Dr. Mauricio Lavie is a true-blue Jersey boy. Raised in Bergen County, Dr. Lavie is a graduate of Rutgers College, where he earned his B.S. degree in Psychology. As a Henry Rutgers Scholar, Dr. Lavie completed a graduate level research project that culminated in a subsequent publication in Brain Research. He went on to study at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School (now Rutgers School of Dental Medicine), where he earned his DMD degree. Dr. Lavie continued his studies at New Jersey Dental School for four additional years, where he obtained a post-graduate specialty in Prosthodontics, and Masters of Science in Dentistry.

Dr. Lavie maintains a private practice limited to prosthodontics in Chatham, NJ where he proudly utilizes the latest in digital x-rays, intraoral scanning and imaging, 3D printing, and other digital technologies to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of his patients.

Although having a beautiful smile and the confidence that comes with that are important, there are also important health reasons to have dental implants. Whether replacing one tooth or several, implants are an important solution to restoring and maintaining dental health.

Once a tooth is lost, several things begin to happen that are not immediately noticeable to a patient and which can have a significant negative effect on both health and appearance. Tooth roots help hold teeth in place but they are also critical in maintaining health in the surrounding gums and supporting bone structures. Bone loss in the jawbone is one of the significant problems that naturally occurs once a tooth is lost. This bone loss can compromise the integrity of neighboring tooth roots and tooth stability. This bone loss is also a large part of what causes the sunken look that is seen in people who have lost several or all of their teeth. It is the reason patients who wear dentures find that over time their dentures are harder and harder to fit and keep in place.

Dental implants are the replacement of tooth roots in the mouth. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants, which are placed in the jawbone, are small anchors made of a biocompatible metal called titanium. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over the course of a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the permanent attachment of the replacement teeth.

Using a virtual 3-D model or a physical model, implant placements and the following restorative work can be simulated to create the ideal patient treatment plan. These virtual plans allow the doctor to take multiple aspects of implant placement and restoration into consideration, resulting in optimal aesthetics, function and longevity for the patients final restoration. Working with a 3-D model also allows the patient to better understand the procedures and visualize the end result.

Once planning is complete, specialized software can be used to create a surgical guide for use during implant placement. This guide directs the exact location, angle and depth of the implant placement. The use of the guide increases the accuracy, efficiency, safety and predictability of the procedure.

An implant supported bridge is a restorative solution for spaces where three or more adjacent teeth are missing. Thebridge replaces multiple adjacent missing teeth without the use of a denture. This restoration typically requires two implants to support the porcelain bridge. The bridge provides a functional and aesthetic replacement for the patients natural teeth.

Implant supported dentures can help alleviate movement or gum irritation caused by loose dentures and can be either fixed or removable. This technique Offering many advantages over traditional dentures, this solution requires the placement of two or more implants to anchor the dentures.

Dental implant placement can also help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can also help prevent future bone loss.

Fixed implant supported dentures remain in place and does not need to be removed at night. There is no plate covering the roof of the mouth, so speaking and eating are more natural and comfortable than with a traditional denture.

It can be overwhelming when you are told that you have a complex dental problem, and/or you are going to lose some teeth. Whether due to gum disease, failed root canals, tooth decay, or mechanical destruction, dental problems can become quite complex.

As the project manager of your dental treatment, Dr. Lavie will help coordinate treatment and communication with any and all dental and medical specialists that will help rehabilitate your mouth (Periodontists, Oral Surgeons, Endodontists, etc.).