Dental Implants – Brookline, MA

Permanently Rebuild Your Complete, Confident Smile

Replacing missing teeth once meant only restoring those parts of your smile visible above the gum line. While these traditional tooth replacements like fixed bridges and removable dentures are preferable to foregoing tooth replacement altogether, most dentists have started to encourage patients to consider replacing their teeth from the roots up with dental implants.

Unlike the other options, dental implants in Brookline allow our team to replace all of your lost tooth root structure that provides natural function and support while improving stability and maintaining jawbone density and gum tissue volume. If you want to learn more about dental implants or any of your tooth replacement options, call the Boston Smile Center team to schedule an appointment in our Brookline dentistry practice today. Our skilled dentist and team look forward to helping you permanently rebuild your complete, confident smile in a way that meets your needs, schedule, and budget.

Why Choose BOSTON SMILE CENTER for Dental Implants?

  • In-Office Dental Implant Placement
  • Fair and Reasonable Fees with No Hidden Costs
  • Board-Certified Periodontist on Staff

What Are Dental Implants?

Animated dental implant with abutment and dental crown against gray background

Dental implants are a one-of-a-kind tooth replacement option because they replace missing teeth both above and below the gumline. A small titanium implant post is placed into the jawbone to recreate the roots of the missing tooth. On top of it is a small connector called an abutment, which secures the final restoration (crown, bridge, partial, or denture) into place. This unique placement provides an unmatched comfort, functionality, and longevity to your newly rebuilt smile. When you replace missing teeth from the roots up, your new pearly whites will look, function, and feel just like natural teeth!

The 4-Step Dental Implant Process

Animated dental implant being placed in the lower jaw

The dental implant process is completed over the course of two treatment phases. Although the process is timely, it’s important to remember that the results will be well worth the time and financial investment. Not only will you enjoy a superior form of tooth replacement, but the lifespan of your new smile has the ability to last a lifetime as long as you take proper care of it. With dental implants, you can expect a more youthful appearance, improved oral health, and teeth that function just like the rest of your smile.

But before you get started, remember, every patient and case is different. While timelines may vary from person to person, the actual process remains the same. To learn how dental implants work in Boston, let’s take a look.

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Initial Dental Implant Consultation

The first step of receiving dental implants in Brookline is scheduling a consultation with one of our highly skilled dental professionals. During this visit, we will examine your oral cavity and facial structure using advanced dental technology to ensure the proper placement is achieved when planning for your dental implant surgery. Once we’ve established that you are qualified to receive dental implants, you may be required to undergo a bone graft to ensure a stronger, more stable foundation for your implants and customized restoration. Should this type of preliminary treatment be necessary, our team will go over the process and the additional time that will be added to your complete treatment timeline.

Dental Implant Surgery

To prepare the smile for dental implants, we may need to remove one or more damaged teeth or perform a gum or bone tissue graft to ensure the successful placement of the implant. We’ll use state-of-the-art imaging equipment to pinpoint the ideal location for your dental implant post and map out your treatment.

The dental implant placement itself is a relatively conservative procedure. While under sedation or anesthesia, your gum tissue is opened to expose your jawbone. Then, the implant is secured into the bone and the gums are sutured closed by our implant dentist in Brookline. A protective cap will cover the top of the implant post to shield it and maintain the shape of the gums.

Dental Implant Osseointegration/Abutment

Over the next four to six months, the post will fuse with the surrounding bone tissue in a process known as osseointegration. This must be fully complete to ensure your implants do not fail. Once you’ve healed, a metal abutment is attached to it. This is a connector piece that allows the custom-made crown, bridge, partial, or denture to be put into place once it is ready.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations

When returning to our dental office to have your final restoration put into place, you’ll be pleased to know that it will be created from all-ceramic material. Using impressions of your smile as a blueprint, lab technicians will fabricate a restoration that will blend in beautifully with the remainder of your healthy teeth, giving you a full, complete look.

Once placed, your new tooth/teeth will be practically indistinguishable from the rest of your smile!

Benefits of Dental Implants

Man and woman hugging on city sidewalk

Dental implants are widely considered as the gold standard of tooth replacement by both patients and dentists alike, and it’s easy to see why. Because this solution replaces both the roots and crowns of missing teeth, there are several benefits of dental implants in Brookline that traditional tooth loss treatments cannot deliver. Here are a few of them!

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Day-to-Day Benefits

  • A bright, confident smile – The dental crown, bridge, or denture that is placed on top of your implants is personalized to mimic the size and shape of your original pearly whites. Coupled with the fact that your new teeth will stay firmly in place, your smile will look and feel incredibly natural.
  • The ability to eat whatever you want – Dentures alone only restore a fraction of the chewing power you used to have. By bringing back the roots of your missing teeth, dental implants allow you to chew all of your favorite foods, including tough steaks and nutritious fruits and vegetables, with ease.
  • Clear speech – With dental implants, you won’t have to worry about your teeth slipping around like traditional dentures do. As a result, you’ll be able to speak clearly and confidently without slurring your words or producing clicking or whistling sounds.
  • Simple oral hygiene – Dental implants don’t require a complicated oral hygiene routine. All you have to do is brush and floss them like real teeth and visit your implant dentist in Boston regularly for checkups and cleanings.

Health Benefits

  • Jawbone stimulation – Whenever you bite or chew, that force travels through the roots of your teeth to stimulate your jawbone. After tooth loss, the jawbone begins to deteriorate from the lack of this stimulation. Dental implants recreate the root structure of your lost teeth and keep your jawbone strong and healthy.
  • Preservation of natural teeth and gums – Placing a dental bridge requires the teeth on either end of the gap to be permanently altered, leaving them more susceptible to breakage, decay, and sensitivity. Conventional dentures often slide around and irritate the gums, especially if they don’t fit properly. Dental implants prevent both of these problems by remaining in place at all times and being able to support themselves without help from other teeth.
  • Improved systemic health – Studies suggest that tooth loss increases your risk for various medical conditions, including diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Since dental implants act as your natural teeth, it’s reasonable to assume that they don’t elevate these risks.

Long-Term Benefits

  • High success rate – As long as you take good care of them, dental implants boast a remarkable success rate of more than 95 percent. Plus, they can last for decades or maybe even for the rest of your life!
  • Saved money – While dental implants have a higher initial cost than bridges or dentures, they actually save you money over time. Traditional solutions will have to be replaced every 10 years or so, compounding on their lower up-front cost. You’d also have to purchase special adhesives or cleaning products, which can really add up over the years. In the long run, dental implants in Brookline are by far the most cost-effective way of replacing missing teeth.
  • Younger appearance – By stimulating the jawbone, dental implants prevent the sunken, aged facial appearance that often happens after tooth loss. You’ll be able to maintain a youthful glow for years and years to come!

Who Dental Implants Can Help

Woman covering her smile with black book

Not only are dental implants one of the best ways to replace missing, but almost anyone suffering from tooth loss can receive them! During your consultation, we’ll have a conversation with you about your tooth replacement goals and address any of your concerns. Then, we’ll review your teeth, gums, and jaw as well as your medical history and jawbone density. After fully explaining all of your options and our recommendations, we’ll work with you to create a custom treatment plan for rebuilding your smile.

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Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Many adults are good candidates for dental implants. You should be in good oral and overall health, healthy enough to recover from an invasive procedure, to undergo the surgery for dental implants. People who have diseases that affect the immune system or patients with periodontitis may be ineligible for the procedure.

Dental implants are very versatile and can be used to replace any number of missing teeth:

Missing 1 Tooth

One implant post can be used to support a single dental crown to replace one tooth, or we may even be able to support two fused together crowns to replace two consecutive teeth.

Missing Multiple Teeth

To replace two or more teeth in a row, a dental implant bridge may be the best option. The replacement teeth are fused together, but rather than attaching to surrounding teeth, they are anchored to two dental implant posts on either side. Similarly, implant partial dentures look much like traditional removable options, but rather than attaching to surrounding teeth, they are supported by two or four dental implants.

Missing All Teeth

For patients missing all their natural teeth, we can replace an entire arch of pearly whites with implant dentures. Instead of getting one dental implant post for every missing tooth, an entire custom-made denture can be held in place with four to six dental implants. This cuts down on the cost and recovery time of your treatment.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants

Dentist showing a patient a model of a dental implant

Dental implants are the most complete solution to tooth loss available today, which is why more dentists and patients are choosing them than ever. For many people, it is truly the best way to complete their smile. Of course, after someone has chosen to get dental implants, they ask, “How much will it cost?” This, of course, depends on a number of factors, and we can offer you multiple payment options so that you can find the one that will best suit you. Read on as we cover everything that can influence the cost of your dental implants and the different ways you can pay for them.

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How Many Dental Implants Are Needed?

There are two primary factors with it comes to the cost of the dental implant itself: the final restoration and the implant post. Each of these will depend on how many teeth you are missing and need to recreate, which in turn will influence the final cost of your treatment. For example, it will be much less expensive to replace one missing tooth with a single dental implant post, abutment, and crown than replacing a whole arch of missing teeth with a larger restoration and four to six implant posts.

Dental Insurance & Dental Implants

Some dental insurance plans do not cover dental implants because they are classified as a cosmetic procedure. On the other hand, many other plans offer excellent coverage. It is entirely dependent on the particular details of your plan, so you should consult your insurance provider to be certain. Also, in some cases, standard medical insurance will sometimes cover part of the implant placement cost. In any case, our financial coordinator will always work with your provider to help maximize your benefits.

Financing Options for Dental Implants

We offer a number of financing options with a multitude of providers. Two of them, Lending Club and CareCredit, have helped millions of people get affordable dental and health care for years. They offer financing plans that span anywhere from 12-36 months. Of course, like with any financing, this is all dependent on your credit being approved.

Advanced Dental Implant Procedures

Person holding string of dental floss

While dental implants can help almost anyone dealing with tooth loss, not everyone starts off as a good candidate for this treatment. If you lost your teeth a long time ago or as the result of a dental infection or gum disease, your jawbone and soft tissues may not be strong enough to support your new teeth. Thankfully, at Boston Smile Center, we offer advanced dental implant procedures to help you get read for your brand-new smile!

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Bone Grafting

Believe it or not, but you can lose a significant amount of bone within just the first 12 months of losing a tooth. If you’ve been living with one or more missing teeth for some time, you’ve likely lost a great deal of bone. An oral surgeon can reverse the damage by restoring the areas of weakened bone to make it suitable to support dental implants in Brookline. This is known as bone grafting.

This surgical procedure adds bone to the alveolar ridge, or gum ridge, to enhance the size and shape of your jaw. Bone is taken from another area of your body or from a donor and grafted on to weakened areas of your jaw. Over the next several weeks, the graft will integrate with your bone to provide your implant posts with the support they need to thrive.

Soft Tissue Graft

Your gums are equally important as your teeth when creating a healthy, beautiful smile. Unfortunately, there are times your gingival tissue can be compromised. Not only can it lead to an unattractive gum line, but it can also impact your dental health. To resolve the issue, you might need soft tissue grafting in Brookline. The treatment can be used to cover exposed tooth roots, restore an attractive smile, or reverse the effects of infection. No matter the cause, we use the latest advancements in dentistry to improve your smile.

A gum graft is a surgical treatment that takes tissue from the palate of your mouth or a donor and transfers it to the treatment site. The tissue is stitched into place to allow it to integrate with your gums. New advancements in dentistry make this treatment less invasive and more comfortable. Often, all that’s needed is a local anesthetic; however, some people may need sedation. As a result, it’s best to arrange for transportation to and from your appointment because it can take several hours for the effects to wear off.

Maintaining & Caring for Your Dental Implants

Person holding string of dental floss

By restoring your smile with dental implants, you can be sure to enjoy numerous advantages for both your oral and overall health in the long run. That said, while they typically have a success rate of 95% or more, you’ll need to implement certain habits to help keep them in great condition. Fortunately, with proper care, you can expect your new pearly whites to last several decades to a lifetime! Keep reading to learn some of the best ways to care for your dental implants.

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Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

While your dental implants won’t develop cavities like your normal teeth, you still need to keep them and the surrounding tissues clean. Since the number one reason for implant failure is peri-implantitis—an infection in the gums around the metal posts—it’s crucial that you prevent bacteria and plaque from accumulating around your teeth. Be sure to brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash daily to maintain a healthy smile.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Did you know that dental implants can restore 80% or more of your natural chewing power? This means that you’ll be free to eat the majority of your favorite foods, including apples, nuts, and steaks. Even so, you should stick to meals that benefit your oral health long term. Overindulging in sugary treats can increase the risk of bacteria accumulation around your implants, which can result in peri-implantitis if left unchecked. Be careful with foods that are tough in texture, as they can chip or damage your new teeth. Go for meals that are rich in calcium and vitamin C to promote healthier gums and a stronger jawbone.

Break Bad Habits

Certain oral habits can be detrimental to your gums and dental implants. Therefore, to make the most of your restorations, you’ll want to cut out things like smoking/using tobacco, using your teeth as tools, and chewing on hard objects (like ice) from your daily life. The last thing you’d want is to damage your implants or increase the risk of them failing later on. If you need help quitting these habits, our team can provide the resources and support you require to make the most of your new smile.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Do you tend to grind your teeth while sleeping? Are you active in sports? In either case, you can potentially damage or loosen your dental implants from these activities. The good news is that our team can offer custom-made nightguards for bruxism to help prevent you from wearing down your new pearly whites. We can also recommend the best mouthguard products so that you can protect your smile from physical impact.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Even if your dental implants are successful and you practice good oral hygiene every day, regular visits with your dentist are essential for maintaining a healthy smile. Every six months, our team can monitor your oral health, address any developing issues before they worsen, and check if your restorations are in good condition. With these appointments, you can save time, money, and headaches from potential complications.

Dental Implant FAQs

Our Boston dentist and team know patients will have a lot of questions before beginning a complex treatment plan like dental implants. Below, you’ll find answers to some of those frequently asked questions, but please don’t hesitate to ask for more information at your next visit.

Will I Need to See a Specialist to Have My Dental Implants Placed?

Dr. Alan Sasson offers full-service dental implant care at the Boston Smile Center. He is trained and qualified to place dental implants, and we also have a board-certified periodontist on staff who acts as our dental implant surgeon for more complicated cases, Dr. Avi Shainhouse. Between them, your case will be handled entirely in-house by the same team.

Can Dental Implants Improve My Denture?

Yes! Traditional removable dentures are only able to restore about 20% of chewing function. On the other hand, an implant denture can renew 70% or more of your natural biting force. This means you can eat a wider range of foods, speak without worrying about denture slipping, and avoid other hassles associated with denture fit.

How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?

In all, the procedure for dental implants may take from four to eight months. If preparatory bone grafting treatments are necessary to increase the volume of the jawbone before implantation, the entire procedure will take longer. Dr. Sasson will talk you through your plan and let you know how long you can expect the treatment to last.

How Are Dental Implants Cared For?

Caring for your dental implants should not be much different than your regular oral hygiene routine. You’ll need to brush twice a day, floss daily, and visit our office for regular checkups. If you have a more advanced tooth replacement prosthetic like an implant denture, we will walk you through some basics to make sure your smile stays healthy. Specifically, you may need to use special floss tools or water flossers to ensure you can remove plaque buildup between the denture and soft tissue. Without proper care, patients are at risk for perioimplantitis. This is a type of gum disease that affects patients who have dental implants. If you want our help cleaning your implant thoroughly or deciding what products to use, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’ll be happy to help.

How Long Will My Dental Implants Last?

Thanks to their unique placement, dental implants can easily last for 30 years or more. However, most patients are able to enjoy them for much longer! Simply practice great oral hygiene and visit us regularly for routine dental checkups and cleanings to help keep your newly rebuilt smile strong and sparkling for life.