Dental Implants – Assonet, MA

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

In most cases, if you have good oral and general health, you can choose dental implants to replace your missing teeth; however, you still need a thorough consultation. Your implant dentist in Assonet, Dr. Cornetta, evaluates your oral and general health to look for any issues that can hinder the success of your new smile, such as infection, decreased bone density, or immune disorders. He’ll also discuss your lifestyle habits to ensure you’re committed to your oral hygiene and there aren’t any factors that can lead to implant failure, like smoking.

He’ll review a CT scan of your oral structures to look for any complications that may be brewing beneath the surface. Based on his findings, you may need additional treatments before having your placement surgery, such as tooth extractions, bone grafting, or a sinus lift.

Dental Implant Surgery

After the foundation is set for your new smile, you’re scheduled for your placement procedure. Sedation or anesthesia is used to ensure your comfort as your gum tissue is opened to expose your jawbone. Small holes are drilled into pre-determined locations to insert the posts. Your gum tissue is sutured closed, and the healing process begins.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

The posts stimulate your jaw to encourage new bone growth. Over the next several months, your jawbone will fuse to the posts. This allows them to potentially remain in place forever with the right aftercare while also providing a stable foundation for your restorations.

Before your replacement teeth can be attached, abutments are placed on each post using a minor procedure. These special fixtures connect your restorations to your implant posts to create natural-looking results.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

While you’re healing from your abutment placement, the dental lab is hard at work creating your restorations from high-quality material. They are carefully crafted to mimic the color, size, and shape of your natural teeth to look natural. After they are finalized, you return to our dental office to have them attached. Now you can chew, speak, and smile confidently knowing your dental implants look and feel as realistic as possible.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Dental implants feel just like natural teeth do, so you shouldn’t notice them much in your everyday life. Ultimately, you should be able to enjoy everything you did before experiencing tooth loss. Here are some of the benefits that you can experience day-to-day:

• Restored Bite Force: You can experience a bite force of 80% or even higher. This is much more than you can experience with bridges or dentures.
• Easy Maintenance: You care for dental implants just like you would care for your natural teeth. Brush twice, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day.
• Increased Confidence: You don’t need to worry about visible gaps in your smile or a poor-fitting restoration.

Health Benefits

In addition to the noticeable, daily benefits you will experience, your health will also be affected by your smile’s new addition. Here is what you can expect:

• Improved Dental Health: This means a lower risk of cavities, gum disease, infection, and additional tooth loss. None of your natural teeth will need to be altered for this restoration either.
• Better Overall Health: Having excellent dental health has a positive influence on your overall health. It even lowers your risk of serious medical problems, like diabetes and heart disease.
• Prevents Bone Loss: When you’re missing teeth, jawbone deterioration will follow. Dental implants stimulate the jawbone just like natural tooth roots to keep it strong.

Long-Term Benefits

When you choose dental implants, you are making a long-term investment in your smile. Here are some benefits that you will be experiencing for many years to come:

• Successful: Dental implants are highly successful – upwards of 95%. Your chances of experiencing a dental implant failure are low.
• Permanent: Dental implants can last 30 years or a lifetime when cared for correctly.
• Save Money: You don’t need to worry about stocking up on adhesives or soaking solutions. You won’t need to worry about repairs or replacements either. Dental implants also reduce your risk of numerous oral health issues, meaning that you won’t need to endure costly treatments that will add up over time.

Missing One Tooth

We can place a single dental implant into the jaw and top it with a custom-made crown. This new tooth won’t require the ones surrounding it to be altered in any way, helping preserve more of a patient’s natural smile.

Missing Multiple Teeth

If a patient is missing three or more teeth in a row, instead of replacing each one with individual implants, just two can be used to support a bridge. Two implants will be positioned on either side of the missing teeth, and these will hold a prosthetic in place that literally “bridges” the gap.

Missing All Teeth

A denture can be secured to the gums using just four to six implants, giving it a hold, stability, and bite that a traditional removable prosthetic simply can’t match.

Learn More About Implant-Retained Dentures

Learn More About All-on-4

Types of Dental Implants

A primary factor that determines the cost of your dental implants is the type of restoration you need and how many implants are required to be placed in order to secure it. For example, a single implant-supported crown would cost significantly less than an implant restoration that requires anywhere from four to eight titanium posts. During your initial consultation, your implant dentist, Dr. Derek Cornetta, will examine your mouth and determine what type of dental implant restoration will best work for your unique needs.

What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?

One great benefit of dental implant treatment that many patients don’t realize until they begin is that you won’t have to pay for your entire smile up-front. The procedure takes place over the course of several months and multiple appointments, which means that you can pay for each visit individually. This allows you to financially plan and budget to afford your new smile as it’s being built. Some of the work that will incur separate fees include:

• Preparatory procedures, such as bone grafts, extractions, or gum disease treatment. Be sure to double-check with your medical insurance for potential coverage.
• The dental implant surgery.
• Sedation or anesthesia required for the surgery.
• The placement of the abutments, which are small, metal connector pieces that hold the final restorations securely in place.
• The design and permanent placement of your customized final restorations.

Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?

Dental implants are definitely worth the investment. They offer a variety of unique benefits that makes them a more cost-effective and better long-term value than traditional restorations. When our patients are able to start using their new restorations, many of them wish they would’ve gotten them sooner! Not only are they easy to care for, but they can also last over 35 years and make it easier to complete everyday tasks such as eating and speaking. Those types of benefits are completely priceless, which is why a vast majority of patients who get dental implants agree that they were definitely worth the cost.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Typically, dental insurance does not cover the cost of implants because many companies still consider them as “cosmetic” procedures. However, this is starting to change, so it’s a good idea to contact your insurance provider directly to double-check. At Woodside Dental Care, we also offer additional financing through CareCredit, which allows you to create a payment plan suitable for your budget, with little-to-no interest.

If you have any questions about insurance or the cost of dental implants, don’t hesitate to contact our dental office. Our team of professionals will be more than happy to assist you to make the process of getting dental implants as smooth and hassle-free as possible.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

After implant placement, a blood clot will form around the surgical site. You need to protect this blood clot so that your gums can heal correctly. As such, you need to avoid drinking through a straw or using tobacco products during recovery. You also shouldn’t spit during this time; use a tissue or swallow if you need to get rid of saliva. Try to avoid touching the surgical site with your fingers or tongue as much as possible.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

Our team will make sure you’re aware of what symptoms are normal to experience after oral surgery as well as how you can control them. For example:

• If there’s any bleeding, you can stop it by applying gentle pressure to the area with a clean piece of gauze.
• Swelling may occur around the implants, but you can reduce it with a cold compress.
• Discomfort is a very common post-surgical side effect. It can normally be managed with prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications.

Call us if your symptoms become more severe or last longer than expected.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

After dental implant surgery, you should plan on eating only soft and liquid foods such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, scrambled eggs, and pasta. You can also have various soups and broths as long as they aren’t too hot. It should normally only take a few days for your mouth to recover to the point where you can start reintegrating solid foods into your diet. However, you should avoid directly chewing on your implant posts until your bridge, crown, or denture has been placed.

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

To minimize the risk of infection after dental implant surgery, you need to keep your mouth clean. Naturally, this means brushing like you normally would, although you should exercise caution around the surgical site so that you don’t accidentally dislodge the blood clot. It’s recommended that you rinse with salt water two or three times a day; you can use mouthwash as well, but make sure it doesn’t contain any alcohol.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

The final restoration will be attached to your dental implants after your mouth has fully recovered from placement surgery. There’s no extensive recovery process associated with this step of the process; at most, you might need pain medication if you notice any sensitivity in your gum tissue. Please call us immediately if you notice swelling, bleeding, or any other side effects that are not typical at this stage.

Bone Grafting

A dental implant replicates the root of your tooth because it’s surgically placed into your jaw. If your jawbone doesn’t have enough density, it won’t be able to support the post. This is a common problem for patients who lost a tooth several years ago because the jaw is no longer stimulated by the root. This causes your bone to deteriorate over time. If you’ve lost density, you aren’t out of options. We can restore what was lost with bone grafting.

A small piece of bone is taken from another area of your body or from a donor and grafted onto the treatment area. Your gum tissue is stitched closed to begin healing. Over the next several weeks, the graft integrates with your bone to enhance the thickness of your jaw.

Sinus Lifts

Besides bone grafting, a sinus lift may be needed. If you’ve lost bone in the upper arch, there may not be enough space by the maxillary sinuses, which are located on either side of your nose. If an implant is placed without thickening the bone, the post will protrude into the sinus.

A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that raises your sinuses upward by cutting a small oval into the jawbone. A graft material is placed into the hole, and your gum tissue is sutured closed. After you heal, there will be more space between the sinus membrane and for the future implant post.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

While your dental implants won’t get cavities, you’ll still need to clean your teeth daily. This will prevent common dental health problems such as periodontal disease and infections, which is essential for preserving your metal posts. Be sure to brush twice a day for two minutes, floss at least once, and regularly rinse with mouthwash for best everyday health.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Your restorations will be able to restore 80% or more of your biting and chewing power. This will allow you to enjoy your favorite meals and better maintain a healthier diet in the long run. The key is in moderating how often you indulge in hard, sticky, or sugary foods, as these can increase your risk of decay, damage, or disease. To avoid these complications, try eating foods that are rich in nutrients like calcium and vitamin C to preserve the foundations of your dental implants.

Break Bad Habits

Certain habits can be detrimental to your pearly whites. These can include smoking, biting your fingernails, chewing ice, and using your teeth as tools. By leaving these unchecked, you can put your dental implants at risk of damage or failure. The best way to prevent this is to break these habits, allowing your restorations to last for many years to come. And if you have the urge to chew on something, try sugar-free gum instead!

Protect Your Dental Implants

Do you tend to play sports or other physical activities where you can get hit in the mouth? If so, you might consider wearing a custom mouthguard to protect your implants. This is especially helpful if you struggle with bruxism or grinding your teeth during your sleep, which can be addressed with a nightguard. Consult our team if you think you can benefit from these options, and we’ll be glad to discuss a treatment plan for you.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

One of the best ways to preserve your teeth and dental implants is to visit us twice a year for checkups and cleanings. We’ll assess your oral health and provide treatment for any developing issues we might find. This will increase your chances of avoiding serious issues like decay or disease, as well as ensure your dental implants remain in great shape. Feel free to contact our team so we can schedule your visit today!

Does Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?

At Woodside Dental Care, we take pride in providing our patients with expert treatments in a comfortable and compassionate way. Thus, we’ll make sure that you’re completely numb before the insertion process starts.

After the procedure is over and the medication wears off, you’ll likely experience some discomfort, but an over-the-counter pain reliever usually suffices to address it.

What Should I Eat After Dental Implant Surgery?

Following dental implant placement, it’s necessary to maintain a soft-food diet for up to 10 days. This will allow time for the initial healing to take place and prevent any damage to the treatment site. Then, as you start to recover, you can gradually incorporate more solid foods back into your diet regimen.

How Long Does the Dental Implant Process Take?

The dental implant process, in its entirety, includes the placement of the implant, the abutment and the final restoration. Ultimately, this time period depends on each patient’s ability to heal, the complexity of the procedure and the adherence to Dr. Cornetta’s post-surgery instructions.

In general, though, it can take from six months to a year to completely recover. The good news, though, is that you’ll have a fixture that, with proper care, can last up to a lifetime.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implant Placement?

Typically, dental insurance plans don’t cover the actual placement of a dental implant. However, there may be coverage available for any restorative care needed prior to the procedure, as well as the addition of the final restoration. To know for sure, you’ll need to review your dental plan.

If you’re more cost sensitive, we have a possible solution, so you don’t have to miss out on the vital care you need. We’ve partnered with CareCredit, which is a third-party financier we’ve worked with for years. With this route, you can find a plan that suits your budget. Better yet, many of them have a low-to-no interest repayment structure.

How Much Does a Dental Implant Cost?

The last barrier you may have to replacing your missing teeth is the cost of the dental implant procedure. Because the process is highly customized and we never take a “cookie-cutter” approach, the best way to get an accurate estimate is to visit our dental office to be examined by Dr. Cornetta. Therefore, all guessing can be removed, and you can plan accordingly once you get the information you need.

If you have any other questions about any aspect of the dental implant process, then don’t hesitate to contact us today to request a visit!