Dental Implants in Chestnut Hill
When a tooth is lost, the impact goes well beyond appearance. Chewing becomes less efficient, speech can shift, and without a tooth root stimulating the jawbone, the underlying bone begins to resorb. Over time, neighboring teeth drift toward the gap, bite alignment changes, and the overall structure of the jaw can collapse inward. For many people in Chestnut Hill and the surrounding communities, dental implants have become the most dependable long-term answer to tooth loss because they address all of these consequences, not just the visible gap.
At Laudenbach Periodontics & Dental Implants, Dr. Jay Laudenbach leads a periodontal practice that has served the greater Philadelphia area for over 40 years. Dr. Laudenbach holds advanced training in implant placement and oral reconstructive procedures, and our practice places premium Straumann implants, one of the most extensively researched implant systems available. From evaluation through final restoration, every step of your implant care is coordinated in-house by the same team that evaluates your bone and gum health before a single incision is made. Our Chestnut Hill patients benefit from board-certified periodontal standards that have earned our practice recognition as a Top Periodontist practice by Philadelphia Magazine for multiple consecutive years, including 2025.
Why Dental Implants Are Different from Other Tooth Replacements
Bridges and dentures replace the visible crown of a missing tooth but leave the jawbone without stimulation, which allows bone to continue deteriorating beneath the restoration. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that restores both the root and the crown. The titanium post placed directly into the jawbone integrates with surrounding bone through a process called osseointegration, becoming a stable, permanent part of your jaw structure. This integration preserves the bone, stabilizes neighboring teeth, and provides a foundation strong enough to withstand normal biting and chewing without restriction.
A completed implant restoration has three components: the titanium fixture, an abutment that connects it to the surface, and a custom-fabricated crown matched in shape and shade to your surrounding teeth. The result looks, functions, and feels like a natural tooth. A large-scale retrospective analysis involving more than 158,000 patients found that dental implants achieved a clinical survival rate exceeding 97% when proper protocols were followed.
Implants also differ in how they support adjacent restorations. Single-tooth implants replace one missing tooth without affecting neighboring teeth. Implant-supported bridges span gaps without requiring adjacent healthy teeth to be ground down for anchorage. And implant-supported dentures snap onto four to six strategically placed implants, providing far greater stability than traditional removable prosthetics.
Who Is a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Most adults in good general health are candidates for dental implants. The most important physical prerequisite is adequate bone volume at the implant site. If bone loss has occurred due to periodontal disease or a prior extraction, a preparatory procedure such as bone grafting may be needed first to rebuild the foundation before an implant can be placed.
Active gum disease must be stabilized before implant surgery. This is one of the most important reasons to choose a periodontist for implant care. Dr. Laudenbach and our team are trained to diagnose and treat the very conditions that most threaten implant success, including peri-implantitis, bone loss, and soft tissue instability. We do not simply place an implant and hand care back to a general dentist. We manage the full biological environment surrounding it.
During your evaluation, we assess the following factors to determine the optimal treatment path:
- Available bone height and width at the implant site
- Gum tissue health and thickness
- Bite relationships and position of opposing teeth
- Systemic health factors such as diabetes or osteoporosis that affect healing
- Current medications, particularly blood thinners or immunosuppressants
- Smoking status, which significantly increases risk of implant failure
Patients requiring bone augmentation or sinus lift procedures before implant placement are well within our scope of care. We also perform socket preservation at the time of extraction to maintain bone volume and simplify future implant placement.
Implant Financing Options at Our Chestnut Hill Practice
We understand that dental implants represent a meaningful financial commitment. Our practice offers flexible financing options to help make implant treatment accessible without requiring full payment upfront. During your consultation, our team reviews your insurance benefits and walks you through payment arrangements that fit your situation. Learn more about insurance and payment options at our practice.
The Implant Process at Our Chestnut Hill Office
Understanding what to expect makes the implant process far less intimidating. Every case at our practice follows a structured, carefully monitored sequence designed to optimize both healing and long-term outcomes.
Consultation and Imaging
Your first appointment includes a thorough clinical evaluation and cone beam 3D imaging, which gives us precise three-dimensional data on your bone volume, density, and the proximity of anatomical structures such as nerves and the sinus floor. This technology allows us to plan implant sizing and positioning with a level of accuracy that conventional X-rays cannot provide. Review our pre-operative instructions to prepare for your procedure.
Implant Placement
Implant surgery is performed under local anesthesia and is more straightforward than most patients anticipate. The titanium fixture is placed into the jawbone at the predetermined site and angle. A healing abutment or temporary restoration is placed to protect the site during recovery.
Osseointegration and Healing
Over the following three to six months, bone grows directly onto the titanium surface through osseointegration. Lower jaw implants typically integrate faster than upper jaw implants due to higher bone density. Understanding what to expect during recovery helps you prepare for this phase. We monitor your progress at each follow-up appointment.
Final Restoration
Once osseointegration is confirmed, we take precise impressions or digital scans to fabricate your final abutment and crown. Digital shade matching ensures the restoration blends seamlessly with surrounding teeth. For patients replacing multiple teeth, full arch restorations use strategically placed implants to support a complete upper or lower prosthesis with far superior stability to removable options. Patients missing a single tooth can also explore single tooth dental implants in more detail.
Caring for Your Implants Long-Term
Implants can last a lifetime when maintained properly, but they are not immune to failure. Peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition caused by bacterial accumulation around the implant, is the primary long-term threat. Left untreated, it causes progressive bone loss that can ultimately compromise the implant’s stability. Patients with a history of periodontal disease are at elevated risk and benefit from closer monitoring.
The habits that protect your implants are the same ones that protect natural teeth:
- Brush at least twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush
- Floss or use an interdental brush around the implant crown daily
- Attend periodontal maintenance appointments every three to six months
- Avoid smoking, which increases implant failure risk substantially
- Contact our office promptly if you notice tenderness, swelling, or any change around the implant site
At each maintenance visit, we assess the tissue around the implant, take radiographs to track bone levels, and check the fit and integrity of the restoration. Early detection and intervention when peri-implant changes appear protect your investment and preserve the bone supporting the implant long-term.
Why Chestnut Hill Patients Choose Laudenbach Periodontics
Our practice has been a trusted resource for patients throughout Chestnut Hill and the Philadelphia region for over four decades. Dr. Jay Laudenbach has been recognized as a Top Periodontist by Philadelphia Magazine for multiple consecutive years, including 2025, a distinction earned through consistent clinical outcomes and patient-centered care. We use only premium Straumann implants, and every stage of your treatment, from surgical placement through long-term maintenance, is managed within our practice by the same team that placed your implant. You will not be passed between providers or offices.
If you are missing one tooth or several, or if you have been told you are not a candidate because of bone loss, we encourage you to schedule a consultation. Many patients who believe implants are not an option discover that preparatory procedures can make treatment possible. Contact us to schedule your consultation and learn what implant options are available for your specific situation.
Experience the Life-Changing Benefits of Dental Implants in Philadelphia
Discover the transformative power of dental implants and regain your confident smile. Benefit from advanced implant placement techniques by scheduling a consultation today!
Ready to Schedule? We're Here for You.
Call our office or request an appointment online — same-day emergency appointments available.
“All in One” Same
Day Tooth Replacement
Grafting
Our Mission
Our mission is to help patients live healthier lives. We provide a caring, nurturing environment where your comfort and health is of primary importance.
1520 Locust Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215-985-4337
Serving The Following Cities:
Philadelphia PA• Ardmore PA• Bala Cynwyd PA• Broomall PA• Bryn Mawr PA
Chester Heights PA• Flourtown PA• Gladwyne PA• Haverford PA• Media PA
Springfield PA• Merion Station PA• Narberth PA• Newtown Square PA• Havertown PA
Villanova PA• Wayne PA• Wynnewood PA• Lafayette Hill PA• Devon PA
Paoli PA• Berwyn PA• Immaculata PA