Dental implants
Dental Implants in Edison, NJ
An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth, and a crown on top replaces the rest. It is the closest thing to getting the tooth back — and it is not the right answer for everybody.
- Replaces one tooth without touching its neighbours
- Keeps the jawbone loaded where the tooth was
- Cleaned like a normal tooth, not taken out at night
- Lasts your lifetime if cared for properly
What a dental implant is
An implant is a small titanium post placed into the jawbone where the root of the missing tooth used to be. Over the following months bone grows directly onto its surface and locks it in place — a process called osseointegration, and the reason implants take as long as they do.
Once it is solid, a connector and a crown go on top. The crown is what you see and chew with; it is matched to the teeth around it. From the outside it looks like a tooth, and you clean it like one.
Three separate things, then: the post in the bone, the abutment that joins them, and the crown. People quote implant prices meaning different combinations of those, which is why comparing quotes is so confusing. Ask what is included.
Implant, bridge, or partial denture?
One missing tooth has three standard answers. They differ in what they cost, what they ask of the teeth beside the gap, and how long they last — and the cheapest today is rarely the cheapest over twenty years.
| Material | Best for | What you are trading |
|---|---|---|
| Implant | Best for: A single gap with healthy teeth either side, and enough bone to hold the post. | Trade-off: The most expensive up front and much the slowest — months, because bone has to grow onto the implant before the crown goes on. Nothing is done to the neighbouring teeth, which is the whole argument for it. |
| Bridge | Best for: A gap whose neighbours already need crowns, or where waiting months is not realistic. | Trade-off: Done in weeks, not months. The cost is that the two teeth either side are cut down to carry it, including healthy ones — and if the bridge fails later, three teeth are involved instead of one. |
| Partial denture | Best for: Several missing teeth at once, or the lowest cost, or a stop-gap while you decide. | Trade-off: Removable, so it comes out at night and it moves slightly when you chew. Cheapest by a wide margin, and the only one of the three that can be changed your mind about. |
How to actually decide
Two questions settle most of it. Do the teeth either side of the gap already need work? If they do, a bridge gets you two repairs for one procedure and the argument for an implant weakens. And is the gap at the back of the mouth? Back teeth do the chewing, and a partial denture is least satisfying exactly where the load is highest.
If neither question decides it, the deciding factor is usually time and budget rather than dentistry. All three are legitimate. We will tell you what we would do, and why.
What happens if you leave the gap
The gap does not stay the shape it is. Teeth either side lean into it over months and years, the tooth above or below grows down towards it, and your bite changes to accommodate all of that. The bone that used to hold the root shrinks, because nothing is loading it any more.
None of this is an emergency and none of it happens this week. It does mean that the longer a gap is left, the more there is to fix before any of the three options above will fit properly — so it is worth deciding rather than drifting.
What it costs
An implant is the most expensive of the three options up front and often the least expensive measured over twenty years, because nothing is done to the teeth either side and there is nothing to replace on a cycle. Dental insurance covers implants inconsistently — some plans contribute to the crown but not the post, some exclude them entirely — so we verify your specific benefits before anything starts rather than after. Ask us to price the alternatives at the same time. Comparing an implant against a bridge and a partial with real numbers is the only way to make that decision properly.
See the insurance we accept, or call (732) 985-1120 and we will verify your benefits before you come in.
What the process involves
An implant is measured in months rather than visits, and most of that time is spent waiting for bone rather than sitting in a chair.
Assessment and imaging
An examination and imaging to see how much bone is there and where the nerves and sinuses sit. This is also where it is established whether an implant is realistic for you at all — uncontrolled diabetes, smoking and gum disease all affect how well an implant takes.
Who places the implant
[Doctor to confirm before this page is published: does Edison Dental Studio place implants in-house, or does an oral surgeon or periodontist place the implant while we make and fit the crown? Both are ordinary arrangements for a general practice and patients do not mind either — but the page must say which one is true here.]
Placing the post
Done under local anaesthetic, and most people report less discomfort afterwards than they expected — usually less than having the tooth out in the first place. The gum is closed over or around the post and left to heal.
Healing
Three to six months, typically, while bone grows onto the implant. A temporary tooth can usually be worn over the gap during this time so you are not walking around with a visible space.
The crown
Once the implant is solid, an impression or scan is taken and the crown is made to match your other teeth. It is fitted, the bite is checked, and that is the end of the process.
What it is like to have done
The placement appointment is shorter than most people expect and is done with the same local anaesthetic as a filling. Soreness for a few days afterwards is normal and responds to ibuprofen; significant pain is not, and is worth a phone call.
The hard part of an implant is not discomfort, it is patience. Months pass between the post going in and the crown going on, and during that stretch nothing appears to be happening even though the important part — bone locking onto titanium — is exactly what is happening.
Looking after it
Brush and floss an implant crown like a natural tooth, and pay particular attention to the gum margin around it. An implant cannot decay, which people find reassuring, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed and infected in much the same way gum disease affects a natural tooth — and that is the main way implants are lost. Regular check-ups and cleanings are not optional afterwards; they are what protects the investment.
Reviewed by
Dr. Michael Lesnianski, DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, graduated with Clinical Honors; residency at Woodhull Medical Center, Brooklyn.
Last reviewed
How long do dental implants take?
Usually three to six months from placing the post to fitting the crown, because bone has to grow onto the implant before it can carry a chewing load. The appointments themselves are short; the waiting is the long part.
Dental crowns →Does getting an implant hurt?
The placement is done under local anaesthetic and most people describe less discomfort afterwards than they had from losing the tooth. Expect a few sore days that ibuprofen handles. Pain that is getting worse rather than better is worth a call.
Is an implant better than a bridge?
Not automatically. An implant leaves the neighbouring teeth untouched, which is its main advantage. A bridge is faster and requires no bone healing, and it makes more sense when the teeth either side already need crowning. The right answer depends on your particular gap.
Dental crowns →Will my insurance cover a dental implant?
Coverage varies more for implants than for almost any other treatment. Some plans contribute toward the crown but not the post, and some exclude implants outright. We check your specific plan before treatment starts so the number is known in advance.
Can anyone have an implant?
Most people can, but not everyone. Enough jawbone has to be present to hold the post, active gum disease has to be treated first, and smoking and uncontrolled diabetes both reduce the chance of the implant taking. Imaging and an examination answer this before anything is committed to.
Deep cleaning →What happens if I just leave the gap?
Nothing sudden. Over months and years the teeth either side lean in, the opposing tooth drifts down, and the bone where the root was shrinks — which can mean more preparatory work later whichever option you eventually choose.
Where to find us
Edison Dental Studio is at 96 Plainfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08817. The practice has cared for families in Edison for more than 50 years. You can reach us at (732) 985-1120.
- Monday
- 9 AM – 5 PM
- Tuesday
- 9 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday
- 9 AM – 5 PM
- Thursday
- Closed
- Friday
- 9 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday
- 8 AM – 1 PM
- Sunday
- Closed
Part of our restorative dentistry care.
Wondering whether an implant is right for you?
Come in and we will look at the gap, take the imaging, and price the realistic options side by side. No obligation to pick the expensive one. Call (732) 985-1120.