Dental Implants at Chemung Family Dental

A small titanium post placed in your jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Once it fuses with the bone, a custom crown is attached on top. The result looks, feels, and works much like a natural tooth.

Dr. Nicholas Petti, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, performs the surgery here on site. Dr. Dunn handles the restoration. You do not travel to another office for the surgical part.

A bridge works, but it requires reshaping the healthy teeth either side of the gap, and it does not preserve the bone underneath. An implant stands on its own and maintains the bone. That said, a bridge is sometimes the better choice, and we will tell you when.

Typically three to six months from placement to final crown, most of which is healing while the implant integrates with your bone. Cases needing extraction and grafting first take longer. You will have a timeline specific to your case at the consultation.

Most people in reasonable general health with enough jawbone are. If bone has been lost, grafting can often rebuild it. Uncontrolled diabetes, heavy smoking, and some medications affect healing and are part of the assessment.

Placement is done under local anesthetic, with sedation available, so you should not feel pain during the procedure. Afterwards most patients report mild soreness for a few days, manageable with over-the-counter pain relief. Many say it was easier than an extraction.

The crown is matched to the color, shape, and size of your surrounding teeth. In most cases people cannot identify which tooth is the implant.

Many last decades, and a well-maintained implant can last a lifetime. The crown on top may need replacing sooner than the implant itself. Longevity depends heavily on gum health and regular maintenance.

Most failures come from infection of the gum and bone around the implant, which is why cleanings matter so much. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, and heavy grinding all increase risk. Implants do not decay, but their foundation can be lost.

Yes. They can support a single crown, a bridge spanning several teeth, or a full arch. We will work out which approach fits your situation and budget rather than defaulting to one implant per missing tooth.

Usually not, though you may need grafting to rebuild bone that has resorbed. That adds time and cost but does not rule it out. Dr. Petti can tell you what your particular site needs after imaging.

Brush and floss it like a natural tooth, and keep up your regular cleanings so we can monitor the gum and bone around it. Special floss and small interdental brushes help, and we will show you at the fitting.

Cost depends on whether extraction or grafting is needed and on how many teeth are involved. Dental coverage for implants varies widely. Some plans contribute, others very little. We verify your benefits and give you a written estimate covering every stage before treatment begins, with Cherry and CareCredit available for the balance.