Helpful Information About Dental Implant Services

Have you heard about dental implants but want to learn more about them? Do you currently have one or more missing teeth and want to know whether dental implant treatment can be used to restore the appearance of your smile?

If so, our dentists at Raynham Dental Group are here to answer your questions. If you don’t see the answers you’re looking for about your dental implant questions, we invite you to call us to speak to a member of our dental care team. If you are interested in a face to face meeting, you can book an appointment for a consultation in the comfort of our dental clinic in Raynham, MA.

Dental Implants Defined

Dental implants are a permanent tooth replacement option. They are considered the gold standard for tooth replacement due to their natural appearance and durability compared to dental bridges or partial dentures.

Keeping in mind every patient’s dental implant treatment is different, generally speaking, at least two surgeries are needed to complete an implant procedure. During treatment, the implant (a titanium post) is inserted into the jawbone of the empty tooth socket. The completed dental implant serves as the natural tooth.

The timeline for treatment of dental implants varies due to factors such as healing time. Our dental care team will provide you with an estimated timeline for your treatment. This allows you to schedule your future appointments when they are most convenient for your schedule.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Almost everyone is a candidate for a dental implant procedure, with few exceptions. The most common concern is whether or not you have enough bone to accept the implant. If you have been missing your tooth for more than a few months, there’s a chance that a portion of the bone that’s needed to hold the implant has worn away and can no longer support the titanium post.

The good news is that a bone graft procedure may be performed to replace the missing bone. This is completed with either a synthetic material or a section of bone removed from either your own body or a donor. If this procedure is needed, it will impact your implant procedure treatment time; our dental care team at Raynham Dental Group will factor this into your estimated timeline.

To get any questions answered, you can book an appointment for a consultation to have any underlying conditions addressed before starting the implant process.

Other Alternatives for Tooth Replacement

To consider all of your choices for tooth replacement, it is important to also look at dental bridges and partial dentures – which are services we also offer. If you haven’t considered these options yet, here’s a brief overview of each.

A dental bridge is much like it sounds: it bridges the gap of missing teeth and is supported by dental crowns attached to neighboring teeth. Compared to dental implants, dental bridges are a quicker procedure overall but have less durability than an implant. A dental bridge procedure is also an option for patients who do not have enough jawbone structure to support a dental implant.

Partial dentures are an excellent option for patients with more than one missing tooth. Thanks to the advancements made in dentistry, dentures no longer have the stigma that they once had. They can now fit comfortably. However, they do not provide the same bite strength as a dental implant, so certain foods may still be off the menu.

The Solution

The final word regarding tooth replacement is that a dental implant is the most durable and natural-looking option. Our dentists in Raynham, MA, will discuss all options with you during your consultation. This way, you can make the choice that’s best for you after seeing all options available. If scheduling your consultation is a factor due to work or school, our team is here until 8:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We invite you to book an appointment now to get started.