Chelmsford MA dental implants Archives - Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

3 Things You Should Know About the Dental Implants Recovery Period

Posted on November 14, 2019 by AllSmiles.

Dental implants are highly effective in replacing missing teeth. But it takes time to get successful results. What should you expect as you recover?

1. Do’s and Don’ts

Do

Take ibuprofen for pain three times a day for three to four days.
Take anti-nausea or antibiotics as prescribed.
Sleep with your head elevated for three to four days to minimize swelling and pain.
Put gauze over the dental implant surgical site and apply pressure to minimize any bleeding. Report excessive bleeding that persists for longer than 30 minutes.
Minimize swelling by applying ice (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) to the side of your face near the surgical site.
Eat soft, room temperature or cold foods.
Begin gently rinsing your mouth with warm salt water the day after surgery. Rinse every two to three hours for the first three days. For the following two weeks, rinse after meals and at bedtime.
Resume any prescription medications that you regularly take, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Keep your follow-up appointments to monitor your implants, teeth, and gums.

Don’t

Don’t exercise strenuously for the first few days after dental implant surgery.
Avoid brushing or floss your teeth in the area of the surgical site.
Avoid eating crunchy or chewy foods.
Don’t drink alcohol for at least 72 hours after implant surgery. It restricts blood flow and inhibits healing.
Don’t suck liquids through a straw. It increases bleeding and can dislodge the blood clot
Avoid smoking because it restricts your blood flow and slows down the healing process.
Don’t touch the surgical site or sutures.

2. Healing Time

Healing time includes implant surgery and bone grafting if needed.

Bone grafting

If you receive bone grafts, it will take 4 to 12months for the bone to heal and develop before you can receive dental implants. Adequate bone is needed to support implants and provide a successful outcome.

Implant surgery

It takes three to four months for your implant and jawbone to fuse. Meanwhile, you can wear a temporary crown.

Dental implant phases

3. Permanent Teeth

After your dental implant fuses to your jawbone, a permanent dental crown will be attached to the abutment, or connector, that is placed between the implant and crown. At times, prematurely loading an implant fixture with a crown can put too much stress on it and interfere with the healing process.

Each person’s biology is different, so don’t try to rush the healing process. Allow your dentist time to ensure healing is complete so you’ll have long-lasting implants that won’t fail and need to be redone.

Michael Szarek, DMD of Lowell, MA sponsors this post.

Height Matters. What Most Patients Don’t Know About Dental Implant Abutments and Bone Loss

Posted on July 23, 2019 by AllSmiles.

An abutment is a connector that is attached to the top of a dental implant root form. A dental crown is attached to the abutment, and it replaces the part of a natural tooth that shows above your gumline.

Implant Research Shows that Height Matters

There are various widths and heights of abutments. Each patient needs an abutment that fits the implant root and helps the implant crown fit between existing teeth without being too loose or too tight. But what about abutment height?

Dental implant phases

An Implant Abutment Study

The article “Risk Factors for Bone Loss with Dental Prosthetics,” published in the June 2019 Journal of Oral Implantology, reports findings from a study of how implant abutment height affects jawbone loss. Why are the findings significant? A dental implant root, similar to a natural tooth root, stimulates the jawbone and helps prevent shrinkage. But if an abutment is too high, it can conflict with the implant root and promote bone shrinkage. Consider the findings.

The study gathered clinical data for 57 patients who received a dental implant and prosthesis between 2014 and 2018. Panoramic x-rays were used to measure several factors:

Patient bone levels
Implant height and diameter
Distance between tissue anchors
Abutment height

Researchers also analyzed whether patient age, gender, or implant characteristics contributed to the risk of bone loss.

The Results

Researchers measured the patients’ bone levels at 6, 12, and 24 months after the abutments were placed. Abutments of 4mm in height contributed to more bone loss than abutments of 3mm or 2mm in height. Taller (4mm) abutments contribute to more bone loss for several reasons:

Increase stress on the gum tissue around the implant
Cause the attached prosthesis to rotate and cause slight implant instability
Increase stress on the bone while chewing

The increased stress on gum tissue and jawbone can also cause irritation, infection, and soreness.

Why were 4mm abutments used? The clinical data doesn’t reveal why doctors chose specific abutment height for each patient. But author Ömür Dereci indicates that clinicians choose abutment height according to the thickness of gum tissue around the implant abutment. The recommendation: surgically reduce the gingival thickness instead of using high abutments.

If You’re Thinking About Getting Dental Implants

If you’re thinking about having your missing teeth replaced with dental implants, you can’t select the correct abutment height to prevent jawbone loss, but you can carefully select your implant dentist. Ensure your provider has the following qualifications:

Extensive post-graduate training in implantology, occlusion, and bite
Access to 3D x-ray equipment to accurately measure bone and reveal oral cavities and other structures
Extensive experience in implant surgery
Extensive experience in restoring dental implants with crowns or an arch of denture teeth

Find at least two potential providers, schedule consultations with them, and compare your options before making a final selection.

Michael Szarek, DMD, a cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA sponsors this post. His office is convenient to Dracut, Helmsford, Tewksbury, and surrounding cities.

7 Keys to Choosing a Dental Implant or a Bridge

Posted on May 30, 2019 by AllSmiles.

The root canal that I received this past March didn’t work. My dentist did a second root canal last month, but she could not save the tooth. She extracted it. The tooth is a right lateral incisor, so I have a tooth missing in the front of my mouth. It’s there for everyone to see. I’m debating on whether or not to get a dental implant or a bridge. An implant costs so much, but my dentist said it could last for the rest of my life. And then I’m not sure if my dentist knows how to handle complex cases. She is young, and this is only her fourth year in practice. I’m four hours away from Dr. Szarek’s office. Otherwise, I would come there. Can you give me some things to consider before I say and make a commitment to the wrong dentist? Thanks. Teresa

Teresa – Below are a few things to consider.

Dental Implants

Surgery – Minimally invasive surgery is required to place implant fixtures in your jawbone.
Healing time – It takes several weeks for the implant to fuse to your jawbone.
Effect on adjacent teeth – No work is required on your adjacent teeth.
Cost – Dental implants cost more than other forms of tooth replacement, including a dental bridge.
Long-term results – Depending on your age, implants can last a lifetime.
Effectiveness – They look and feel like your natural teeth.
Bone shrinkage – Implant fixtures stimulate the jawbone and prevent shrinkage.

Dental implant phases

Dental Bridge

Surgery – No surgery is required to place a dental bridge.
Healing time – There is no healing time, so your dentist can place the implant right away.
Effect on adjacent teeth – Your dentist will shave down the tooth on either side of the missing. The adjacent teeth will serve as anchors for the bridge, and a dental crown will be placed over each of them.
Cost – A bridge doesn’t cost as much as a dental implant. In some cases, a dental implant can cost twice as much.
Long-term results – A dental bridge can last 10 to 20 years.
Effectiveness – Dental crowns can be made to look like your natural teeth, but a bridge won’t feel as natural as a dental implant.
Bone shrinkage – A dental crown is suspended in the middle of the bridge to replace the missing tooth. But since there is no implant fixture to stimulate the bone, the beneath the crown will gradually shrink.

Whether you choose a dental implant or a bridge, find an experienced implant dentist who is also a cosmetic dentist. You will receive a quality dental implant that looks natural.

This blog is sponsored by Michael Szarek, DMD of Lowell, MA. Dr. Szarek is an implant dentist and an accredited cosmetic dentist.

6 Questions to Ask Yourself before Choosing Dental Implants

Posted on April 9, 2019 by AllSmiles.

If you’re reading this post, you probably know that dental implants are the most effective form of tooth replacement. That’s because they mimic natural teeth.

The components of a dental implant include:

Artificial root – A root form, usually made of titanium, is surgically implanted in your jawbone. It’s a simple procedure.
Abutment – This connector is attached to the artificial root to support a crown.
Dental crown – A dental crown is attached to the abutment.

Questions to Ask Yourself before Dental Implants Are Placed

1. What are the implant dentist’s qualifications?

Although many dentists offer dental implants, not all of them meet the following qualifications:

Post-graduate training in implantology
Regularly place dental implants
Use advanced technology, including 3-D images to ensure optimal implant placement
Provide natural-looking dental crowns or implant overdentures

2. What are my other options?

Dental implants are the best form of tooth replacement, but they are also the most costly. If they are not within your budget, you should be aware of the following:

Other options, e.g., dental bridge, partial denture, implant overdentures
Cost of the options
Longevity of your options
Results you can expect

3. What’s involved with getting dental implants?

Dental implants have a 98% success rate, but they require diligent oral hygiene. Ask yourself if you’re willing to do the following:

Brush your teeth twice daily and daily floss between them
Keep appointments for regular dental cleanings and checkups
Quit smoking or tobacco use—or avoid those habits before and after dental implant surgery to allow proper healing

4. What Are My Long-Term Goals for My Smile?

If you have multiple smile goals, dental implants can be added to the treatment plan. But timing is everything. Your dentist will let you know at what stage dental implants will be scheduled in your overall treatment. For example, if you want your teeth whitened or aligned, let you dentist know before you receive dental implants.

5. Am I Willing to Wait?

Surgery and healing – Receiving dental implants is a process. After the implants are placed, it takes three to four months for the implants and your jawbone to fuse and provide a solid anchor for dental crowns or dentures. Meanwhile, you will wear temporary crowns or dentures.
Bone grafting – If some of your teeth have been missing for an extended period, your jawbone might be shrinking. Adequate bone is needed to support dental implants. If you don’t have enough bone, grafting might be required. The grafts need to heal before dental implants are placed.

A successful outcome requires patience. Don’t expect a quick fix with dental implants.

6. Am I Willing to Consult with More than One Dentist?

Much of the success of dental implants depends on the training, skill, and experience of the dentist. We recommend that you schedule consultations with more than one dentist. Only schedule consultations with providers who have post-graduate training in implantology, years of experience in placing implants, and many patients for whom implants have been provided.

During your consultations ask each dentist about the following:

Advanced training and credentials
Years of experience
How many dental implant cases he or she has completed
Before-and-after photos of patient cases
Cost of the entire procedure, including surgery, bone grafting if needed, and crowns or dentures
How he or she ensures accurate placement (3D imaging, computer-guided placement, etc.)

Cost alone should not determine which provider you choose for dental implants. Compare all of your options and weigh them carefully.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek. Dr. Szarek’s office is convenient to the following towns:

Dracut, MA
Chelmsford, MA
Tewksbury, MA
Billerica, MA
Pelham, NH
Westford, MA
Methuen, MA
Andover, MA
Lawrence, MA
Wilmington, MA
Bedford, MA
North Andover, MA
Burlington, MA
Hudson, NH
Windham, NH