Pain. Embarrassment. Self-doubt. Those who have never dealt with dental issues might not realize what an all-encompassing issue it can be—not just physically, but mentally as well.
So when you finally find a solution, it has a ripple effect. That’s where Hybridge Implants & Smile Restoration comes in.
“People who have significant or complex dental problems, every aspect of their life is somehow affected. It could be functional. It could be their confidence. It could be their job,” says Dr. Frank LaMar, Hybridge founder and CEO. “You think, ‘Oh, we’re just changing their unhealthy teeth over to a healthy mouth, and we’re giving them back their smile.’ But it’s more than that.”
Hybridge Implants & Smile Restoration established itself as a leader in implant dentistry in Rochester 25 years ago. Its Buffalo location opened last month, welcoming patients to its new location at 31 Hopkins Road.
Over the years, the professionals at Hybridge have pioneered and perfected a type of prosthetic solution for those struggling with chronic or serious dental issues. These custom tooth prosthetics, or bridges, are anchored by permanent, screw-like titanium dental implants. They can be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth or all the way up to a full-mouth restoration.
Hybridge patient Jennifer, before and after her Hybridge implants.
“The implants are into the bone ... and the bridge is permanent,’ explains Dr. David Westmeyer, Buffalo clinical director. “It gets attached to implants so only the dentist can remove them for the patients, which creates a lot of stability. They can go through their day confidently. They don’t have to worry about it coming in and out.”
Patients have ranged in age from early 20s all the way to their 90s, and they have dental issues due to a variety of reasons, including disease, genetics or injury.
Hybridge staff work with each patient to determine the right path for them. Though the practice does offer conventional dentistry, fixes such as bridges on natural teeth only have a life of about 12 years, says Dr. LaMar, often leading to a cycle of repeated painful symptoms, loss of tooth function and costly repairs over time.
The Hybridge method addresses all of that—because the teeth are totally replaced, the issues of further deterioration are eliminated. The process takes from three to six weeks, and patients will never be without a set of functioning teeth.
“We do one surgical procedure where not only are the unhealthy teeth removed, but the implants placed and a brand-new smile inserted the same day,” says Dr. LaMar. “They walk out with what looks like their final teeth, even though it’s just a temporary version. And then three to six weeks later, we put in the final teeth.”
The end result? A smile you finally don’t have to worry about.
“Our goal is that the patients are not thinking about their teeth at all,” says Dr. Westmeyer. “They’re able to go and just show up for other people in their life, and they’re able to do whatever they want to do confidently.”
