If you’re missing teeth or suffer from significant dental decay, your dentist might recommend dental implants or dentures to restore your smile. It can seem difficult to make the right decision with so much information to weed through. Here is what you need to know about dental implants and dentures to make an informed decision about which procedure is best for you.
Cost
Dental implants are more expensive than dentures. If you need to replace many teeth, dentures could be a cost-effective way to do so. If you have individual missing teeth that are not next to each other, a dental implant can replace just the tooth that is missing. However, most patients who are comparing dentures and dental implants need to replace a number of teeth.
Age
Dental implants are considered permanent and should last for the remainder of your life. For seniors in their 80s or 90s, it is possible that a pair of quality dentures that are well-maintained could also last. For younger patients, dental implants can make a lot of sense.
Number of Missing Teeth
The number of missing teeth that you need to replace can have a significant impact on the decision of choosing dentures over dental implants. If you are missing most of your teeth in a section of your mouth or all of your teeth, dentures are often a more realistic solution. If money is not a factor and a patient can choose to replace all of their teeth with dental implants, it theoretically is possible. Many dentists would still recommend dentures at this point.
Speed
The process of getting dental implants takes time. In many cases, you can expect the process to be completed in six months. After the implant is placed, your mouth needs time to heal before the abutment and crown are added. For dentures, any remaining teeth need to be extracted and the dentures need to be fitted. This can be accomplished much faster. If you need a quicker solution, dentures could work.
Function
Dental implants function like natural teeth. Compared to traditional dentures, which can shift or lead to changes in your jaw’s bone density, dental implants allow you to have the same bite and ease of talking as regular teeth. This doesn’t mean that dentures are bad or that you’ll have a negative experience while wearing them. You just need to make sure to have them adjusted and checked by your dentist regularly.
Hybrid Approaches
There are some hybrid approaches that combine the benefits of dental implants with the practicality of dentures. This includes implant-supported dentures. Since not all patients are good candidates for dental implants, it can be a good alternative to discuss with your dentist.
Ready to Get Started?
To learn more or to schedule a consultation for dental implants or dentures, contact Periodontal Associates today at 508-875-6185 (Framingham) or 617-964-6185 (Newton).
Dental implants are one of the most requested restorative dental procedures by dentists today. While dental implants do offer great benefits, many patients have questions about whether dental implants are the right choice for them. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of dental implants to consider.
Disadvantage: Requires Multiple Visits
Unlike an extraction or placing a crown over a root canal, getting a dental implant requires you to make multiple visits to the dentist over a more extended period. The implant will need to be placed and heal before a crown is placed. This requires more visits and takes a longer time to finish the work.
Advantage: Looks and Functions Like Natural Teeth
Probably the biggest advantage of a dental implant is that it looks and functions like a natural tooth. You’ll be able to chew and floss like you would with normal teeth, the dental implant helps to maintain bone in your jaw, and you won’t have to worry about any facial sagging like you could face with a missing tooth. It can be difficult to differentiate a natural tooth over a dental implant from the naked eye.
Disadvantage: May Be More Costly
Dental implants may cost more than other restorative options in certain instances. While most dental implants are covered by dental insurance, some of the associated costs if needed, such as bone grafting to repair damage from diseased natural teeth, may not be covered. By comparison, a simple fixed bridge on natural teeth costs about the same as one implant restoration without bone grafting when replacing a missing tooth. Despite the possibility of increased cost, most patients choose dental implants because of their advantages, outcomes, predictability, and longevity.
Advantage: Long Lasting Solution
Dental implants are considered permanent. They should last more than 20 years with proper care and can help preserve your oral health. Crowns and bridges may break over time and need to be replaced. Even if the crown on top of your dental implant breaks, your dental implant should remain intact.
Disadvantage: Outcome Depends on Dentist’s Skill
Unlike simpler dental procedures, the success of a dental implant largely depends on the dentist’s still. Ideally, you want to only work with dentists that have a lot of experience with dental implants and who understand the procedure. Having a dental implant placed is probably not the time when you should get involved in medical tourism. Instead, choose to work with a periodontist to achieve the best results.
Advantage: Less Invasive Than a Fixed Bridge
One of the most important advantages with an implant is that the patients avoid “cutting down” the adjacent natural teeth that would be required with a bridge. In this way, the single tooth implant solution is actually more conservative and less invasive than a conventional three-unit fixed bridge on natural teeth. Learn more about the benefits of dental implants.
Despite their disadvantages, dental implants represent the best in modern dentistry. The ability to replace a tooth with one that looks and functions like a natural tooth is well worth the cost. Early research suggests a dental implant may have other positive impacts on your health.
Ready to Get Started?
To learn more or to schedule a dental implant consultation, contact Periodontal Associates today at 508-875-6185 (Framingham) or 617-964-6185 (Newton).
Dental implants are one of the most requested restorative dental procedures by dentists today. While dental implants do offer great benefits, many patients have questions about whether dental implants are the right choice for them. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of dental implants to consider.
Disadvantage: Requires Multiple Visits
Unlike an extraction or placing a crown over a root canal, getting a dental implant requires you to make multiple visits to the dentist over a more extended period. The implant will need to be placed and heal before a crown is placed. This requires more visits and takes a longer time to finish the work.
Advantage: Looks and Functions Like Natural Teeth
Probably the biggest advantage of a dental implant is that it looks and functions like a natural tooth. You’ll be able to chew and floss like you would with normal teeth, the dental implant helps to maintain bone in your jaw, and you won’t have to worry about any facial sagging like you could face with a missing tooth. It can be difficult to differentiate a natural tooth over a dental implant from the naked eye.
Disadvantage: May Be More Costly
Dental implants may cost more than other restorative options in certain instances. While most dental implants are covered by dental insurance, some of the associated costs if needed, such as bone grafting to repair damage from diseased natural teeth, may not be covered. By comparison, a simple fixed bridge on natural teeth costs about the same as one implant restoration without bone grafting when replacing a missing tooth. Despite the possibility of increased cost, most patients choose dental implants because of their advantages, outcomes, predictability, and longevity.
Advantage: Long Lasting Solution
Dental implants are considered permanent. They should last more than 20 years with proper care and can help preserve your oral health. Crowns and bridges may break over time and need to be replaced. Even if the crown on top of your dental implant breaks, your dental implant should remain intact.
Disadvantage: Outcome Depends on Dentist’s Skill
Unlike simpler dental procedures, the success of a dental implant largely depends on the dentist’s still. Ideally, you want to only work with dentists that have a lot of experience with dental implants and who understand the procedure. Having a dental implant placed is probably not the time when you should get involved in medical tourism. Instead, choose to work with a periodontist to achieve the best results.
Advantage: Less Invasive Than a Fixed Bridge
One of the most important advantages with an implant is that the patients avoid “cutting down” the adjacent natural teeth that would be required with a bridge. In this way, the single tooth implant solution is actually more conservative and less invasive than a conventional three-unit fixed bridge on natural teeth. Learn more about the benefits of dental implants.
Despite their disadvantages, dental implants represent the best in modern dentistry. The ability to replace a tooth with one that looks and functions like a natural tooth is well worth the cost. Early research suggests a dental implant may have other positive impacts on your health.
Ready to Get Started?
To learn more or to schedule a dental implant consultation, contact Periodontal Associates today at 508-875-6185 (Framingham) or 617-964-6185 (Newton).
Dental implants are one of the most requested restorative dental procedures by dentists today. While dental implants do offer great benefits, many patients have questions about whether dental implants are the right choice for them. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of dental implants to consider.
Disadvantage: Requires Multiple Visits
Unlike an extraction or placing a crown over a root canal, getting a dental implant requires you to make multiple visits to the dentist over a more extended period. The implant will need to be placed and heal before a crown is placed. This requires more visits and takes a longer time to finish the work.
Advantage: Looks and Functions Like Natural Teeth
Probably the biggest advantage of a dental implant is that it looks and functions like a natural tooth. You’ll be able to chew and floss like you would with normal teeth, the dental implant helps to maintain bone in your jaw, and you won’t have to worry about any facial sagging like you could face with a missing tooth. It can be difficult to differentiate a natural tooth over a dental implant from the naked eye.
Disadvantage: May Be More Costly
Dental implants may cost more than other restorative options in certain instances. While most dental implants are covered by dental insurance, some of the associated costs if needed, such as bone grafting to repair damage from diseased natural teeth, may not be covered. By comparison, a simple fixed bridge on natural teeth costs about the same as one implant restoration without bone grafting when replacing a missing tooth. Despite the possibility of increased cost, most patients choose dental implants because of their advantages, outcomes, predictability, and longevity.
Advantage: Long Lasting Solution
Dental implants are considered permanent. They should last more than 20 years with proper care and can help preserve your oral health. Crowns and bridges may break over time and need to be replaced. Even if the crown on top of your dental implant breaks, your dental implant should remain intact.
Disadvantage: Outcome Depends on Dentist’s Skill
Unlike simpler dental procedures, the success of a dental implant largely depends on the dentist’s still. Ideally, you want to only work with dentists that have a lot of experience with dental implants and who understand the procedure. Having a dental implant placed is probably not the time when you should get involved in medical tourism. Instead, choose to work with a periodontist to achieve the best results.
Advantage: Less Invasive Than a Fixed Bridge
One of the most important advantages with an implant is that the patients avoid “cutting down” the adjacent natural teeth that would be required with a bridge. In this way, the single tooth implant solution is actually more conservative and less invasive than a conventional three-unit fixed bridge on natural teeth. Learn more about the benefits of dental implants.
Despite their disadvantages, dental implants represent the best in modern dentistry. The ability to replace a tooth with one that looks and functions like a natural tooth is well worth the cost. Early research suggests a dental implant may have other positive impacts on your health.
Ready to Get Started?
To learn more or to schedule a dental implant consultation, contact Periodontal Associates today at 508-875-6185 (Framingham) or 617-964-6185 (Newton).
Bridges and dentures have long been the standard options to replace missing or failing teeth. Today, though, more and more dentists and patients are turning to dental implants instead. A single dental implant can support one crown, while implant supported dentures and fixed implant bridges use only a handful of implants to anchor stable, secure, highly realistic replacement teeth. Whichever dental implant procedure you select, the basic process is exactly the same.
Examination and Treatment Planning
The process begins with a complete examination to determine whether dental implants are the right solution for you. We will take X-rays and scans to learn the current state of your mouth and teeth, and then work with you to create a treatment plan. Note that if you have any other dental issues such as gum disease or decay, they must be addressed before implant work can begin.
Tooth Repair and Extraction
The next step is to repair any dental issues we found and give them time to heal. Then we will extract the failing teeth that will be replaced with implants. This is a relatively minor procedure that is performed under local anesthesia.
Bone Grafting (if Needed)
The majority of people do not need bone grafting. If your jawbone is not strong enough to support dental implants, though, we will need to perform this step. Bone grafting is a simple procedure, but it could take weeks or even months to heal.
Implant Placement
Dental implant placement is considered a minor oral surgery. We will thoroughly numb your mouth and then cut a small flap in your gum tissue. Next, we will use a series of drills to create a small opening in your jawbone. We will screw in the implant and then replace the gum tissue.
We can top each dental implant with either a cover screw or a healing cap. A cover screw is flat, while a healing cap mimics the shape of the abutment that will attach the implant to the crown. Whichever we use, your mouth will need time to heal. We will provide you with a partial or full denture to wear during healing so that you are not without teeth.
Abutment and Crown
After a few weeks, your implant will be fused with your jawbone. You will then return to your dentist for an abutment and crown. This is a very minor procedure during which the dentist will replace the cover screw or healing cap with an abutment and then carefully secure the final restoration on top.
Same Day Teeth
Whether you need a single implant or a full arch of teeth, our same day teeth allow you to have your teeth extracted, dental implants placed, and replacement teeth secured all in a single appointment. We will help you decide whether this option is right for you.
Ready to Get Started?
To learn more or to schedule a dental implant consultation, contact Periodontal Associates today at 508-875-6185 (Framingham) or 617-964-6185 (Newton).
Dental implants have become the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Although primitive implants were in use since prehistoric times, the modern dental implant was developed in Sweden around 1960. Today, there are a variety of different dental implant solutions, including the All-on-Four procedure that replaces a full arch of teeth with a fixed bridge supported by just four immediate-load implants. For many people, though, the individual dental implant and crown solution is the best choice. Here is what you should know.
What Is a Dental Implant and Crown?
A dental implant and crown is the appropriate choice for those who are missing a single tooth. If you need many teeth replaced, you might choose an implant supported bridge or removable implant supported denture, or you might prefer the aesthetics of individual dental implants and crowns.
After the failing tooth is carefully removed and the bone is healed, a small opening is created in your gum tissue to allow the use of a series of drills to create a small hole in your jawbone. We then gently insert a dental implant into the hole. A small cylinder (screw) of biocompatible titanium, “the dental implant” will osseointegrate with your jawbone, fusing in place to create a strong and stable base for the crown.
The next step is to add a custom-crafted crown. Using an attachment known as an abutment, the abutment is inserted into the implant, onto which the crown is precisely fitted and secured. This type of restoration blends seamlessly with your natural teeth, ensuring that your new tooth is both highly functional and extremely aesthetic.
Traditional vs. Immediate Load Dental Implants
We provide both traditional and immediate load dental implants. With a traditional dental implant, we will place the implant and cover it with either a healing cap or a cover screw. You will wear a temporary replacement such as a partial denture for several months while the dental implant osseointegrates with the jawbone, and then return to your dentist to have the cover removed and the abutment and crown placed.
Immediate load dental implants allow us to place a crown immediately. This type of implant is designed to take some pressure of the crown right away, so you will not need to wear any form of removable solution. You will leave the office with a crown on the same day that your dental implant is placed. Later the final crown is fabricated once the implant is integrated with the bone.
Advantages of Dental Implants
Whether you choose one or more dental implant and crown combinations, an implant supported dental bridge, an implant supported removable denture, or an All-on-Four, dental implants have a number of advantages over other options. For example, a traditional dental bridge requires us to remove healthy structure from the neighboring teeth. An implant supported bridge is entirely independent of the teeth around it.
Removable dentures are prone to slipping, and restore only a fraction of original bite strength. Dental implants are strong, stable, and secure, and restore more than 90% of your bite strength. You will be able to speak, laugh, and eat with ease.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are ready to take the first steps towards restoring your smile, we invite you to contact Periodontal Associates today at (508) 875-6185 (Framingham) or (617) 964-6185 (Newton Centre) to schedule a consultation.
The archaeological record shows that primitive dental implants may have been used in the prehistoric age, and implants were in surprisingly widespread use by 600 AD. Modern dental implants were invented in the 1970s and have been used extensively since the 1990s. Yet despite this long history, and despite the fact that dental implants are now considered the gold standard for replacing missing teeth, dental implants are rivaled only by root canals in the sheer amount of misinformation that is still being spread. Here is the reality behind 4 myths about dental implants.
1. Dental Implants Cost Too Much
It is true that the initial cost of dental implants is slightly higher than that of dental bridges, and a good bit higher than dentures. However, dental bridges require the sacrifice of healthy tooth structure, while dentures promote bone loss and are difficult to wear.
When amortized over your lifetime, dental implants cost far less than either bridges or dentures. Bridges tend to fail in a decade or so, and they put the healthy teeth that anchor them at increased risk for fracture or decay. Dentures must be relined approximately every year to accommodate ongoing bone loss, and they are likely to break within 10 to 15 years. Partial dentures can compromise the neighboring teeth, while full dentures can actually put your overall health at risk over time by making it difficult to eat a varied diet.
While cost is always a consideration, do not shop for dental implants solely on price. You do not need to see the most expensive dental surgeon in town, but “too good to be true” deals are not a smart risk to take with your oral health.
2. Dental Implants Are Painful
While some discomfort can be expected from any dental surgery, implant placement is generally less uncomfortable than tooth extraction. A caring, experienced dentist with modern procedures can vastly minimize any discomfort. Sedation dentistry can further take the edge off, and you may even sleep through the procedure.
If you are prescribed painkillers following your implant surgery, be sure to take them as directed. Staying ahead of any pain is the best way to ensure easy, quick recovery. Most people are fully back to work in just two or three days.
3. Dental Implants Often Fail
Dental implants are made of biocompatible titanium, making it nearly impossible for the human body to reject them. There is a slim chance that the implants will not fuse with the jawbone as expected, but this is quite rare. Success rates across the board are approximately 95 percent, and a skilled implant dentist with patients who precisely follow aftercare instructions can easily reach a success rate of 98 percent.
4. Only Healthy People Can Get Dental Implants
It is true that your oral health must be good before your dental implants are placed, so your dental professional provider will treat any underlying tooth decay or gum disease before scheduling your implant surgery. Likewise, if you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or a bleeding disorder, it must be well-controlled to minimize risks from oral surgery. Finally, if you have severe jawbone loss, you may need bone grafting to ensure that you have enough healthy jawbone to support the implants.
With these caveats, though, virtually anyone can benefit from dental implant surgery. Your dentist will make a thorough health assessment and, if necessary, work with your doctor to develop a plan of action to get you ready for safe dental implant surgery.
If you are in Middlesex County, and are ready to take the first steps towards restoring your smile, we invite you to call Periodontal Associates today at (508) 875-6185 (Framingham) or (617) 964-6185 (Newton Centre) to schedule a consultation.
Dental implants have become the gold standard to replace missing or failing teeth. Unlike dentures, which can be unstable and uncomfortable, dental implants are securely anchored to the jawbone. You will be able to eat, speak, and laugh with confidence, while avoiding the sunken look that can develop from progressive jawbone loss in denture wearers. Yet with so many different dental implant options to choose from, you might feel somewhat overwhelmed and confused. Here is what you should know.
Single Tooth Dental Implants
For those missing a single tooth, a partial denture used to be the only option. Partial dentures can be uncomfortable, and the metal clasps may show. A single tooth dental implant uses a single biocompatible titanium implant to support a custom-crafted crown that blends with the surrounding teeth.
Implant Supported Bridges
If you are missing three or more teeth in a row, a traditional dental bridge is a possible solution. However, this requires removal of healthy tooth structure from the adjacent teeth, putting them at risk for fracture or decay. An implant supported bridge has a dental implant at each end, providing a secure base for the bridge that protects the neighboring teeth. If you are missing two teeth in a row, we can provide two individual single tooth implants.
Implant Supported Dentures
While traditional dentures rest on the gums (lower) or rely on a bulky plastic palate (upper), implant supported dentures are snugly attached to dental implants. This allows us to reduce or remove the palate on an upper denture, allowing you to taste food more completely, and prevents both upper and lower dentures from moving. The support provided by the dental implants also restores nearly all of your original bite strength, allowing you to chew tough steak and sticky candy with ease.
In certain instances we can use just two dental implants to create a “snap on” denture that locks securely into place but is easy to remove for cleansing. If you prefer a fixed prosthesis that does not leave your mouth, we can strategically place a number of dental implants to support a full, fixed bridge of highly aesthetic and functional replacement teeth.
Immediate Load Implants
The traditional dental implant process requires a healing period after the implants are placed, allowing them to osseointegrate with the jawbone before you receive the final restoration. This requires you to wear a temporary prosthesis for several weeks or months.
Immediate load implants are a newer solution that allows you to avoid the temporary prosthesis. Lightweight but highly natural looking replacement teeth are attached on the same day as the implant procedure. You will then return in a few weeks or months for your final restoration. Although the interim teeth are not *quite* as desirable as the final teeth, they are far more comfortable, more aesthetic, and more functional than a temporary denture.
Established in 1952, with two offices in Middlesex County, MA, Periodontal Associates is known as one of the leading periodontal offices in New England. We specialize in dental implants, bone regeneration, and other cutting-edge periodontal procedures. If you are in Middlesex County, and are ready to take the first steps towards restoring your function and smile, we invite you to call Periodontal Associates today at (508) 875-6185 (Framingham) or (617) 964-6185 (Newton Centre) to schedule a consultation.
In recent years, my partner, Dr. Giovanni Castellucci, and I have seen a resurgence of the use of the “hybrid” prosthesis with the “All-On-4” Immediate Dental Implant (Teeth in a Day) protocol. Now, we successfully restore fully edentulous arches on four implant fixtures on the same day that the hopeless teeth are removed, oftentimes without the need for bone grafts. Our patients are thrilled with the results, and the functional and esthetic benefits are instant.
The cost of the All-On-4 procedure varies based upon the type of final restoration that is made. The traditional and least expensive prosthesis is typically made with acrylic teeth, similar to that of a regular denture, that are “permanently” fixed to the underlying dental implants. Fees for this prosthesis range from $25,000 to $30,000. The fee may vary for a variety of reasons including management of severe disease, infection, and number of extractions. Many patients choose to have the final teeth made out of ceramic zirconia such as Procera which provides superior esthetics, strength and durability. Due to increased dental laboratory costs, these more sophisticated restorations can cost between $35,000 and $40,000.
It is critical for patients to seek the care of experienced and expert surgeons and restorative dentists. After all, this is a big investment for most people. Patients need and deserve to have it done right the first time. There are no substitutes for experience and expertise! In our practice, with offices in Newton and Framingham, MA, we take great pleasure in knowing that we have consistently improved the quality of life for thousands of our patients by restoring ideal dental health and function, and creating beautiful smiles for the past three decades.
PERIODONTAL ASSOCIATES
After 33 years in private practice in periodontics, dental implants, and bone regeneration, I am constantly looking for ways to tweak the treatment protocols to achieve faster treatment turnaround times while maintaining ideal functional and esthetic outcomes for our patients; all with a success rate that approaches 98%. My partner and I have many implant systems in our office to accommodate the needs and desires of our restorative colleagues. Most recently though, we have been attracted to implants with 3 specific design features that help us to realize our treatment goals.
1. Tapered implant body (roughened surface to the top) with an aggressive thread design. This allows for maximum initial stability which is especially important in our Teeth in a Day and All on 4 immediate implant placement and restoration cases.
2. “Platform switch” design for connection of the permanent abutment to the implant. This has been proven to help preserve crestal bone which, in turn, helps to maintain the overlying soft tissue levels thereby enhancing the esthetic outcome.
3. Internal conical connection of the permanent abutment to the implant. This connection has also been proven to eliminate or significantly reduce micromovement of the abutment. Abutment micromovement due to poor fit or inherent engineering design can contribute to bacterial invasion. The inflammatory infiltrate which ensues may contribute to bone loss and soft tissue alteration.
Three examples of implant fixtures which incorporate these design features are listed below:
Nobel Biocare NobelReplace CC
Astra Tech OsseoSpeed TX
Straumann Bone Level Tapered
We all have great outcomes in the past with traditional implant design. However, we work so hard to re-build bone and soft tissue so that our patients have beautiful results which mimic natural teeth. Doesn’t it make sense to try to preserve these structures? What do you think?
Photo Credits: NobelBiocare, Dentsply, Straumann
For more information, contact:
Cary Feuerman, DMD
Periodontal Associates