Dental Implants at Dores Dental
If you are a suitable candidate for dental implants, there is simply no better option for you. Dental implants are truly permanent; under normal circumstances and with appropriate maintenance, your dental implant will last you for the rest of your life (whereas dentures and dental bridges must be replaced regularly). Dental implants also stimulate the growth of bone in your jaw, bone that was lost as a result of the lost tooth (and very likely also lost in the lead up to the loss of your teeth; gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss, and one of the main problems it causes is loss of bone density in your jaw).
Our Longmeadow, MA office is a full-service dental practice; not only can we provide you with quality general dentistry and the latest in cosmetic procedures to enhance your appearance, we also offer oral surgery in-house. You won’t need to go to a stranger to receive your dental implant, and you can count on your dentist to always keep your specific health needs in mind during the procedure!
We have two types of dental implant available at Dores Dental: conventional dental implants, and implant-supported dentures.
Conventional Implants
Conventional or “standard” implants are appropriate for those with sufficient bone density and who want a true no-muss, no-fuss dental implant solution. When placed in your jaw and after osseointegration has taken place (the healing process that fuses the dental implant with your jaw, making the dental implant literally a part of you), dental implants provide unprecedented performance in terms of your ability to chew food, speak, and support the shape of your face.
Dental implants cannot be removed without surgery, and require no more maintenance than your natural teeth (which after tooth loss is very important; if you’ve lost one, you don’t want to lose another).
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant supported dentures combine the familiarity of dentures with the security and effectiveness of dental implants. Implant supported dentures must be removed for regular maintenance and cleaning, just like conventional dentures. Where conventional dentures rely on a tenuous fit with your oral tissues and teeth, which will eventually be lost as a result of wear, or even minor changes to the shape of your oral cavity, implant-supported dentures are held in place by four small implants. To remove them for cleaning, you simply pop them off; to put them back into position, simply snap them onto the implants, which are specially designed to hold your dentures firmly in place.
Keeping your dentures in a fixed position will completely eliminate the slipping and sliding that can lead to embarrassing accidents (dentures slipping out of your mouth, or the highly audible, telltale “clicking sound” that indicates the presence of ill-fitted or moving dentures) or even serious infections. Dentures can cause infections due to their movement; dentures rub up against your teeth, gums, and other oral tissues. This creates mouth sores, which are gateways for your oral bacteria to enter your body and cause potentially deadly problems. This outcome can be worsened if you are not diligent in the cleaning and maintenance of your dentures.
With implant supported dentures, you will be able to replace multiple lost teeth with only four small implants, which themselves provide the added advantage of actually stimulating bone growth where it once was lost.
What Should I Know Before Getting Dental Implants?
A few things to consider before getting dental implants:
- You must be in good oral and general health to receive your dental implants (see our previous post for more details, or simply make an appointment with us for a consultation).
- You must be a non-smoker, an adult, and able to undergo general anesthesia.
- Receiving dental implants is a very involved surgical procedure; your implants will be placed in multiple phases, and you will need to make a series of dental appointments over several weeks to complete the procedure.
- While it is possible to receive a dental implant immediately after a tooth has been extracted, usually you will need to wait 2-3 months before you can undergo treatment.
Permanently End the Pain of Lost Teeth!
Missing teeth effect your health, your confidence, and how people perceive you. Remember, your smile is an important part of how you communicate with the world; get it back into its best shape with dental implants from Dores Dental!
Dial 413-241-3995 to reach our office, or book your appointment online right now by clicking here.