Dental Implants – Cherry Hill, NJ

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

You’ll first undergo an initial consultation where our team will assess your gums, jawbone density, and oral health to determine if and how you can benefit from dental implants. In some instances, patients may require other services before they can move forward with the treatment, such as bone grafting, gum disease treatment, or tooth extractions. Our team will need to ensure that your mouth is healthy and strong enough to support the titanium posts for decades to come. Once we can confirm that your mouth is in great shape, we can continue planning for your dental implant treatment, discussing the timeframe, surgery, and estimated costs.

Dental Implant Surgery

To ensure that your treatment is as safe and successful as possible, Dr. Meadvin has partnered with some of Cherry Hill’s most skilled and experienced dental implant specialists. You’ll have a trusted expert to help you through the surgical phase of the process before you return to our practice for your customized restoration.

During your procedure, your surgeon will numb the area(s) in your mouth that they’ll be working on. You might also likely be sedated to help you remain calm and comfortable throughout the process. Next, they’ll make small incisions in your gum line to reach your jawbone so that they can embed the metal posts in their preplanned positions before suturing the gums around them. Afterward, they’ll fit a protective cap on the implant to keep it safe while you heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Once your dental implants have been placed, you might expect them to take up to six months to properly fuse with the jawbone tissue. This is the process referred to as “osseointegration,” which is essential for creating the lifelike and stable foundation needed to support the titanium posts for many years to come. After you’ve fully recovered, you’ll return to our office to have your abutments placed atop your posts—small metal pieces that will connect your restoration(s) to your implants. We’ll take impressions of the area for creating your new pearly whites.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

The impressions will be sent to a dental lab for the fabrication of your permanent dental crown, bridge, or denture. Once your restoration(s) are completed, you’ll come back to our office to have your new tooth/teeth placed. We will verify that your bite is comfortable and that you are satisfied with the results before sending you on your way to make the most of your brand-new smile.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Easy maintenance: You won’t have to perform any special cleaning methods to maintain your new pearly whites. By simply practicing proper dental hygiene and visiting our team regularly for checkups, you can keep your restoration clean and healthy.
• Improved chewing or biting power: You can regain 80% or more of your biting force with dental implants. Since they rebuild your teeth from the roots up, they’ll be stable enough to withstand excessive chewing like your natural pearly whites.
• Increased confidence: Unlike dentures, you won’t have to worry about your dental implants shifting out of place when talking or eating. This means you can feel comfortable showing off a reliable and fully restored smile.

Health Benefits

• Preserves the jawbone: By serving as your new permanent roots, dental implants will stimulate blood flow into your jawbone, preventing it from changing or shrinking. This will also help prevent further tooth loss in the long run by providing a strong foundation for your pearly whites.
• Enhanced stability: Your restorations will be directly supported by the titanium posts in your jawbone, meaning they won’t move out of place. For this reason, you’ll be able to enjoy all your favorite meals without worries.
• Better overall health: Tooth loss can be detrimental to both your oral and overall well-being, as it can increase your risk of other serious issues like diabetes and heart disease. By stimulating strong and healthy bone tissue, your dental implants can preserve your smile and protect your bodily health.

Long-Term Benefits

• Youthful appearance: By preventing facial shrinkage or an aged appearance, dental implants can help you maintain a younger look and smile for many years to come.
• High success rate: These restorations have been found to have a success rate of 95% or more even 10 years after being placed. This makes them much more reliable compared to other tooth replacement options like dental bridges and dentures.
• Long-lasting solution: While the restoration atop the metal posts may need to be replaced within several years or more, the dental implants themselves can typically last a lifetime with proper care.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Pretty much any healthy adult can get dental implants. Here are the things that we consider when determining if someone makes a good candidate:

• Good overall health: Placing dental implants is a surgical procedure, so you will need to be well enough to undergo minor surgery. 
• Great oral health: Issues like cavities and gum disease can potentially cause dental implants to fail, so they’ll need to be addressed first.
• Adequate jawbone density: Your jawbone must be strong enough to support dental implants for your treatment to be a success. 

If you don’t initially make a good candidate, there’s no reason to be discouraged. Many patients need to complete preliminary treatments, like tooth extractions, gum disease therapy, or bone grafting before they can get dental implants. We will help you to schedule these preparatory procedures to get you on track. Once you make a good candidate, we will put together a plan that’s right for you.

Missing One Tooth

To replace a single tooth, one implant post is positioned below the gumline, and a custom dental crown is attached to the implant. Compared to a dental bridge, which requires that two adjacent teeth are filed down, the approach is much less invasive.

Missing Multiple Teeth

For two or more teeth in a row, we typically recommend anchoring a row of replacement teeth with a dental implant at either end for optimal support. To replace both consecutive and nonconsecutive teeth, an implant-supported partial denture may be used. Partials are typically secured onto two to four strategically positioned dental implant posts.

Missing All Teeth

A full denture can be attached to between four and six implant posts (depending on the size of patients’ natural jawline and tooth replacement prosthetic). Compared to traditional dentures, implant dentures create a more natural restoration and provide superior comfort and stability.

Consultation & Imaging

You’ll need an initial consultation to ensure you are a candidate for dental implants. Besides a visual examination, you need to have X-rays and a CT scan. This allows us to assess your oral structures while pinpointing the correct placement of your posts. You need to pay the consultation fees and the cost of the images, which can range from $25 to $200.

Additional Procedures

It is common to need additional procedures before placing your implant posts. Depending on the type of treatment you need, it will increase the cost. On average, you can expect to pay:

• Bone Grafting: $250 to $1,100
• Tooth Extractions: $75 to $650

Dental Implant Placement

An oral surgeon surgically places titanium implant posts into your jawbone to act as new tooth roots. You will need to pay the surgeon’s fees and the cost of sedation or anesthesia. The number of posts you need impacts the amount you pay for your new smile. Depending on the type of posts you use, you will pay:

• Standard Implant Post: $1,000 to $2,000 each
• Mini Implants: $300 to $900 each

Dental Implant Restorations

The restoration phase of your treatment is often the most expensive. Besides the cost of your replacement teeth, you also need to pay for the abutments, which are $500 to $1,000 per fixture. The number of teeth you are replacing influences the cost of the restorations.

• Single Unit Crown: $1,000 to $3,000
• Implant-Supported Bridge: $6,000+
• Implant Denture: $3,500 to $7,000+

Options for Paying for Dental Implants

Don’t let the cost of the treatment prevent you from completing your smile. There are several ways to keep your procedure affordable, like using your dental insurance. Although it will not pay the entire cost, it will cover certain aspects until you reach your annual limit, such as the CT scans, anesthesia, and restorations.

To cover any remaining balance, we accept a variety of payment options, including CareCredit. You are given the funds you need, which you repay using a plan that accommodates your budget.