Dr. Steven Polevoy is one of the most experienced implant dentists in Westchester. For the last 15 years, he’s been helping many of your neighbors restore their smiles to health with dental implants.
Perhaps no other dental procedure requires a skilled, experienced dentist as much as dental implants. After all, while it has become an easy procedure, it is still dental surgery, and utmost attention to detail is required at every step.
He has been involved in dental implants since 1990’s.
In the years since he completed his training, Dr. Polevoy continued to stay abreast of all the developments in implant dentistry. “Dental implantology is the newest fields in dentistry, and there are a lot of exciting innovations happening every year,” he says. “Any dentist who strives to provide world-class dental implant treatment can’t fall behind the times.”
Even though dental implants have become mainstream, many people still don’t know a lot about them.
We hope that we can answer your questions on this page.
And if you want to know how implants can improve your smile, please call us for a complimentary consultation!
Dental implants replace teeth that were lost due to trauma or disease.
Long-lasting, strong, and esthetic, it is just like having your natural tooth.
The main things people want to know:
Generally speaking, the process takes about 3 – 6 months but may vary per patient.
Every patient and their needs will be different. The fee will vary dependent on each individual’s situation and will be discussed prior to starting any treatment.
Again, everyone is unique and will have different experiences. In our experience, the feedback we receive is that there is minimal discomfort felt throughout the treatment.
Ultimately, implants can solve a number of different problems ranging from a prettier smile to the ability to eat comfortably.
This is a question we hear almost daily. While most dental insurance questions can be answered easily and quickly, this one is more complicated.
Many Westchester employers cover a portion of the dental implant procedure. Our Harrison dental office works with most dental insurance plans to maximize your savings for dental implants.
Dr. Steven Polevoy is an experienced dental implant dentist in Harrison, NY. He has been involved in implant dentistry since 1990’s, training at some of the top programs for implant dentists. Our practice is located in Harrison, NY, in the heart of Westchester County, close to Scarsdale, White Plains, Mamaroneck, and Rye. Dr. Polevoy’s gentle touch has become famous throughout the county, and many of your neighbors call our office their dental home.
We are happy to answer any dental implant questions you may have – and have put together this page to address most commonly asked questions.
Anyone who has lost a tooth has faced a decision whether to replace it, and if so, with what? In the past, there weren’t many options. Some would choose partial dentures , others bridges, but these days, more and more people choose dental implants.
Most people dismiss partial dentures out of hand. While they are better than no tooth at all, they never feel like they are part of your body. There’s always some movement, they need to be taken in and out, and in general, if there are other options, they are best regarded as temporary replacements.
The choice between bridges and dental implants is not so clear cut. Both present advantages and disadvantages, and sometimes it is a difficult decision to make.
Dr. Steven Polevoy has helped many of his patients make this decision. To find out what’s best for you, we would take you through this decision tree.
This simple illustration can serve as a guide to the best decision for you.
Both dental implants and dental bridges are excellent treatment choices, but sometimes one is better than the other, in your particular circumstances. This diagram can help you determine what the right choice is.
Of course, in real life the answers are not as clear cut as this diagram suggests. You may have weak teeth on the sides of the gap, and little bone to support an implant…or strong, “virgin” teeth on both sides, but poor quality bone making implants less predictable.
These situations require careful consultation with your dentist.
A bridge is 3 or more crowns joined together to replace a missing tooth. A typical example is a 3-crown bridge. As a tooth is lost, the dentist puts crowns on the teeth in front and the back, and another crown is suspended over the gap. It should come close to feeling natural, with the exception that since the teeth are connected, you are unable to floss underneath. Its main disadvantage is that the anchoring teeth are ground down, weakening them. In addition, these teeth are being asked to carry the extra load, and that may weaken them further.
More information can be found on the Dental Bridges page.
Because dental bridges have been around for decades, many people are more familiar with them. Dental implants, on the other hand, are a more recent addition to the restorative dentist’s toolbox. They first began to gain prominence in 1980’s, and by 2000 they have become a mainstream and routine treatment option.
A dental implant replace the root of the lost tooth, and then we can build a crown on top of it. When finished, it should feel, look, and function exactly as a natural tooth, and most patients have difficulty recalling which tooth is “theirs” and which one is the implant.
There are five separate procedures that are usually involved in a dental implant, and dental insurance companies cover each one differently.
A typical situation involves a tooth that can longer be saved. It may have had a root canal that failed, or a bad fracture, but now it is time to move on to the next step – the dental implant.
1. Tooth Extraction
2. Bone graft to preserve the bone
3. Placement of the dental implant into the bone
4. Placement of the abutment that will hold the crown into the implant
5. The crown that replaces the tooth
Each procedure has a separate insurance code, and gets covered differently. Some are covered under BASIC coverage, some are under MAJOR, some not at all. For the explanation of these terms, as more information about dental insurances, please see our financial coordinator’s discussion here.
This is a brief overview of how Westchester dental insurance companies cover these procedures. Usually, there are no differences between major insurance companies.
Westchester dental insurers cover these procedures differently. We work with Metlife PPO, Guardian PPO, Cigna PPO, United Healthcare PPO, Delta Dental PPO, and many others, and dental implant coverage depends on the individual plan, not the insurer.
Most dental insurance plans place these procedures under the BASIC dental services, and typically cover them relatively well. While every plan is different, most cover 60-80% of the cost of the extraction.
Once the tooth is extracted, the bone quickly withers away from the site. Bone grafting is frequently necessary to preserve the bone for the implant. We place bone material into the extraction socket and allow it to form new bone over a period of several months.
Most dental insurance plans DO NOT COVER this procedure when done in conjunction with dental implants.
This is the placement of the actual implant into the bone. The implant is inserted into the gum, and the bone fuses to it over a period of several months. The gum covers the site, so that it does not look any different than before.
Some dental insurances cover dental implants under MAJOR (usually around 50%), but most do not.
Most dental insurance plans place these procedures under the BASIC dental services, and typically cover them relatively well. While every plan is different, most cover 60-80% of the cost of the extraction.
Once the bone has fused to the implant, we place an abutment on it. If you have had root canals and crowns in the past, this is similar to a post that will hold the crown.
This is an area of the highest confusion. Some dental insurance plans refuse to cover any prosthetic procedure associated with dental implants.
Others cover it the same way as they would crowns on natural teeth.
If covered, it would be paid under MAJOR, typically at 50%.
If the tooth that’s being replaced is in the visible area, most patients elect to have a temporary tooth that looks natural and cosmetic.
The temporary is called a “flipper”, and is a removable tooth that slides into place. If submitted to your dental insurance, it may be covered under MAJOR portion, and is the code D5820 or D5821.
To sum up, these are the procedures involved in replacing a tooth with a dental implant, and insurance codes and possible coverage.
| Procedure | Dental Code | Insurance Coverage | Percent Covered |
| Tooth Extraction | D7140 or D7210 | Yes, under Basic | 60-80% |
| Bone Graft | D4263 | Typically no, or under BASIC | 0% or 60-80% |
| Dental Implant Placement | D6010 | Typically no, or under MAJOR | 0% or 40-50% |
| Prefabricated or Custom Abutment | D6056 or D6057 | Sometimes, under MAJOR | 0% or 40-50% |
| Abutment Retained Crown | D6058 or 6059 | Sometimes, under MAJOR | 0% or 40-50% |
| Interim Partial Denture (flipper) | D5820 or D5821 | Usually yes, under MAJOR | 40-50% |
While getting full coverage is usually impossible, sometimes we can get maximum benefit by using these “tricks of the trade.”
We hear this question a lot. While we can answer most dental insurance questions very easily, this one requires more information.
Most often, the level of coverage depends on your plan. Some dental insurance plans cover dental implants, and others do not. Nearly always we can get SOME coverage for you – whether or not it is a significant amount depends on the specific provisions of the plan your employer chose.
Dr. Steven Polevoy is an experienced dental implant surgeon – and that means that usually, you can have the entire procedure done right here in the office, by Dr. Polevoy.
Having it done by one implant dentist means it’s quicker, and often cheaper, than seeing multiple doctors.
A dental implant cannot get a cavity, but it can get gum disease. While it’s a fantastic replacement for a missing tooth, a dental implant still needs to be maintained. Most dental implants last well in excess of 10 years.
Usually, getting regular cleanings and checkups is all that is required. But it is even more important to keep these visits regular, as damage can be quick and irreversible.
Dental implant surgery is actually a completely painless process, with some local anesthesia (about what you’d get for a small filling). Most patients comment how easy and quick the procedure was. However, if you need sedation, we can certainly discuss different sedation options, from something as simple as Nitrous Oxide gas or a Valium pill, to a much deeper sedation when you are asleep. Dr. Steven Polevoy would discuss dental sedation options with you well before the procedure, making sure you are as comfortable for the dental implant surgery as possible.
“I lost another tooth and needed another implant. I’ve had one done before at a different practice. The process was so long! I had to go to an oral surgeon first, and back to my dentist, and back to the surgeon, and back to the dentist – it seemed they played ping-pong with my mouth for over a year! The implant at Dr. Polevoy’s office couldn’t be easier. Everything was done by him, and I never felt any pain. I was ready for another year-long adventure, but to my shock, we were done in 5 months. I couldn’t believe how simple it was!”
Peter M., White Plains, NY.
Please see our detailed discussion here about Dental Implants vs Bridges.
From standard dental procedures to oral cancer screenings, Dr. Polevoy and his staff offer a vast range of services in their Harrison dentist office. We are convenient to Mamaroneck, Rye, Port Chester, Scarsdale, White Plains, New Rochelle, and Larchmont.
