Buffalo Dental Implant
1526 Walden Ave. Cheektowaga, NY 14225
716-882-3777
Dental Implant - Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that choosing dental implants and a dental implant doctor near you can be confusing. So we created a guide that you can download or view online. Click here for that guide.
In addition, we have compiled a list of frequently asked dental implant questions. Click on your questions below.
For even more information specific to your case, we offer free and private consultations. Just call (716) 882-3777 to schedule one today!
Patient Review - "I can not say enough about my implant done by Dr. Farber. Dr. Farber did my implant in one session. The amazing thing is that I didn't experience any pain afterwards." Sherry - Google Review
I've been told that I don't have enough bone to get a dental implant.
We hear this weekly from patients that they have been told by "big and credible" dental facilities that they have too much bone loss to have dental implants placed.
What is Dr. Farber's response? This is simply not the case. Only in very, very rare exception, can you not get implants! (Side note, we struggled writing this part because to date, we have not had one case that Dr. Farber couldn’t fix, but we don’t want to use absolutes. There are always exceptions, even if we haven’t seen them yet) And we’re not talking about the new super long implants that stick into your cheekbones (which Dr. Farber says should be used in only specific last resort cases and only by qualified surgeons).
To many people, this sounds too good to be true. Why would anyone tell you that you can't get implants done, and then Dr. Farber at Buffalo Dental Implant says yes you can? What if he's wrong? Wouldn't the other dental place have done it if it could be done?
Dr. Farber says that the reason is simple. Most doctors that tell you that too much bone loss means you can’t have dental implants are usually not completely up to date on the latest bone grafting techniques. Bone grafting is highly predictable (meaning that you can safely declare the outcome in advance) when it’s done by a surgeon that does nothing but place implants and bone grafts all day and every day. Dr. Farber has placed thousands and thousands of implants and places more standard implants than any single surgeon in Western New York.
In addition, he is a periodontal surgeon who travels continuously for education to stay absolutely current on every possible dental technique associated with dental implants. In short, he has the passion, tools, and the skills to get each case placed easily. His skills also allow him to place implants in a fraction of the time that it takes other surgeons to do the same surgery. This makes the patient experience much easier. Less time in surgery means less discomfort. Dr. Farber is truly a dental implant master.
Bone CAN be replaced (see more about bone grafting here) and Dr. Farber CAN create a safe environment for implants to securely remain in your mouth for a lifetime.
An example of this is a father who's 19 year old son was in an accident that damaged bone, tissue and several of his teeth. This is one of our favorite stories because the father was SO skeptical that we could do anything based on what so many other reputable offices had told him. The father was also HIGHLY skeptical because two other dental facilities had attempted and failed bone/tissue grafting. The father was very protective of his son because his son had already gone through so much suffering. Dr. Farber successfully placed an implant and performed bone and tissue augmentation that helped not only correct the damaged tooth, but the damage done to the surrounding tissue. This was all accomplished in one surgery. The son's smile was back to its original glory. We were so proud to have been trusted and to help when others couldn't.
So if you've been told that you can't have implants, or that you can't have implant supported full mouth-full arch dentures, come in for a free and private 2nd opinion. Ask to hear one of our case studies. Let Dr. Farber examine your mouth and you will most likely hear our favorite line, “No problem!”
And compare our pricing, because despite the high level of skill that we bring to the table, our pricing is very competitive and fair. We don’t need to charge more than most any other office because we are efficient and caring. Our motto is, "We don't just fix teeth, we change lives." We truly live it every day.
How much do dental implants cost?
Dental Implants at Buffalo Dental Implant cost an average of between $1600 and $2800. This includes bone and membrane. The reason that there isn't one straight forward answer (and you may find many places won't answer this question) is because everyone's case is different. Your bone health, how big of an implant is needed, whether you need an extraction... there are many little factors that change the actual cost of a dental implant. This answer is for a dental implant. The implant is the part that goes under your gums. It's not the part that you can see. That part that shows and looks like a tooth is called a Crown and Abutment. They are priced separately because not every implant gets a crown. (Implants can be used to support bridges or dentures, too). The crown and abutment that are used to "restore" an individual implant (meaning one implant per tooth) cost between $1,800 and $2,500 depending on the material needed.
You also need to make sure you're comparing similar products. Our implants are FDA approved. They are standard dental implants (not minis which are smaller and often require more than one per site) and we require fewer appointments than most doctors. We can place the bone and membrane on the same day as the implant which saves you much healing time. Our implants are placed by a surgeon. When people choose us as their 2nd opinion, they are very surprised to see that we meet and often beat prices offered by other dentists. When people choose us as their first option, they are getting a really great deal.
Patient review, "Simply the BEST !!! Dr. Farber is definitely a cut above all the rest. I had 2 implants done by him and his wonderful staff, including Dr. May who did my wonderful crown work. After going to 3 other places for treatment plans which included unnecessary tooth removal and statements of "Can't be done", I met Dr.Farber. I finally felt at ease by his confident and professional demeanor ,and was given a wonderful treatment plan. Dr Farber was able to do things others could not ! Why?...because he is a SURGEON !! When starting to research implants, do yourself a favor and start at the TOP. It will alleviate a lot of stress. I am so thankful to have to have this amazing team on my side. I no longer have any dental anxiety as we all do. I trust Dr. Farber implicitly!" - Mark - Google Review
I'm nervous about bone grafting.
Don’t let bone grafting make you nervous. Bone grafting is simply the placement of inert bone cell tissue into the site of a dental implant placement. This is done (when needed) to make sure the body has a leg up on healing and holding the Implant in place.
The bone graft material is sterile and safe. Dr. Farber gently places and sculpts this material into areas where you have any missing bone. Your body’s bone cells recognize this as bone tissue and your cells adhere to it and grow solid new bone. The bone graft serves as a type of “scaffold” to support new bone growth while enhancing your bone’s ability to support your Implant.
It’s sterile, painless, and is used only when necessary to help your body heal.
If you have been told you do not have enough bone for an implant, get a second opinion. The person that told you may not be familiar with all the latest surgical techniques and materials. Bone can be grown in almost any situation and it does not have to delay healing. Click here to see a photo of typical bone graft material.
How many appointments are required.
What is the healing time for dental implants? This does depend on who places your implant. At Buffalo Dental Implant it is typically 3 appointments after your consultation.
Appointment 1 - Dr. Farber does your extraction (if needed), and places the implant and any needed bone and membrane, all in this appointment. Usually in less than 30 minutes.
Appointment 2 - This is a 20 minute healing check appointment. It's called a tap test because we use a small tool to very lightly tap on the implant. The resonation sound it makes indicates whether it is healing well. This appointment is usually 5-6 weeks after appointment number 1.
Appointment 3 - This is the torque check. It's another 20 minute appointment where we check for healing. We use another tool to gently check the implant to make sure there is no wiggling or spinning. This indicates that the bone has secured itself into the implant and is keeping it securely in place. This appointment usually takes place at the 12-14 week mark. After this appointment you are cleared to get your implant restored which means getting the visible crown and abutment put on so your tooth looks like a tooth!
Patient review, "If you are faced with a choice between a root canal or an implant by Dr. Farber and his team it's a no-brainer ! Dr. Farber and his staff had the procedure completed inside of one hour after I had a failed root canal. No pain. Exceptional professionalism, un-matched skill and all in a great environment. Excellent group." - Clark - Google Review
How many days do I have to go without teeth (or a tooth)?
Zero! We will have a really nice temporary tooth (teeth) ready for you. We can take the impressions at the consultation and have it ready for you on the day of your implant placement. The reason you need a temporary tooth is because after any procedure like this, your gums will be a little bit swollen. It's not possible to get a good impression for your permanent tooth at this point. Many places like to say teeth today, but those teeth are still temporaries.
I am interest in full arch or full mouth dentures.
We've got you! Dr. Farber has developed a line of implant supported dentures called Confi-Dents that have been successfully tested in the market for many years. To get the most information and to get access to the free guide for implant supported dentures, visit Confi-Dents.info or clicking here.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is designed to be an artificial tooth root. The implant is placed into jaw bone to hold a replacement tooth (crown), bridge, or denture. A common misconception for people just learning about implants is that dental implants include the visible tooth replacement part (the crown). Be mindful of this when you get quotes. A dental implant is the titanium part that goes into the jaw. It is not visible. The reason it is separate is that not everyone uses dental implants to hold a crown in place. Some people use the implant(s) to support a dental bridge or even to lock in implant supported full arch dentures.
Because implants are designed to replace the missing tooth root, Buffalo Dental Implant most frequently uses Standard Dental Implants rather than Mini Dental Implants. You can read more about standard dental implants here.
Why should I choose a surgeon to place implants?
Dental implants placed by a periodontal surgeon have a higher success rate than if they are placed by a general dentist. This is true because a highly trained surgeon places so many more implants in the course of a year than the average general dentist does. This leads to highly skilled professionals that have experienced many situations and have the knowledge and supplies to handle everything needed. Statistically speaking, standard dental implants placed by a surgeon have a 99% success rate. Standard dental implants placed by a general dentists have an 81.3% success rate. Mini dental implants, regardless of who places them, have a 91.9 success rate. Having a surgeon place your implant does do mean higher prices. You can bring any treatment plan to Buffalo Dental Implant for a free second-opinion consultation and chances are very high that we'll meet or even beat it. Ask the doctor how many implants per year they place.
The answer if you ask Dr. Farber is that he places well over a thousand implants per year.
How much do full arch implants (implant supported dentures) cost?
This question is so hard to answer because there isn't really an average number. Each person's situation, wishes, and oral health are so different. Whether you want fixed or removable, whether you need 4 or 6 implants to support each arch, the condition of your jaw bone prior to the procedure, are all a few of the things that affect the pricing.
This is why we offer totally free consultations. At the consultation we can give you an accurate number and what the possibilities are for your mouth after the free examination.
Yet we also understand why people ask us to just give a ballpark number. We certainly don't want to be evasive because that's annoying. So the range we give when we know nothing about a person's medical condition is $12,000 to $28,000 per arch. (Did you know that in dentistry, "arch" means the top or bottom row of teeth. So per arch means per upper or lower row of teeth) It can sometimes be higher. It's almost never lower. Implant supported teeth are complicated and beautiful little machines that are customized with so many details for each person. We line up the center of the teeth, the length and color of each tooth, the customized fit for each millimeter of your mouth. They are life changing, and they are an expensive investment. We remind you, you can come in for a free consultation so we can give you exact numbers and what possibilities there are for your individual mouth. You can see more about the design process here. You can watch a video to hear a patient's story here. You can get your own free consultation (with no obligation to move forward until you're ready) by calling 716-882-3777.
How much does Pinhole Surgery or Gum Grafting cost?
Pinhole Surgery, also known as Pinhole Gum Rejuvenation, is a minimally invasive option for correcting gum recession and saving teeth. Most patients are pleasantly surprised to find several benefits including instant cosmetic improvement, and that they are able to resume light activities within 24-48 hours.
Giving you accurate pricing without seeing your specific situation is difficult because each case is different. It’s also hard for you to decide whether this is an option for you when you have no idea how much it costs. We get it. So our ballpark answer is that on average Pinhole Surgery costs between $510 and $910 per tooth.
Sometimes people are not candidates for Pinhole Surgery and they require traditional Gum Grafting. This is typically because of the thickness and health of the existing gums. When someone needs Gum Grafting, the costs are approximately $950 to $1,200 per tooth. It is very seldom one tooth that needs grafting done (for example, the most common requests for this procedure are for people wanting to fix their two front bottom teeth). The second tooth and also each additional tooth is $300 to $600 on average.
Pinhole and Gum Grafting both improve the appearance of your smile and also help save teeth. Dental insurance typically covers a good portion of this. Come in for a consultation and fine out the details for your individual case.
