Dr. Alan Farber
Dental Implant Center Dr.
800-616-7010 (855) 784-6752
523 Townline Rd., Suite 11, Hauppauge, NY 11788
1641 Route 112, Suite B, Medford, NY 11763
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Dental Implant FAQs

Dental Implant Center

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Implants are now the standard for replacing older dentistry and missing teeth because they look and feel like your natural teeth and have a higher success rate than all other forms of tooth replacement. The initial cost is higher for an implant over other forms of tooth replacement, but the long term benefits easily outweigh the slight additional cost.

Dental implants can last a lifetime, unlike bridges, partials and dentures that may need to be replaced several times. Since dental implants prevent bone resorption that occurs when tooth roots are missing, the natural appearance of the smile and contours of the face are preserved. With implant treatment, there is no compromise to adjacent teeth; they are not cut down to place a bridge, or loosened by the hooks on removable partials. Dentures and partials have the added disadvantage of accelerating the bone resorption process, which, among other things, causes the appearance of premature aging.

Your new dental implant supported replacement teeth (called an implant supported bridge) will look, feel and function like natural teeth. And since implant treatment is the only solution that prevents bone resorption, which can cause your smile to look unnatural, the long term esthetics will be superior to any other treatment option.


Overall health and a desire to improve the quality of life are much more important considerations than age. When dental implants were first developed in the 1950's, implant supported replacement teeth were originally designed as a solution for older patients who were missing all of their teeth. Since, many patients well into their nineties have had dental implant treatment without a single problem. In fact, we here at TeethToday have treated several patients into their 100s.

The length of treatment time depends largely upon whether someone is a candidate for Immediate Load / Immediate Function procedures. Patients who qualify for this TeethToday treatment receive their replacement teeth the same day implants are placed.

For few patients who require a more traditional approach, treatment can take anywhere from several weeks to several months, depending upon the quality of the bone in which the implants are placed. If procedures are needed to augment the bone, the total treatment time is usually somewhere between six to nine months.

Most implant patients report that the discomfort is far less than they expected, and is much like having a tooth extracted. And although everyone is different with regard to pain tolerance, most patients are very comfortable simply taking over-the-counter analgesics afterward.

For those missing single teeth, yes â€“ one implant per tooth. However for those with several teeth to all their teeth missing, it is possible to replace all teeth per jaw with as few as 4 implants. In addition, some dental specialists feel that it is advantageous to replace missing posterior teeth with individual implants to provide additional strength to withstand the forces of chewing for patients who have most of their natural teeth.

Each patient's situation is unique and should be evaluated by a dental specialist to determine the appropriate number of implants required to support the replacement teeth that will meet the patient's functional and esthetic needs.

Documented clinical research demonstrates that implant supported restorations have been successful for over 30 years. These were some of the first root-form implant cases ever completed and they have been closely monitored from the beginning. It is highly likely that these cases will be successful throughout the lifetime of those patients.

Dental implants are designed to be permanent; however many factors contribute to the long term success of implant treatment, such as quality of the surgical and restorative treatment, implants, home care and regular maintenance visits to the dentist or dental specialist.

By comparison, research demonstrates that the average tooth supported bridge (conventional dentistry) lasts from 7-10 years and that partials and dentures may be are functional for approximately 5 years.

Dental implant treatment is one of the most successful procedures in the medical-dental field, with documented success rates over 95%. Our TeethToday research has shown success rates even higher. Although successful treatment is very predictable, there are rare occasions where the bone does not completely bond to the implants. When this occurs, new implants are placed, and the success rates for the replacement implants are even higher.


Several years ago there was quite a scare about certain types of breast implants, which has caused a number of people to ask if the same thing is possible with dental implants.


Sometimes it is possible to use a patient's existing denture, as opposed to fabricating a new denture to snap onto dental implants, by altering it to accommodate the necessary attachments. However, there are a number of factors that must be considered. Since each patient's situation is unique, the possibility of using an existing denture can only be determined in consultation with a dentist or dental specialist.

Naturally, since dental implants preserve bone, if a patient qualifies as a candidate, implant treatment is usually considered the treatment of choice. Now that implants are considered standard of care, it is much less common for dentists to recommend tooth supported fixed bridges instead of implant supported bridges. However, some dentists still recommend traditional tooth supported bridges for patients due to their own comfort level, or when patients insist on having the immediate lowest possible fee for tooth replacement, or other treatment related issues Even in cases where the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth/teeth have restorations, many dentists do not want to grind these teeth down into peg shapes to fit a bridge, as this compromises the long term health of those teeth. And most dentists detest the idea of grinding down perfectly healthy teeth to place a traditional bridge, and therefore, will almost always recommend dental implant treatment in these cases.

There are many situations where natural teeth are either failing, or are about to fail. This includes severe periodontal disease (gum disease) that has eroded the bone that supports teeth. Sometimes in these cases, it is preferable to extract the teeth; eliminate the disease and infection and replace the teeth with implant supported crowns/bridges.

There are also situations where a tooth has had a root canal (nerves have been removed from the tooth) leaving the tooth brittle and susceptible to fracture. In cases where the tooth needs to be retreated and the prognosis is not favorable, it is preferable to extract the tooth and replace it with an implant supported crown.


The home care recommended varies depending upon the type of implant supported replacement teeth. For example, a single implant supported crown is cleaned like a natural tooth, with regular brushing and flossing. Implant supported bridges that replace a few teeth are cleaned like tooth supported bridges, brushing and flossing with a floss threader.


In all cases, it is recommended that patients see their regular dentist and hygienist at least twice each year. It is usually recommended that the patient sees our surgical specialist who placed the implant(s) at least once each year as well. These visits, combined with proper home care, are essential to the long term success of implant treatment.

No. You will be able to undertake any activity that you would with normal teeth. This includes eventually eating whatever you choose. Your new replacement teeth will look, feel and function like natural teeth, which will allow you to forget about them and enjoy life as it was meant to be enjoyed.





The only way to accurately estimate the cost for an individual patient is to have an examination and consultation with our dental specialists.





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