Dentists love saving teeth, making them healthy and improving their appearance. However, tooth loss still happens from time to time due to decay, injury, gum disease and other issues. To fill smile gaps, Dr. Kevin Thomas and Dr. Aaron Chenette from Cohasset Dental frequently recommend dental implants to qualified patients. Natural-looking and performing, these prosthetics complete smiles and make them strong.
A dental implant and you
A dental implant is the closest thing to a real tooth. It has a titanium metal root, a metal alloy post and porcelain crown. Through osseointegration, the jaw bone bonds to the titanium implant after Dr. Thomas or Dr. Chenette place it during a simple, in-office surgery.
To qualify for any dental implant procedure, you must have enough bone in your jaw to support the implant device and to withstand the intense forces of oral function (biting, chewing and speaking). During a dental implant consultation at Cohasset Dental, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums, review your medical history and take digital X-rays and sophisticated three-dimensional images of your teeth, their roots and surrounding bone structure.
From there, your dentist will customize a treatment plan. You'll know the details on your implant procedure, and if you are receiving multiple implants to support a denture or bridge, you'll understand how the implants will be placed and how to care for your dental prosthesis.
Will you do well?
Most dental implant treatments succeed. The implants fully integrate, and they stay in place for years. In fact, the current success and retention rate is around 97 percent, says the Institute for Dental Implant Awareness. As time goes on and you use your implant more and more, your jaw bone density, width and height will increase, improving the strength and health of your jawbone.
To keep implant sites healthy for the life of your smile, brush daily and floss every day. Get six-month professional cleanings and examinations at Cohasset Dental. If you smoke, seek help in quitting by talking to your primary care physician. Tobacco can cause implant failure because of an infection called peri-implantitis.
In summary, dental implants...
- Look, feel and act like real teeth
- Improve the quality and quantity of supporting jaw bone
- Anchor bridgework or dentures
- Let you smile with complete confidence
Learn more
If you have smile gaps, don't wait any longer to learn all about dental implants from Cohasset Dental. Call the office to arrange a consultation with Dr. Thomas or Dr. Chenette, and explore all your tooth replacement options. Phone today: (781) 383-9393. We have early morning hours.