Is a dental implant right for you?
A dental implant suits most adults who are missing one or more teeth and are in good general health. Dr. Ibrahim Sayeed checks your gums, bone and medical history before recommending one.
- You have one or more missing teeth
- A denture feels loose, or a bridge is failing
- Your gums are healthy, or can be treated first
- You can brush, floss and keep up regular checkups
- You want a fixed tooth rather than one you take out
Not enough bone? A bone graft can often help
A 3D CBCT scan shows exactly how much bone you have. If there isn’t enough, a bone graft can often rebuild it before the implant is placed.
Smoking, diabetes and gum disease
These don’t always rule implants out, but they raise the risk of an implant failing. Gum disease is treated first, diabetes needs to be well controlled, and smokers are asked to stop for the healing period, which gives the implant a much better chance.
Can the tooth be saved instead?
If you still have the tooth, ask first whether a root canal and crown could keep it. Dr. Sayeed tells you honestly when a tooth can be saved and when an implant is the better long-term choice.
What is a dental implant made of?
An implant replaces the whole tooth, root and all, in three parts.
The implant post
A small titanium screw placed in the jawbone. It acts as the root and fuses with the bone over a few months.
The abutment
A connector fixed to the top of the post once it has healed. It holds the new tooth firmly in place.
The crown
The tooth you see, made by a local dental lab from a digital scan and matched to the shade of your other teeth.
How dental implant treatment works at Kingston Smiles
- Consultation and 3D scan. Dr. Sayeed examines your mouth and takes a CBCT scan to measure the bone and map nerves and sinuses.
- Your plan. He explains the options, how many visits to expect and what your insurance is likely to cover, before anything starts.
- Placing the implant. The titanium post is placed under local anesthetic, using a 3D-printed surgical guide made from your scan. A bone graft is done first if you need one.
- Healing. Over the next few months the implant fuses with the jawbone. You can wear a temporary tooth meanwhile.
- Your new tooth. A custom crown, bridge or denture is attached and matched to your other teeth.
How long does a dental implant take?
Placing one implant usually takes about an hour. The whole treatment, from consultation to final crown, usually takes several months, most of it healing time. A bone graft adds a few more months.
Who places your implant?
At Kingston Smiles NY, Dr. Ibrahim Sayeed, DDS, plans, places and restores your implant himself, so you see the same dentist from the first scan to the final crown.
Dr. Sayeed is a general dentist who has placed more than 100 implants and has completed hundreds of hours of continuing education in dental implants. Every implant is planned on a 3D CBCT scan and placed with a 3D-printed guide, which positions it where the scan shows the most bone.
Is a periodontist or oral surgeon better for implants?
For most single implants and straightforward cases, a general dentist with implant training places them routinely. Specialists are often involved when a case needs major bone rebuilding or complex surgery. If your scan shows that, Dr. Sayeed tells you and helps arrange it. Read more about Dr. Sayeed.
Recovery after a dental implant
Most people are back at work the next day. Here’s what the first weeks usually look like.
The first few days
Some swelling and soreness are normal and usually settle with over-the-counter pain relievers and a cold pack. Avoid smoking and drinking through a straw.
Eating
Stick to soft foods such as eggs, yogurt and pasta for the first week, and chew on the other side until the implant has healed. Most people eat normally once the final tooth is fitted.
Cleaning
Brush gently around the area from the day after surgery and keep up rinsing as advised. Once healed, an implant is brushed and flossed like a natural tooth.
Read the full guide to dental implant recovery.
Implant, bridge or denture?
All three replace missing teeth. Here’s how they differ day to day. For the full picture, see options for replacing missing teeth.
| Dental implant | Bridge | Denture | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbouring teeth | Left untouched | Reshaped to hold the bridge | Not reshaped (a partial clips onto them) |
| How it feels | Fixed, like a natural tooth | Fixed | Removable, and can move unless held by implants |
| Jawbone | Helps keep the bone | Bone under the gap can shrink | Bone can shrink over time |
| Treatment time | Several months, mostly healing | Usually a few weeks | Usually a few weeks |
| Daily care | Brush and floss as normal | Clean under it with floss threaders | Take out and clean every day |
| How long it lasts | Often decades (the crown may need replacing) | Often 10 to 15 years | Often 5 to 10 years, with relines |
Why do dental implants fail?
Most dental implants succeed and last for many years. When one fails, it is usually for one of a few known reasons, and most can be lowered.
- Infection around the implant (peri-implantitis), usually from plaque building up at the gumline
- Smoking, which slows healing and reduces blood flow to the bone
- Uncontrolled diabetes or other conditions that slow healing
- Not enough bone, or an implant placed where the bone is thin
- Heavy grinding or clenching, which overloads the implant
How the risk is lowered
A CBCT scan and printed guide place the implant where the bone is strongest. Gum disease is treated first, healing is checked before the tooth goes on, and regular cleanings after treatment catch early problems around the implant.
Dental implant cost, insurance and financing
Every implant plan is priced individually after your exam and scan, and you get the full cost in writing before treatment starts. Read what dental implants cost in Kingston for the full breakdown.
- What affects the cost: how many implants you need, whether you need a bone graft, and the type of tooth on top (crown, bridge or denture).
- Insurance: many dental plans cover part of implant treatment, often the crown. We work with CSEA and Kingston Trust Fund plans and most PPO plans, and check your benefits before you commit.
- Medicare: Original Medicare doesn’t cover dental implants. Some Medicare Advantage plans include dental benefits, so check your plan.
- Spreading the cost: CareCredit and Cherry let you pay over time.
Dental implants for patients across Ulster County
Kingston Smiles NY is at 1105 Locust Street in Kingston. Patients come to us for dental implants from Hurley and West Hurley, Rosendale and Tillson, Port Ewen and Esopus, Lake Katrine, East Kingston and Glasco, and from across the river in Rhinecliff.
Further out, patients travel from Saugerties, Stone Ridge and Marbletown, Woodstock and Rhinebeck. Implant treatment means several visits, so we plan them around your schedule, by appointment, Tuesday to Thursday.
Dental implant questions
How long do dental implants last?
Many implants last for decades. The crown on top may need replacing after 10 to 15 years of wear. Daily brushing and flossing, regular checkups and not smoking give an implant the strongest chance of lasting.
Does getting an implant hurt?
The area is numbed, so most patients feel pressure rather than pain during treatment. Mild soreness for a few days afterward is common and usually settles with over-the-counter pain relievers. Read how long implant recovery takes.
How long does the whole process take?
Usually several months from consultation to final crown. Most of that time is healing, while the implant fuses with the jawbone. A bone graft, if you need one, adds healing time.
Can I get dental implants in one day?
Usually not. An implant needs a few months to fuse with the jawbone before it can take a permanent tooth, and that healing is what makes it last. You can wear a temporary tooth while you heal, so you aren’t left with a gap.
Am I too old for dental implants?
No. There is no upper age limit: what matters is your general health and the bone in your jaw (read dental implants for seniors). Younger patients usually wait until the jaw has stopped growing, often in the late teens or early twenties.
What are the downsides of dental implants?
Treatment takes months, involves minor surgery and costs more at the start than a bridge or denture. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and gum disease raise the risk of an implant failing, so Dr. Sayeed checks these first.
