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Dental Implants – Assonet, MA

A Permanent Solution to Tooth Loss

Happy couple with dental implants in Assonet standing outside

Over the past few decades, dental implants have quickly become the most popular and trusted method of tooth replacement. Why? Unlike other treatments that only bring back the visible portion of the tooth – the crown – dental implants actually restore the root and crown. The end result is virtually indistinguishable from the pearly whites that nature gave you, and at Woodside Dental Care, we can now use them to completely rebuild your smile. No matter how many teeth you are missing, dental implants in Assonet, MA can turn back the clock and dramatically improve your oral health and appearance at the same time. Want to know if you’re a good candidate for this treatment? Just give us a call today to schedule a consultation!  

Why Choose Woodside Dental Care for Dental Implants?

  • Dental Implant Placement & Restoration Performed In-Office
  • Multiple Dental Financing Options to Choose From
  • State-of-the-Art Dental Technology Ensures Successful Treatments

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implant dentist holding a model of a dental implant in the jaw

A dental implant is a small titanium post that is placed directly into the jawbone to mimic the root structure of a lost tooth, which is normally hidden underneath the gums. Titanium is biocompatible, allowing it to merge with the surrounding bone and tissue over the course of the next few months. When this process, called osseointegration, is complete, we can place a lifelike dental crown, bridge, or denture on top of the implant using a metal abutment. By recreating every part of a missing tooth, dental implants let you enjoy a solution that looks and feels natural while also having the potential to last for a lifetime.

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

The three parts of a dental implant being placed in a patient’s jaw

Dental implant treatment occurs over multiple appointments and procedures, all of which are essential to ensuring a long-term tooth replacement you can confidently rely on. This includes the initial consultation and planning phase, the placement surgery for the titanium posts, the osseointegration and healing phase, placement of the abutment, and the addition of a final permanent crown, bridge, or denture. The overall length of your treatment can vary depending on your needs, but the procedure is largely the same regardless of the number of teeth you need to replace. Here are the basic four steps you can expect in the dental implant process.

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Dentist showing a patient how dental implants work

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

Dentist examining a patient’s mouth after 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

X-ray of a patient with a single dental implant

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

Patient admiring his smile after getting dental implants

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.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Smiling woman with dental implant replacement teeth holding a white coffee mug

Ideally, our teeth would last forever. However, many people end up losing one or more teeth throughout their lifetime. This can be due to decay, injuries, gum disease, and other reasons. Fortunately, dental implants are available to restore the crown and root of the teeth. Because of this, there are so many unique benefits. Continue reading to learn more about the advantages of choosing dental implants in Assonet.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Man brushing dental implants in Assonet

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

Man at dentist smiling with dental implants in Assonet

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

Woman smiling with dental implants in Assonet

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.

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Dentist showing a patient dental implant information on a tablet

Pretty much anyone with missing teeth can benefit from dental implants, as they can be used to support a variety of restorations. Which of the options below would be best for you? Our team can help you decide when you come to see us for a consultation.

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

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Couple at a dental implant consultation

The cost of a dental implant procedure can vary quite a bit from person to person based on their individual situation. Factors such as: how many teeth a patient would like to be replaced, where they are located in the mouth, and what kind of restoration is used can all influence the final price.

While implant restorations do tend to cost more than other traditional options, they are actually the best investment long-term. Regular bridges and dentures typically only last for about 7-10 years, while implants can often last for 30 or more. This means, with implants, a patient won’t have to spend money on periodic maintenance and retreatments, saving them thousands of dollars and hours spent in the dental chair.

Types of Dental Implants

Animated smile with two dental implants supporting a dental bridge

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?

Dentist looking at a patient’s dental X-rays before dental implant placement

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?

Woman in a beige sweater dental implant 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?

Person filling out dental insurance information on a laptop

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.

Dental Implants Post-Op Instructions

Bearded man with glasses smiling in dental chair

Here at Woodside Dental Care, you can enjoy the convenience of having dental implants placed and restored in the same location. As such, our team will be able to guide you through every step of the dental implant process, which means you can count on us to give you important tips on how to make sure your recovery after implant surgery goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some of the general instructions you can expect to receive after dental implants are placed.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Close-up of dental implant in Assonet, MA in the lower arch

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

Woman rubbing her jaw in pain while sitting on couch

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

Close-up of a plate filled with scrambled eggs

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

Senior woman wearing a bathrobe and brushing her teeth

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.

Advanced Dental Implant Procedures

Dentist placing a dental crown on top of a dental implant in a model of the jaw

There are times a patient may need additional procedures before getting dental implants, like bone grafting or a sinus lift. If you don’t have enough bone density or space between your sinus cavities, you will need additional treatments to become a candidate for dental implants. Although this may add more time to your plan, it creates the groundwork your new smile needs to thrive for several decades.

Bone Grafting

Dental implant post in the lower jaw after 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

Animated smile during sinus lift procedure

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.

Maintaining & Caring For Your Dental Implants

woman smiling about dental implant care in Assonet

In addition to having a high success rate of over 95% after 10 years after being placed, dental implants can also be expected to last a lifetime with proper care. But how can you ensure that your restorations retain their strength and function over the years? The good news is you don’t need to do any special maintenance to make the most of your results. Read along to learn five best practices for dental implant care in Assonet, or give us a call to learn more today!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

woman brushing for dental implant care in Assonet

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

woman eating healthy for dental implant care in Assonet

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

biting nails avoiding dental implant care in Assonet

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

mouthguard used for dental implant care in Assonet

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

woman receiving dental implant care in Assonet

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!

Dental Implant Frequently Asked Questions

Patient talking to her dentist about dental implants

Life without a full set of teeth definitely isn’t fun. Thankfully, with a set of dental implants, you can get back to leading a normal existence and remove any previous barriers. However, if you’re like most people, you need more information about the procedure to feel comfortable. Dr. Derek Cornetta has taken the time to answer some of the more frequently asked questions so you can be better educated before moving forward. After you’re done reading, feel free to contact us at Woodside Dental Care to request an initial visit.

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!