The Role of Specialists when Placing Implants

Dental implants are an innovative advancement in dentistry. Acting as a prosthetic root, an implant secures new teeth (crowns) in place, producing a natural looking and functional tooth.

Dental implant placement, however, requires specialized knowledge and training. Though many general dentists offer to place implants surgically, we feel that implant placement is more successful when conducted by a specially trained oral surgeon.

How do Implants Work?

The implant placement procedure, while relatively straight forward, requires tremendous expertise. Small titanium posts are surgically put into the jaw bone and serve as the tooth’s natural root. The surgical procedure itself takes very little time, depending primarily on the number of implants the patient is receiving.

Oral surgeons are uniquely skilled to not only place the implant, but they can also perform any required preparation needed to ensure a successful implant. For some patients, the preparation and placement can be conducted all in one appointment. For example, a tooth can be extracted and a dental implant can be placed in a single visit lasting about an hour and typically requires only local anesthesia. After a period of healing and bone integration which usually lasts about three months, patients visit their general dentist and the implants are fitted with a new crown.
Why Insist on a Dental Specialist?

Dental implants usually require multiple dental professionals including a Periodontist or an Oral Surgeon to surgically place the implant, a dental lab tech to create the restoration, and a general dentist to cap the implant with the implant restoration. Although many dentists are able to surgically place the dental implant, we refer to a specialist as they have an additional three years of specialized dental training beyond dental school and they usually have high performance technology that is not often found in a typical dental office. This technology often includes 3D CAD/CAM imaging and computerized surgical guides. At Love Family Dentistry, we believe that using an oral surgeon for implant placement delivers the most successful restorations and best patient experience.

Our preferred Oral Surgeons work closely with Drs. Michael and Howard Love, ensuring patients receive lasting restorations and consistent care. Following the dental implant placement procedure and implant integration we focus on restoring the tooth with a crown or stabilized denture, and customizing the patient’s new functioning teeth to produce a beautiful, healthy and natural-looking smile. For more information about the dental implant process, contact Love Family Dentistry today to schedule your consultation.

Not All Dental Porcelains are Created Equal

The types of porcelain that dentists use for veneers and crowns are not all the same. In fact, there are a number of available types on the market, each with distinct differences in terms of strength and aesthetics. At Love Family Dentistry, we prefer to use E-Max porcelain for a variety of reasons.

In recent years, E-Max crowns have become incredibly popular because they combine a high level of durability with an impressive visual quality. The porcelain used in E-Max crowns has a natural look that blends well with other surrounding teeth to create an attractive smile.

The reason why E-Max crowns look so good is due in part to the subtle translucence of the porcelain which mimics the appearance of natural tooth material. The color can be adjusted match perfectly with the surrounding teeth in an individual patient’s mouth.

Why we choose E-max for our patients

Our Astoria practice is dedicated to providing lasting solutions that improve both the function and aesthetic appeal of our patients’ smiles. E-Max restorations look great, are long lasting, and the procedure is easy on our patients.

Since E-Max is less prone to chipping when compared to other types of porcelain, fewer patients visit our Astoria dental team for E-Max crown repairs than with alternative materials. In addition to its strength, we believe the ceramic is truly lifelike in appearance.

E-Max is made of high quality lithium desilicated glass ceramic, which is a revolutionary material that provides greater strength than other types of dental porcelain. The crown is crafted out of a single piece of material, and though it is incredibly tough, the end result looks surprisingly delicate. As no metal alloy base is required for an E-Max crown, patients do not have any gray around the gums, thereby creating a natural looking restoration.

E-Max crowns often require very little preparation to the natural tooth that is being crowned. This means very little drilling must be done to reshape the tooth so the E-Max crown can fit around it. We find patients appreciate the minimal invasiveness of the E-Max crown procedure.

Looking for a quality restoration? Choose E-Max

There are many different types of porcelains that are used to create dental restorations. As a patient, you are entitled to know what type your dentist plans on using to complete your smile. Finding a dental practice that uses quality materials often benefits patients in the long run. When considering the daily functions of your crown, skimping out on the best materials can mean additional replacement restorations down the road. When considering all aspects of your future crown, from durability and appearance to ease of use, E-Max porcelain crowns are a smart choice and our Astoria dental team is proud to offer them.