

Dental Implants

Vanguard and Achury Dental


Dental implants are an excellent option for replacing one or more missing teeth, and they’re an area of specialty for Camilo Achury, DDS, and Diva Puerta, DDS, at Vanguard and Achury Dental in Garden City, Long Island, and Jackson Heights, Queens. If you have questions about what dental implants can do for you, a one-on-one consultation can give you the details you need to make an informed decision about your dental health. Call either office in New York City or visit the online scheduling page to set up your visit today.

Dental Implants Q & A

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a treatment option to replace one or more missing teeth. Implants are anchored directly into your jaw bone, and once in place, they look and function just like your natural teeth. 

Because they’re a permanent and incredibly durable treatment, they are quickly becoming a top alternative to dentures and dental bridges. 

Why replace missing teeth?

When you’ve lost one or more natural teeth, many things about your bite will change over time. You might encounter trouble with speech, making you self-conscious about communicating at home or in the workplace. 

You might also have problems with your bite, making it hard to enjoy a healthy and varied diet. Some of the most nutritious foods require quite a bit of chewing, and missing teeth can limit your dietary options.  

Missing teeth also cause your remaining teeth to shift out of position. That changes the force of your bite and can place undue wear on your remaining teeth. 

Finally, there is the aesthetic aspect of missing teeth. Finding a long-term replacement can help you feel great about your smile and confident in how you present yourself to the world. 

How do dental implants work?

The process of getting a dental implant requires a degree of patience. During your initial visit, Vanguard and Achury Dental uses a scalpel to carefully open your gum tissue to gain access to your jaw bone. 

They make a small pilot hole to guide the implant, which they install directly into your bone. They suture your gum tissue closed, and a period of healing follows. 

Once your bone fuses to the metal implant material, you return to be fitted for the crown portion of your implant. Once your custom crown is ready, the team checks it for fit and then attaches it to a small connector called an abutment. 

That completes your dental implant. You’ll return for a follow-up visit to check that your gum tissue is adapting to your new implant. 

What type of dental implants are available?

If you only need to replace one missing tooth, a single implant may be all that’s required. If you are replacing several teeth, a bridge can be anchored to two dental implants. 

There are even options that replace all of your teeth with only four implants on the top jaw and four in the bottom jaw. Known as All-on-4 implants, this approach can deliver a gorgeous new smile with less expense and swifter healing than a full set of individual implants. 

To learn more about dental implants, and if it’s the right treatment for you, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.