentist to discuss the process in further detail.
Initial appointments, scan, and custom treatment planning
Somerset Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group uses computer-guided surgery technology for placing dental implants. This will allow your doctor to determine their optimal position. We will combine this technology with your CT scan to virtually plan the exact depth and location of the implants.
From there, our practice will have physical surgical guides produced for use in your procedure. These guides will allow your doctor to place the implants in a way that matches the treatment plan, providing a stronger foundation for the artificial teeth.
The Surgical Placement of Implant
On the day of your surgery, our staff will review your procedure and answer any questions you may have. Most patients will receive a combination of local anesthesia and nitrous oxide, which helps them feel comfortable, relaxed, and pain-free throughout the procedure.
During the surgery, your doctor will:
- As needed, extract the damaged or diseased teeth that the dental implants will replace.
- Use bone grafts to strengthen sites where the dental implants will go, if necessary.
- Place the implants using the surgical guides.
- Cover the implants with healing abutments or, if a tooth is in a visible location, attach a temporary tooth.
Some Somerset and Hunterdon County patients may have separate surgeries to accomplish these steps. This is to give bone grafts time to strengthen so that they can serve as a strong foundation for the implants.
Recovery From Post Dental Implant Surgery
Following your surgery, our staff will escort you to a private recovery room where we will continue to monitor you. We will also go over your post-operative care instructions, which typically include the following:
- Avoid disturbing the surgical site. There may be some bleeding or redness for the first 24 hours.
- Expect some swelling. Our doctors recommend applying ice as often as possible for the first 36 hours.
- Drink plenty of fluids but avoid hot liquids. Also, don’t participate in rigorous activities immediately after surgery.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever and antibiotics. Taking pain medication as needed will help manage moderate discomfort and prescribed antibiotics will protect against infection.
- Do not wear any denture or prosthesis for at least 10 days after surgery.
Your oral surgeon will be available to you if you have any concerns during your recovery. The entire healing process may take anywhere from two to six months, and over this period, you will have visits with both your oral surgeon and your restorative dentist.
How Long Does it Take to Heal After Getting Dental Implants?
- 1-2 weeks after surgery, you will return to our practice in Somerset or Hunterdon County to ensure that you are healing as expected.
- At one month, we will see you again to make certain that the jawbone is continuing to integrate with the dental implants.
- 3-5 months following the surgery, your oral surgeon will test the implants to make sure they are ready to support permanent crowns.
At this point, you will visit your restorative dentist to have your permanent crowns fitted and placed on top of the implants. We will see you back at Somerset Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group one more time to make sure of the fit, bite, and comfort of your new teeth. As a result of treatment, your dental implants should become a long-lasting and aesthetically appealing replacement.
Restore missing, damaged, or diseased teeth with dental implants. Contact our offices in Somerset County or Hunterdon County area for a consultation.
Do You Have Missing or Damaged Teeth?
Our experienced oral surgeons can help you regain your bright and healthy smile with dental implants. Dental implants offer a natural-looking, secure solution for single, multiple, or a full set of missing or damaged teeth. Contact our offices to learn how we can help!
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