Dental Implants Specialist

Varinos Dental Associates

Cosmetic, Implant, and General Dentists located in Newburyport, Peabody, & Winthrop, MA

If you’re missing teeth, dental implants are one of the most technologically advanced ways to make your smile whole again. Frank Varinos, DDS, Jemin Kim, DMD, and the team of dental experts at Varinos Dental Associates offer high-quality dental implants to replace your missing teeth with a prosthetic that looks and feels incredibly natural. To learn more, call one of their conveniently located clinics in Newburyport, Peabody, and Winthrop, Massachusetts, or book a visit online today.

Dental Implants Q & A

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that your dentist or oral surgeon surgically inserts into your jawbone where you’re missing a tooth.

They’re made from biocompatible materials like titanium or ceramic that your body doesn’t recognize as a foreign substance, so they’re able to fuse with your jawbone as it heals from the surgery to place them.

Once your dental implant has fused with your jawbone, it provides a strong, sturdy foundation that your dentist can fit with a restoration like a crown, bridge, or dentures.

The combination of a dental implant and restoration gives you a full replacement tooth (or teeth) that looks, feels, and functions just like the real thing.

Dental Implants

Having one or more missing teeth is more common than you may realize. Among all the solutions for missing teeth, dental implants are the best choice. At Varinos Dental, we provide patients with several types of dental implant solutions.

Single-Tooth Dental Implants

When you need a replacement tooth, a tooth implant is the best option for several reasons. The main reason is that when you get a tooth implant, the dentist embeds a titanium post into your jaw, and this helps keep your jawbone healthy and strong. A replacement tooth that is not an implant does nothing for bone strength, and your jawbone can begin to atrophy in the spot where the missing tooth is.

Another reason is that a tooth implant is strong and durable. It is not removable; it functions exactly like a natural tooth. You will be able to eat any foods you like without restriction. Your tooth implant will blend in naturally with your other teeth as well — no one will know you have a tooth implant.

Implant-Supported Dental Bridges

A traditional dental bridge does not use implants. The bridge is made of three teeth, and the two on either end cover your natural teeth like caps. The dentist has to shave down your natural teeth in order to place the bridge.

An implant-supported bridge replaces multiple missing teeth. A dental implant that is replacing a single missing tooth is comprised of a titanium post, an abutment and the crown. But when you are missing several teeth, it is not necessary to implant a post for each missing tooth. So, for instance, if you are getting three teeth replaced, you would need only two posts. The posts will keep that area of your jawbone healthy and strong.

Implant-Supported Dentures

The concept is similar for implant-supported dentures. If you are missing many teeth, the best solution may be for the dentist to extract your remaining teeth so that you can have full dentures. Traditional removable dentures do nothing to support jaw health, and denture-wearers complain of discomfort, slipping and other issues with their dentures.

With implant-supported dentures, the dentist puts several titanium posts in your upper and lower arch to hold the dentures in place. Implant-supported dentures are not removable. They function exactly like natural teeth, and they look natural as well. You never have to worry about them slipping or clicking, and you can eat whatever you like.

Best Dental Clinic for Implants

If you are missing one, several or many teeth, call our dentist office today and make an appointment to come for a consultation. Our dentist can talk to you about whether dental implants are right for you.

Why should I get dental implants?

Implants are a state-of-the-art solution for replacing missing teeth. They mimic the natural structures of your smile and have an incredibly high success rate. Some of their benefits include:

Restoring proper speech, chewing, and digestion
Maintaining and enhancing your facial tissues
Resolving joint pain or bite problems
Restoring confidence in your smile

Dental implants also have a few advantages over other tooth replacement solutions. Unlike bridges, implants don’t require you to shave off enamel from any of your natural teeth.

And unlike both bridges and dentures, implants are directly connected to your jaw, so they provide your bone tissue with healthy stimulation that helps to prevent bone loss.

What’s involved in getting dental implants?

The team at Varinos Dental Associates can place your dental implants and restore your smile with a few visits to one of their clinics.

During your first visit, your dentist takes X-rays or scans of your smile to assess the best site for your implants and whether your jaw is healthy enough to support them.

You need a significant amount of bone tissue in your jaw for implants to properly work. If you’ve experienced some bone loss, or simply have a smaller jawbone, your dentist might need to do a bone graft before you can get your implants.

Once your jaw is ready for your implants, your dentist makes a small incision in your gums, drills a tiny hole in your jawbone, and places the implant inside. Over the next few months, your implant and your jawbone will fuse together as they heal from the surgery.

After your implant has fused, you come back to get your abutment, a tiny post that connects to your implant, sticks up through your gum, and connects to your restoration.

With your abutment in place, your dentist takes an impression of your smile and sends it off to a lab that makes the restoration. If you’re getting a crown, Varinos Dental Associates has the ability to mill it in-office with their CEREC® same-day crown machine.

Your dentist seals your restoration to your abutment, and your tooth replacement is complete. You leave the office with a smile that feels like you were never missing a tooth in the first place.

Get started with your dental implants today. Schedule a consultation with Varinos Dental Associates by phone or online

Tooth Loss Treatment Options

Can Dental Implants improve my life with dentures?

Do I need a Bone Graft?

FAQ

Are dental implants safe?

Because the dental implant process involves embedding a metal screw into your jaw, some people are concerned that tooth implants aren’t safe. Our dentist wants to reassure you that dental implants are perfectly safe. The posts are made of titanium, a special metal that is biocompatible with the body. It resists corrosion and it’s the same type of metal used for joint replacements. Complications can arise if patients are allergic to titanium, but fewer than 1% of people have this allergy.

Do dental implants last forever?

It depends. If you get your tooth implants placed by a skilled, experienced dentist, the titanium posts may well last a lifetime. However, as strong as the crowns are, they will likely need to be replaced every 10-15 years, depending on the types of food you eat.

Does it hurt to have dental implants?

Placing a dental implant is considered surgery, and patients are sedated for the procedure so that they do not feel any pain. Once the anesthesia wears off, patients will be sore for usually about 10 days. You might experience some swelling as well. Once your implant procedure is complete and your crown is placed, you should not feel any pain. Your tooth implant should feel just like your natural teeth.

Are dental implants covered by insurance?

Most dental insurances do not cover dental implants. However, the staff at Varinos Dental Associates can help you find out more about financing options.

Do dental implants ever fail?

It is very uncommon for a dental implant to fail — more than 95% are successful — but it is possible. One reason dental implants fail is medical issues the patient might have, such as gum disease or issues with the jawbone. However, when you get your dental implants from an experienced dentist, they are able to identify these types of issues beforehand and take care of them so that the implant procedure succeeds. Dental implants have a lower success rate among some populations such as smokers and those with autoimmune diseases.

Are dental implants tax deductible?

Yes, if you itemize your deductions, you can include the cost of dental implants. Cosmetic dentistry, such as veneers and teeth whitening, are not tax deductible, however. But dental implants and orthodontic solutions such as Invisalign are not considered cosmetic.

How should I take care of my tooth implants?

Dental implants do not require any special care — just brush and floss as you do your other teeth. However, if your dental hygiene practices were previously somewhat lax, it’s important to remember now to brush and floss at least twice a day to prevent gum disease, because it can lead to implant failure.

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