Dental Implants – Worcester, MA

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step in the dental implant process is attending your consultation with us! Our knowledgeable dental team will be able to determine if dental implants are a viable solution for your situation. During this visit, we’ll closely examine your mouth and facial structures, review your medical history and determine if your jaw has a sufficient amount of density to support implants. In some cases, patients might need a dental bone graft to address a lack of jawbone density. Other preparatory procedures include things like periodontal therapy or even possible tooth extractions. In any case, once we’ve cleared you for implants, we can schedule your surgery and get the ball rolling!

Dental Implant Surgery

We’re fortunate to be able to complete the entire dental implant process in-house thanks to the efforts of our skilled team! This means you won’t have to deal with the hassle of coordinating with other offices, which ultimately saves you a great deal of effort. And better yet, the actual surgery itself is a relatively straightforward process. First, your mouth will be thoroughly numbed before small incisions are made in your gum tissue to access the jawbone. Then the implants are precisely placed directly into the jawbone, and the gums are sutured shut. A protective cap is placed over the posts to protect them as they heal and to help your gums maintain the correct shape.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

On average, it’ll take anywhere from three to six months for the implant posts to naturally fuse with the jawbone; this process is referred to as osseointegration, and it’s the single most important factor that contributes to the future success of your dental implants. If your implant posts cannot successfully fuse with your jaw, they will inevitably loosen and fail prematurely. That said, be sure to follow the detailed aftercare instructions provided by your oral surgeon during this step. Once the implant posts have fuses, you’ll have to come back for a second (and smaller) surgery to receive your abutments, which go on top of your implant posts. These connector pieces allow your final customized restoration to sit in the correct position.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

You can rest assured that your restoration(s) will be designed based on exact impressions of your smile, meaning that once your replacement teeth are ready to go, they’ll look and feel just like your natural pearly whites! We’ll call you back to attach them to the abutments once they’re ready, and when we’ve placed them, we will inspect them to make sure that your bite looks and functions like normal. We’ll make any needed adjustments and send you on your way with a newly rebuilt smile!

Bone Grafting

Perhaps the biggest factor related to ensuring a successful dental implant placement is the patient’s jawbone density. After dental implants are placed, they need a sufficient amount of bone tissue to fuse with to truly function as replacement tooth roots. Unfortunately, patients who’ve been without teeth for extended periods often suffer from weaker, less dense jawbone tissue.

For patients in this camp, a bone graft is usually needed to fortify the area where the implants are being positioned. Using bone minerals from another part of your body or a donor source, Dr. Golnazarian can carefully place them as needed beneath the gumline before closing it up and letting it heal over several months. Once the new bone has integrated, you’ll be ready for your dental implants.

Sinus Lift

In some situations, dental implants must be placed toward the back of the mouth, in the upper arch. However, if there isn’t enough bone tissue to support the implant, it might protrude into the sinus cavity. In these cases, a special type of bone graft called a sinus lift might be required to ensure that the sinus cavity has enough space to hold the implant in place.

A small window is made in the jawbone, and the membrane of the sinus cavity is gently lifted so that the newly empty space can be filled with grafting material, essentially thickening this part of the jaw and gently moving the sinuses so they won’t be damaged by the implant placement. Like regular bone grafts, it takes time for the mouth to fully heal.

Ridge Expansion

The ridge bone is the part of the jaw that surrounds and supports the teeth themselves, and if this bone is too narrow as a result of bone loss, dental implants might not be viable yet. With ridge expansion, we can ensure that this bone is wide enough to comfortably support your dental implant posts.

We’ll separate the ridge bone into inner and outer segments, carefully inserting the grafting material into the space between them. This effectively widens the jaw and grants us the space needed to place your posts and ensure the tissue can properly heal.

Day-to-Day Benefits

Teeth are important for numerous reasons, but many of them have to do with day-to-day oral functionality. Here’s how dental implants can vastly improve your daily life:

• Restored biting power – Since dental implants replace the entire structure of missing teeth, they restore their ability to bite and chew food. Therefore, patients can eat virtually all of their favorite foods!
• Enhanced speech – It’s common for patients with dentures to have trouble speaking, but since dental implants are secured via posts embedded in the jawbone, you don’t have to worry about them sliding around your mouth and affecting your speech.
• Easy to clean – You don’t have to take dental implants out to soak them in a special cleaner or do anything different when it comes to oral hygiene; they’re very simple to care for!
• Unparalleled confidence – Your smile is the first thing that strangers notice about you; needless to say, the beautiful, complete smile that dental implants will grant you is certain to work wonders for your self-esteem and draw others toward you.

Health Benefits

Implants can also provide you with many noteworthy oral health benefits, including:

• Protection for surrounding teeth – Dental implants serve as placeholders to ensure that your remaining natural teeth stay put, and you won’t have to worry about them sustaining any damage. It’s worth noting that traditional restoration options can sometimes place excess strain on the surrounding teeth and gums due to how they’re stabilized.
• Jawbone preservation – Implants provide the jaw with an enormous level of healthy support and stimulation since they emulate tooth roots, which in turn helps to prevent the bone resorption that commonly follows tooth loss.
• Improved overall health – Research shows a relationship between tooth loss and a heightened risk of several diseases. Since implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth, it’s reasonable to assume that they help to lower these risks. Not to mention, patients with dental implants often find it easier to care for their new smile since they’re extra motivated!

Long-Term Benefits

When you get dental implants, you’re investing in a solution that is made to last. This awesome solution is accompanied by many unique long-term benefits, such as:

• Impressively high success rate – Dental implants boast an incredible success rate of 95% - 98%, even after 10+ years!
• Extraordinary lifespan –Unlike dentures or bridges, implants can easily persevere for several decades if they’re properly maintained. This also means they’re cost-effective since they won’t need to be replaced!
• Youthful appearance – Dental implants prevent your jaw from deteriorating, which can lead to facial collapse and an undesirable appearance that makes you look older. By negating this issue, they restore a more youthful look to your face!

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

Infection is the leading cause of dental implant failure. Fortunately, thorough oral hygiene can do much to fight harmful bacteria and keep infections away. You should:

• Thoroughly brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss or use other means to clean between your teeth at least once a day.
• Follow hygiene instructions that are specific to your dental implant restoration. For example, you might need to clean underneath a bridge or remove an implant denture for proper cleaning.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Dental implants provide a strong bite force, so you should feel free to consume all of your favorite snacks, meals, and treats. However, it is also important to keep in mind that, just like natural teeth, some foods are better for dental implants than others. Avoid overindulging in hard, sticky, sugary and highly acidic foods. Instead, center your diet on nutrient-rich options that support oral health. Calcium, vitamin D and vitamin C are all important.

Break Bad Habits

Smoking is a bad habit that can wreak havoc on your oral health and significantly increase the risk of dental implant failure. You should make every effort to kick the habit. Your primary care practitioner may be able to provide resources to help you do so.

Another bad habit is that of biting down on hard objects, such as ice or pen caps, as well as using your teeth as tools. Remember, your implants are strong but not invincible! They can break if they are exposed to too much force.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Depending on your circumstances, you might need to wear a mouthguard sometimes.

• For athletes, a sports mouthguard can prevent damage to both your oral tissues and your dental implants. Custom mouthguards from a dentist are superior to over-the-counter options.
• If you grind your teeth at night, you might need a special mouthguard to place a barrier between your upper and lower teeth and prevent them from harming one another.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

It should be your custom to visit our team every six months for a cleaning and checkup. During these appointments, we will:

• Clean and examine your natural teeth.
• Check your dental implants for signs of damage.
• Clean your implant abutments.
• Give you advice to help you maintain a healthy mouth.
• Recommend necessary treatment if we notice any developing problems. Very often, we are able to prevent issues from becoming severe and threatening the well-being of dental implants and the surrounding tissues.