Dental Implants – Medford, MA
Lifelike, Long-Lasting Replacement Teeth
Losing even one tooth can lead to a variety of consequences, including worse oral health, diminished self-confidence, and even a reduced overall quality of life. These problems only worsen as a person loses more and more teeth. At Giamberardino Dental Care, we want you to know that your smile doesn’t have to stay like this. With dental implants, it’s possible to regain lifelike, long-lasting replacement teeth that look and feel like the genuine article! Dental implants in Medford, MA have allowed countless patients to enjoy. Dr. Anthony Giamberardino partners with a network of skilled dental implant specialists in the Medford area to ensure your new teeth are of the highest quality. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and get started on rebuilding your smile.
Why Choose Giamberardino Dental Care for Dental Implants?
- Partnered with Medford Dental Implant Experts
- Dentist with 30+ Years of Experience
- Reasonable Prices with No Hidden Fees
What Are Dental Implants?
Natural teeth are composed of two parts: the crown (the white portion that is visible in your smile) and the root (the portion that’s hidden beneath the gumline). Traditional tooth replacement solutions like dentures and dental bridges only bother with the crown, but dental implants take it one step further by also recreating the tooth’s root.
A dental implant refers to a titanium post that replicates the root structure by being surgically placed in the jaw. It integrates with the bone tissue, forging a bone strong enough to support any number of replacement teeth, whether that’s with a dental crown, bridge, or denture. This unique three-part structure makes dental implants the closest possible thing to your natural teeth. As a result, they can deliver countless benefits over traditional solutions, including greater chewing power, longer lifespan, and a healthier jawbone.
The 4-Step Dental Implant Process
Dr. Giamberardino is committed to providing the highest quality care by collaborating with local dental implant specialists. This team-based approach ensures that our patients receive exceptional care throughout the entire dental implant process. Although getting dental implants takes longer than opting for traditional dentures or bridges, the long-term benefits of your new smile make it well worth the wait. While each patient’s treatment plan is unique, here is a basic outline of what you can expect.
Initial Dental Implant Consultation
During your first appointment, Dr. Giamberardino will examine your smile to determine your candidacy for dental implants. Then, he’ll discuss your various tooth replacement options and create a personalized treatment plan, including an estimated timeline. If you’re not eligible for dental implants initially, we may recommend preliminary dental treatments (i.e., tooth extractions, bone grafting, or gum disease therapy) to help boost your chances of success.
Dental Implant Surgery
Our practice collaborates with some of Medford’s top oral surgeons and periodontists for the surgical phase of dental implant treatment, where the new roots are precisely placed into the jaw. These specialists have advanced training to ensure your implants are positioned at the exact locations and angles needed.
After your mouth is numbed, an incision will be made in your gums to expose the jawbone. The implants are then carefully inserted, after which your gums are stitched closed, allowing the healing process to begin.
Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment Placement
Osseointegration will take place over the next three to six months. During this critical process, the implant posts fuse with your jawbone. This natural process is what gives dental implants their exceptional reliability and longevity.
While osseointegration occurs, you’ll receive a temporary restoration to help you enjoy the functionality and appearance of your teeth. Once it’s complete, a metal attachment known as an abutment is placed on top of the implants. This connector piece allows your custom restorations to be securely attached to the posts.
Delivery of Dental Implant Restorations
After your mouth has fully healed, you’ll return to our office to receive your new teeth. Depending on the number of teeth you need to replace, you may receive a crown, bridge, or denture. Each restoration is meticulously crafted to match the appearance of your natural teeth. Once your new teeth are securely placed on top of your dental implants, you’re ready to show off and put your fully restored grin to use!
Benefits of Dental Implants
By recreating every part of missing teeth, dental implants provide benefits that are simply not possible with traditional options. Some of these benefits include:
- High success rate – Even after multiple decades, dental implants are successful in over 95% of cases.
- Natural appearance – The crown, bridge, or denture that we install atop your implants is personalized to mimic your natural pearly whites.
- Natural feel – Because dental implants mimic the structure of real teeth, they should feel virtually the same.
- Restored function – Dental implants restore most of your biting and chewing power, making it easy to enjoy your favorite foods.
- Jawbone preservation – By stimulating the jawbone, dental implants are the only tooth replacement that prevents a sagging facial appearance, which is a common consequence of tooth loss.
- Long-term savings – Dental implants could potentially last a lifetime, so you shouldn’t need to worry about having to pay to get it replaced like you would a denture or bridge.
Who Dental Implants Can Help
You’ll be pleased to know that if you’re a generally healthy adult who is looking to replace any number of missing teeth, there’s a good chance that dental implants can help you! Our recommendation for the specific type of treatment will depend on the degree of your tooth loss.
Missing One Tooth
In the case of a single missing tooth, one dental implant post is placed vertically into the socket where the root once was. A custom crown is secured on top, allowing us to complete your smile without altering your remaining healthy tooth enamel.
Missing Multiple Teeth
Two or more implants can be used to anchor a dental bridge or partial denture into place. This prevents you from having to replace each individual tooth with its own implant, making it a simpler and more cost-effective option.
Missing All Teeth
Patients who have lost all of the teeth on an arch may benefit from an implant denture. Implant dentures are very similar to a traditional denture in appearance, but they’re actually designed to directly attach over a small number of dental implants rather than sitting on the gums. This allows them to fit into a patient’s mouth much more securely. There’s no threat of looseness or slipping to worry about!
Understanding the Cost of Dental Implants
Many different factors can affect the cost of rebuilding one or more teeth with dental implants, and no two patients’ circumstances are identical. For instance, some may require preparatory services like gum disease treatment before the transformation can begin. The best way to feel confident about the financial aspects of this care is to sit down for a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Giamberardino. He can review your current oral health and reconstructive needs in detail before offering confident recommendations. Better yet, several flexible payment options and discounts are available! We enjoy being able to make this important service budget-friendly.
Types of Dental Implants
There are several factors that influence the amount you pay for your new smile, such as the number of teeth you’re missing. Generally, you can expect to pay more if you need to replace more than one tooth; however, it’s more affordable to use an implant bridge or denture than to treat each one individually. Besides the number of teeth you’re missing, the materials used will also impact the cost, like ceramic or titanium posts.
What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Treatment?
Unlike traditional treatments, the process of treating tooth loss with dental implants will take several months to complete because there are various steps. Each phase consists of separate costs, which can make it easier to afford your new smile because you won’t need to cover the full amount upfront. On average, you can expect to pay for:
- Consultation – You’ll need a thorough consultation, including a CT scan.
- Additional Procedures – It’s common to need tooth extractions, periodontal therapy, bone grafting, or a sinus lift before your placement surgery.
- Placement Surgery – Besides the oral surgeon’s fees, you’ll need to cover the cost of the sedation or anesthesia and the dental implants.
- Abutments – Each implant post needs a special fixture to attach your restoration.
- Restoration – Your replacement teeth are made from high-quality materials using elite technology to create a realistic look while being durable.
Are Dental Implants Worth the Investment?
You’ll pay more upfront for dental implants, but you’ll make a long-term investment in your smile to reduce your overall expenses. Dental implants have over a 95% success rate to last for several decades, so you’ll never need to worry about paying to have them replaced. This will save you money long-term. Not to mention, dental implants improve your oral health to protect any remaining teeth from common issues, like cavities, gum disease, or tooth loss. This prevents the need for a costly treatment down the road to save you even more money.
Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Unfortunately, most dental insurances will not pay the entire cost of the procedure, but they may cover certain aspects of it. Although every policy differs, many plans will pay a portion of the cost after paying your annual deductible until you reach your yearly allowance. We will work on your behalf to file the necessary claims to reduce your out-of-pocket-cost. We’ll also discuss your payment options for any remaining balance, like using CareCredit.
Dental Implant FAQs
Do you still have questions about dental implants in Medford? We have the answers! Before committing to and investing in this treatment process, it’s important that you get the information that you need. At Giamberardino Dental Care, we always want to satisfy our patients’ curiosity. That’s why we’ve included the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about dental implants. Keep reading to learn more about this tooth replacement method.
How Many Dental Implants Will I Need?
The number of dental implants that you need will depend directly on how many teeth you’re missing. Typically, you’ll need one implant per missing tooth, but sometimes bigger teeth like your back molars may need multiple implants for a proper replacement. The only way to know for sure is to schedule a consultation, where Dr. Giamberardino will carefully examine your mouth to determine how many implants you need.
This number can also depend on the condition of your oral health and the strength of your jawbone. Sometimes, those with a weaker jawbone may not be able to handle as many dental implants as those without. When you lose teeth, your bone loses stimulation that it needs to thrive, which causes bone deterioration.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Possibly the biggest benefit that dental implants have to offer is their longevity. Dental implants can last for a lifetime with proper care, making them well worth the investment. That’s because they are made out of high-quality titanium and rooted in the jawbone to create a long-lasting and sturdy support for dental restorations. How long your restoration lasts will depend on the type that you require and how well you practice your oral healthcare routine.
Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?
No, not like you may think! Many patients learn about the surgical process of receiving dental implants and automatically assume that it’s a painful procedure. However, patients that have received dental implants say that the discomfort that they experienced can be related to a simple tooth extraction. In reality, a trusted surgeon will ensure that you’re numb and comfortable before beginning the procedure. Additionally, your jawbone doesn’t have very many pain-sensing nerves. Most patients will report that they feel discomfort during the first few days of recovery, but this soreness will eventually dissipate.
How Long Does the Dental Implant Process Take?
After your implant surgery, it’s important to allow at least three to six months for your dental implants to integrate into your jawbone. While this sounds like a long time, it’s precisely what makes implants a strong and healthy replacement. During this period, you’ll wear a temporary restoration until it’s time to come into our office for your permanent one. While this treatment does take several months, the comfort, function, beauty, and health benefits are worth it.