Losing any number of teeth can make life more difficult and take a toll on your self-esteem. Fortunately, the gaps in your smile can be filled, and dental implants are often seen as one of the best ways to do so. Do you want a tooth-replacement option that looks and feels natural while also offering enhanced strength and longevity? Reach out to Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry today to find out whether dental implants might be a good fit for you!
Why Choose Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry for Dental Implants?
Dental Implants Placed In-Office
Multiple Dental Experts Under One Roof
Practice Known for Gentle, Comfortable Care
What Are Dental Implants?
A traditional denture sits on your gums while a traditional bridge is supported by natural teeth. In contrast, a dental implant (which is shaped like a screw and typically made out of titanium) is made to be surgically inserted into the jawbone. This gives it the unique ability to act like an artificial tooth root so that it can provide enhanced stability and chewing power to a crown, bridge, or denture. It’s often said that dental implants are the next best thing to real teeth!
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Every patient’s tooth loss journey is different, which is why it’s incredibly rare that two dental implant treatment plans will ever be the same. Our team at Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry will meet with you to learn more about your smile goals and develop a customized treatment plan to help restore your smile. Below is a brief, general overview of what you can expect from the process, with the first step being to schedule a consultation with us!
The Initial Consultation
At your initial consultation, you’ll spend plenty of one-on-one time with one of our experienced implant dentists at Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry. They will ask you questions about your smile goals, examine your mouth, and help determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. In some cases, before patients are able to undergo dental implant placement, they may require preparatory treatments like bone grafting or a sinus lift. Your dentist will help you better understand what your unique journey will look like during this visit.
Dental Implant Placement
Our team places our own dental implants in-house, meaning you won’t need to worry about having to travel to another provider for this part of your treatment. This process involves surgically placing the dental implants within the jawbone to allow them to fuse with it, essentially allowing them to operate like the roots of your natural teeth.
Osseointegration and Abutment
After your dental implants have been placed, they’ll undergo a months-long process called osseointegration, when they’ll fuse with the jawbone. This occurs due to their biocompatible nature and creates an unwavering foundation for a dental crown, bridge, or denture to be attached to. After your gums have healed and your implants have fused with the bone, your dental implant expert in Danvers will then attach small metal connector pieces called abutments to the tops of them and take an impression of your mouth to base your permanent restoration off of.
Delivering the Final Restoration
After our team sends an impression to our dental laboratory, lab technicians will get to work crafting a custom-made dental crown, bridge or restoration to restore your missing teeth. Once it’s complete, they’ll send it back to our office so we can have you try it on. If any adjustments need to be made, we’ll have them make those as soon as possible so you can dawn your new smile!
The Benefits of Dental Implants
More than 5 million dental implants are placed every year in the United States, and that number is steadily rising as more people learn about the life-changing benefits that they offer. Our team highly recommends that our patients interested in replacing missing teeth consider dental implants in Danvers because they offer the best results. You can learn more about the advantages of choosing this leading-edge treatment by reading below.
Daily Benefits
Easy to Maintain: Prosthetics secured to dental implants are maintained in the same way as your natural teeth. Continue brushing your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with alcohol-free mouthwash every day. Don’t forget to visit your dentist in Danvers every six months for checkups and cleanings!
Boosted Confidence: A complete, whole, and functional smile can have a drastic impact on your confidence. Whether you’re talking to friends or interviewing for a job, you’ll feel a life-changing shift in how others see you and you see yourself.
Speak & Eat More Easily: The stability that dental implants offer makes basic tasks like eating and speaking much In fact, they can restore up to 80% of your natural bite force.
Health Benefits
Preservation of Jawbone Density: Dental implants are the only tooth replacement treatment that restores the root structure of missing teeth, allowing them to stimulate the bone and keep it from eroding over time.
Improved Oral Health Outcomes: Tooth loss has been linked to an increased risk of oral health problems like gum disease and further tooth loss. Restoring your smile with dental implants can help preserve your oral health.
Better Overall Health: Research shows that tooth loss can also increase your risk of a number of medical problems. Because dental implants are as natural as replacement teeth get, they’re able to help reduce these risks.
Long-Term Benefits
High Success Rate: Dental implants boast an incredibly high success rate of 95% after five years of placement.
Long Lifespan: With a good at-home oral hygiene routine and routine visits to your dentist for professional cleanings and exams, your dental implants can last for 30 years or longer.
Mental & Emotional Benefits: Tooth loss has been linked to increased risk of depression, sadness, and anxiety. With a complete smile that you feel proud to show off, you may experience benefits to your mental and emotional wellbeing after restoring your smile with dental implants.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
You will likely be able to get dental implants as long as you have a healthy mouth and plenty of bone mass in your jaw. Additionally, you will need to be healthy enough to have minor surgery performed.
Bear in mind that dental implants can be used to replace any number of teeth. The exact number of implant posts you get and the type of prosthesis they support will ultimately be determined by the extent of your tooth loss.
Missing One Tooth
Replacing a single tooth with a dental implant is relatively simple. The implant post will be inserted into the gap where the tooth used to be. It will ultimately support a crown that will be custom-made to match the appearance of the rest of your smile.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Both partial dentures and dental bridges can be attached to dental implants in order to replace multiple teeth at the same time. Implant bridges can fill in gaps left by three or more consecutive teeth. Implant partial dentures can replace teeth that were in different parts of the same arch.
Missing All Teeth
If you have lost an entire row of teeth, you may be eligible for a full denture supported by four or more dental implants. Some implant dentures are removable, allowing you to easily clean underneath them; others are fixed in place, letting you give them the same care as natural teeth in the form of brushing and flossing.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Missing teeth can have a dramatic effect on your quality of life in many ways, often lowering self-esteem and complicating nutrition. In this way, dental implants are an investment in not only your oral health but also your physical and mental well-being. So, while the upfront cost may seem significant, they offer unmatched benefits, especially when compared with traditional dentures and bridges.
At Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry, every dental implant is as unique as the smile it fixes, making it difficult to name a price before your consultation. Read more below to better understand the various costs associated with the treatment so you can make an informed decision about restoring your smile.
Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery
Some patients may require preliminary treatments, such as bone grafting or tooth extractions, to prepare for implant surgery. These preparatory steps ensure that your implant has a strong foundation for long-term success.
Still, these treatments are extra, adding to the overall price of your implants. Thankfully, many of these procedures are often at least partially covered by your dental insurance, easing the financial strain.
Implant surgery is its own separate cost, but since we perform all our implants in-house, you won’t need to worry about paying extra for a specialist.
The Parts of Your Dental Implant
A dental implant consists of three key components:
Implant Fixture: A titanium screw surgically placed in the jawbone to serve as a tooth root.
Abutment: A connector piece that secures the crown to the implant.
Restoration: The visible crown, bridge, or denture that mimics the appearance of natural teeth. Depending on the type of restoration you desire, you may need more than one implant—increasing the total cost.
Regardless of the type of replacement you receive, each part is crafted with durable, high-quality materials for excellent longevity and functionality.
How Dental Implants Pay for Themselves
Dental implants are a cost-effective choice in the long run. This is because unlike traditional dentures or bridges that may need to be replaced or refurbished multiple times, implants are designed to last decades with proper care.
Your implants will also help prevent costly dental issues that stem from shifting teeth and bone loss that occurs in your jaw (absorption). Together with their excellent aesthetics and ease of care, dental implants are an investment that will continue to pay dividends throughout your lifetime.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Dental insurance coverage for implants varies. While some plans may partially cover specific aspects, like the crown or preliminary treatments, many categorize implants as cosmetic and provide limited coverage. At Danvers Aesthetic Family Dentistry, we work with major insurance providers, including Delta, BCBS, MetLife, Altus, and Cigna, to help you maximize your benefits.
Navigating insurance can be tricky, but our experienced team is here to guide you. We’ll verify your coverage, help you understand what’s included, and explain any out-of-pocket costs upfront. We’re committed to making the process as smooth and transparent as possible. So, call our Danvers office to schedule a consultation with our expert dental team. We’ll explore your options and take the first steps on your path to a healthier smile!
Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants
Once you’ve finished rebuilding your smile with dental implants in Danvers, it will be up to you to take care of your new teeth. With the right maintenance, dental implants can potentially last for decades, so it’s well worth going out of your way to protect them from harm. Below are some basic steps you can follow in order to maintain your dental implants; if you would like to learn more, don’t hesitate to ask our team the next time you visit our office.
Make Oral Hygiene a Priority
Practicing good oral hygiene is essential for protecting your dental implants. If plaque and tartar are allowed to build up in your mouth, they could lead to gum disease, which can ultimately result in dental implant failure. Remember to brush and floss at least two times a day to keep the area around your dental implants as clean as possible. Additionally, rinsing with mouthwash can go a long way toward fighting the harmful oral bacteria that can contribute to gum problems.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Sugary and starchy foods can potentially lead to major problems with your dental implants if you overindulge on them. The occasional sweet or potato chip is fine, but you should try to reduce your consumption of foods that can put your replacement teeth at risk. Instead, eat more healthy foods that are beneficial for your mouth – particularly those that are high in calcium and vitamin C. This can help you maintain an oral environment where your dental implants can thrive.
Break Bad Habits
It’s important to be aware of bad habits that could damage your dental implants. This includes biting your fingernails, chewing on the end of your pen, tearing open packages with your teeth, and crunching ice or other overly hard foods. When you know that you have these habits, you can take the appropriate steps to break them. One solution might be to start carrying sugar-free gum; that way, if you have the urge to chew on something, you’ll have a safe option.
Protect Your Dental Implants
Plenty of sports and other athletic activities carry a risk of getting hit in the jaw or mouth, which can ultimately result in broken dental implants. You can keep your implant posts and your natural teeth safe by wearing an athletic mouthguard. Note that it’s worth taking this precaution even if you are not specifically told that mouthguards are required for your chosen athletic activity.
Schedule Regular Dental Checkups
Even after getting dental implants, you should still make time to see your dentist every six months. They can check on your implant posts as well as the prosthesis they support in order to make sure that there aren’t any problems. Sometimes issues can start to develop without you realizing it, but if they’re addressed early, you can often avoid more serious complications later down the road.
Dental Implant FAQs
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Good news: dental implants can last for over 30 years with proper care. In other words, you can prolong the lifespan of yours by implementing good habits into your daily routine, like brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. It’s also of the utmost importance that you avoid doing anything that could damage your restorations, like smoking, eating extremely crunchy foods, or participating in sports without a mouthguard.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
One of the many perks of dental implants is that they have a success rate of over 95%! Committing to the previously mentioned oral hygiene habits, like brushing for a full two minutes each day, will go a long way in keeping your teeth, your gums, and your dental implants in pristine condition. It’s also important that you follow all of the aftercare instructions provided to you during the healing process, like not smoking or drinking alcohol.
What Should I Do if My Implant Feels Loose?
If your dental implant feels loose or you’re experiencing other warning signs of implant failure, like pain stemming from the implant site, then call us ASAP. The sooner you do, the sooner we can pinpoint the root of the problem and if further care is needed. Rest assured, we will review all of your treatment options at your appointment so you feel completely confident taking the next steps.
Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?
Actually, there isn’t an upper age limit for dental implants! Instead of candidacy being determined by age, candidacy is determined by factors like jawbone density and good oral health. So, don’t let your age stop you from scheduling a consultation with us. Over the years, we’ve helped young adults, seniors, and everyone in between restore their healthy, happy smiles with this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution.
Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?
Typically, patients take a day or two off of work following their dental implant procedure. If you work in construction or you have another physically demanding job, then we may recommend taking more time off to ensure you have plenty of time to heal. You always have the option of scheduling your appointment on a Thursday or Friday as well. That way, you also have the weekend to heal.
Do Dental Implants Decay?
Since dental implants are artificial, they cannot decay. Many patients assume that means they no longer need to brush consistently or schedule a dental exam every six months. That’s not the case! After all, your gums can still get infected, and your natural teeth can still develop cavities. So, it’s still extremely important that you take good care of your smile throughout the years.
Is There Anything I Can’t Eat with Dental Implants?
Since dental implants are surgically inserted in your jawbone and crafted from only the best materials, they allow you to eat a well-balanced, varied diet. That said, there are some foods we recommend avoiding, like hard pretzels, peanut brittle, and candy canes. That way, the chances of your crown, bridge, or denture breaking are significantly lower.
