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When it comes to tooth replacement, nothing can fully replicate your natural tooth exactly. However, the incredible durability of titanium combined with natural and long-lasting porcelain makes dental implants feel nearly indistinguishable from natural teeth. Once your dental implant is placed, Dr. Arakelian can restore it with a custom-made crown or similar restoration that truly feels as natural as it looks. To learn more about this revolutionary treatment and its many benefits, give our office a call!
Dr. Arakelian works with some of the finest oral surgeons in Haverhill in order to ensure that the long-term success of your dental implant treatment is set in stone. After having a consultation at his office, you’ll be referred to a trusted specialist to have the actual implants placed. Upon completion, you’ll come back to our office where we will examine your implants and confirm that they are healing properly. This includes taking digital X-rays to monitor how the implant is integrating with your bone tissue.
Dentures and dental bridges can be completed relatively quickly. However, dental implants require a longer multistep process that spans several months. This is to ensure that your tooth replacement is strong and successful. This may seem like a long wait, but it is worth it for the incredible benefits that you can expect. We want to ensure that you have the best possible results, so we work with local specialists to complete the dental implant process. Everyone’s dental implant journey looks a little bit different, but this is what you can generally expect.
The first step in getting dental implants is your dental implant consultation. During this time, we will review your oral health and medical history to determine if you are a good candidate. If needed, we can work with you to complete preliminary procedures, like gum disease therapy, tooth extractions, or bone grafting. Then, we can move on to plan the rest of your dental implant treatment. We will discuss what you can expect, including the timeline and cost of your treatment.
To ensure that your dental implant procedure goes as smoothly as possible, we work with a local specialist. First, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, an incision is made in the gum tissue so that implants can be placed in the jawbone. Your gums are then closed, and protective caps are placed over the posts to protect them as the area heals.
For the next few months after your surgery, your dental implants will fuse to your jaw in a process known as “osseointegration.” This is what keeps your dental implants anchored in place so they don’t shift around or fall out. When the fusion process is complete, metal abutments are placed on the end of your implants.
Lastly, you will return to our office to have your new restoration attached to your dental implants. This can be a crown, bridge, or denture depending on how many teeth you are missing. During this visit, we will check to ensure that your bite is aligned and comfortable so you can enjoy your new and improved smile!
Each year, over half a million patients opt for dental implants to restore missing teeth. Once you understand the transformative impact they can have, it's no wonder they're such a popular choice! Dental implants offer a multitude of advantages that surpass traditional dentures and bridges, thanks to their ability to replicate every aspect of a missing tooth. They're the closest you can get to regaining your natural smile! Below, we'll explore some of the ways they can rejuvenate your grin and enhance your overall well-being.
Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants are a game-changer because they offer the following day-to-day benefits:
Beyond aesthetics, dental implants can improve your health in the following ways:
You can expect dental implants to help in the long term in the following ways:
When it comes to versatility, dental implants offer a wide range of options for every type of patient. Whether you’ve just lost a tooth or you’ve been relying on an uncomfortable denture for too long, dental implants can restore your confidence in smiling and eating with friends and family.
Single teeth are replaced via a single titanium implant and one porcelain crown. After carefully monitoring the implant’s healing, we’ll attach an abutment to the implant, allow additional healing, then place the restoration.
If you have multiple consecutive missing teeth, a dental bridge can be custom-made to attach to dental implants. Instead of removing existing tooth enamel to hold the bridge, two implants are placed on either end to hold the three or four-crown restoration.
Whether you need a full or partial, fixed, or removable denture, implants can be used to hold it in place. By placing a series of implants (generally four to six) throughout the jaw, we can effectively replace an entire row of teeth seamlessly!
Many people refer to dental implants as “permanent tooth replacements,” which can be accurate, but it’s important to know that they’ll only be permanent if you take care of them. The good news is that maintenance isn’t hard. You can take care of your prosthetic teeth as if they are real through healthy lifestyle choices.
Even though your dental implants cannot get a cavity, they must be kept clean. Plaque buildup contains harmful bacteria for your gums. In fact, these bacteria can cause an infection called peri-implantitis. Without good oral hygiene every day, this infection can spread to the jawbone tissue, weakening its hold on your prosthetic teeth and eventually leading to implant failure. Fortunately, daily care is simple! Just brush and floss your teeth as you would natural teeth.
You should have plenty of fruit, whole grains, and vegetables in your diet, not only for your overall health, but also because they will help your implant last longer. Sugary, starchy foods, on the other hand, encourage bacterial growth, which can lead to peri-implantitis. Being more conscious of your food and drink choices can limit your chances of infection and implant failure. Instead of juice, sports drinks, or other beverages, drink water throughout the day to help rinse plaque and food debris out of your mouth.
Habits can be difficult to break, but in some cases, it’s well worth the effort. Smoking and vaping have long been known to pave the way for oral infections, so if this is something you do regularly, you should consider stopping. Other bad habits that could endanger your implants include biting your nails or chewing on ice. Although the implants are very durable, the pressure could damage them or your jawbone.
You can’t foresee all accidents or injuries; however, in some situations, you can prevent a potential problem through preventive action. For instance, if you play a contact sport like football or basketball, where a hit to face could occur, you should seriously think about wearing a mouthguard. This will absorb a blow, so your teeth and implants stay safe and where they belong in your mouth.
Peri-implantitis and other oral infections rarely pop up suddenly. They develop over time, which means that it’s possible to detect and treat a problem long before it leads to implant failure. That’s one of the primary reasons why you need to continue coming to visit Dr. Arakelian on a regular basis. He will make sure your mouth remains in healthy condition and intervene early if an infection starts.
Before you buy implants, you likely want to know their price. That’s only natural – you need to ensure the treatment fits your budget. However, the cost of dental implants varies by patient. You’ll need to visit Dr. Arakelian for a precise estimate. Once you have, our team will work to make your implants affordable. They’ll even explain the relevant pricing factors and payment options. For more price-related details, continue reading or call our office.
Remember, you may need preliminary services before implant surgery. These could range from bone grafts and gum disease therapy to tooth extractions. In that case, such additions will add to your treatment expenses. Even so, these procedures would be vital; they’d ensure your new smile’s success. Plus, dental insurance partially covers many of them.
Of course, the implant surgery also incurs its own cost. This amount will depend on implant location, anesthesia, etc. Luckily, we work with local specialists on this surgery. That means you’ll get excellent results that justify the money spent.
If you didn’t know, implant features also affect the treatment cost. Such traits include the following:
Dentures and bridges have lower upfront costs, so they may strongly tempt you. However, the fact is that dental implants are the more cost-effective option.
Firstly, implants don’t have many long-term expenses. They last 15-20 years on average, meaning they need few (if any) repair visits. Implants also don’t require pastes or adhesives to work. In other words, you can care for them without buying pricey tools.
Next, implants are better for your oral health. Unlike other tooth replacements, they won’t wear down your teeth or irritate your gums. You can also clean them as you would natural teeth. Therefore, implants (as opposed to dentures or bridges) will lower your risk of costly issues like tooth decay and gum disease.
Dental insurance usually won’t cover dental implants. As things stand, most plans view these tooth replacements as medically unnecessary. Patients must typically pay for them out-of-pocket.
Still, there are occasional exceptions. Your plan may offer partial coverage. That being the case, confirm your policy’s benefits beforehand. Our team can even help you do so.
Even without insurance, other ways exist to make implants affordable. You might consider a dental practice’s payment options. If you find a good one, implants will be much more budget-friendly.
For example, look at Dr. Arakelian’s office. We happen to have:
Ultimately, we want your implants to be effective and affordable. So, then, book a consultation to learn about financing them!
Dental implants can completely restore your smile and change your life for the better, but you’re likely to still have some reservations about the process. We want to make replacing your missing teeth as straightforward as possible, so if you have any concerns, we want to know! Below, we’ve given our responses to a few of the dental implant questions that we’ve frequently heard from our patients. Feel free to reach out if there’s something that you’d rather ask our team directly.
Dental implants typically last far longer than other tooth replacement options. In fact, they’re known to have lifespans exceeding 30 years, and some patients even keep the same implant posts for life. To help your dental implants last as long as possible, you need to be diligent about brushing and flossing every day. Also, try to stay away from habits that could lead to problems with your dental implants, such as crunching on ice, biting your fingernails, or smoking.
Dental implant failure isn’t very common; the procedure has a 95% success rate, and many precautions are taken before the surgery to avoid complications. But when dental implants do fail, more often than not it’s due to one of two culprits: peri-implantitis or failed osseointegration.
Peri-implantitis is a type of gum disease that weakens the gum and bone tissue that holds your implant in place, eventually causing your new teeth to come loose. Failed osseointegration means that the implant post is unable to join with the jawbone; this can be a result of teeth grinding, certain medications, and other issues.
One reason why some people hesitate to have dental implants placed is that they’re not sure what the final results will look like. Rest assured that the implant posts will be completely hidden by your gums, so the casual observer won’t be able to tell that you have them.
Meanwhile, dental implant restorations are customized so that they match your missing teeth, right down to their shade and overall shape. As such, once the dental implant process is complete, you’ll have a lifelike new smile to show off. And since implant restorations don’t slip the way traditional dentures do, there’s no need to worry about your teeth moving at the wrong moment.
No. Dental implants may resemble natural teeth in many different ways, but they are still artificial. Since they aren’t made out of enamel, they aren’t susceptible to cavities like your natural teeth are. That being said, the gums around your dental implants might still become infected, putting your new teeth at risk. In other words, even though dental implants can’t decay, you still need to keep them clean with a solid oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing at least two times every day (or, if possible, once after every meal).
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