When a tooth is extracted due to decay, gum disease or injury, it is best for your dental health to get it replaced. At Andover Smiles, our dental implants will permanently restore the appearance of your smile.
Andover Smiles is located in North Andover, Massachusetts and offers multiple dental services for patients of all ages. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Steven J. Rinaldi.
What are Dental Implants?
Before dental implants, missing teeth were either replaced with bridges or not replaced at all. While bridges are also a good solution for supplementing your smile, they require modification of the surrounding teeth.
Dental implants provide a safe, permanent solution for missing teeth without needing to alter other, healthy teeth. Implants are replacement tooth roots that create a strong, healthy foundation for crowns that are customized to match your existing teeth.
The process of placing a dental implant takes a few months. Doctor Rinaldi will create an incision in the gum followed by placing the implant, which is screwed into the jawbone. If necessary, multiple implants can be placed at once. The gums are then sutured closed.
After this part of the implant placement, about three to six months of healing is required for the jawbone to form around the implant. After this healing phase, Dr. Rinaldi will make an impression of your mouth and create the crowns that will be permanently attached to the implants.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
While it may not seem like a priority to replace extracted or missing teeth, receiving a dental implant has several advantages:
- Overall oral health is improved, as dental implants do not leave gaps in the gums or alter surrounding teeth
- The appearance of your smile is improved and looks completely natural
- Dental implants function along with your own teeth, allowing easy eating and chewing
- The permanence of dental implants lasts several years, making it a safe, long-term solution
- The implant stays in your mouth and does not require removal or special cleaning
While patients have different experiences with implants depending on where in the mouth the implant is located, it has been shown that dental implants have an approval rating of up to 98 percent.
Is There Any Recovery Time?
Most patients report very little discomfort during an implant procedure, and any mild soreness after treatment is easily controlled with over the counter pain relievers. After the healing process and crown placement, dental implants only require the same brushing and flossing regimen as your regular teeth.
Through good dental hygiene and regular check-ups with Dr. Rinaldi and our medical team, the health of your dental implants can be maintained for several years. Visit us for a smile makeover with professional teeth whitening.
Contact Andover Smiles today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rinaldi and find out if you are a candidate for dental implants.
