Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth, or if a tooth must be extracted, your dentist may suggest replacing it with an implant. This procedure does not require shaving down healthy teeth adjacent to the space created by your missing tooth like placing a bridge does, so it offers the advantage of treating a one-tooth problem with a one-tooth solution.

Dental Implants Explained

An implant is a titanium screw placed in the jawbone, and it functions as a prosthetic tooth root. Bone fuses naturally to the titanium to create a solid, dependable foundation for a restoration, or replacement tooth. Dr. Grossman has been placing dental implants since 1989. He will assess your unique case and, working with your restorative dentist, customize your treatment plan.

Once your implant has fused with your jawbone, your restorative dentist will work with a dental laboratory to create a handcrafted restoration that complements your natural teeth. Your dentist will secure the restoration to the implant, and you can enjoy a solid tooth (or teeth) that returns full function to your dentition and beauty to your smile.

Alternative to Traditional Bridges and Dentures

Dental implants look and act like natural teeth. They can also anchor partial and full dentures. In the past, a patient with missing teeth would have been fitted for a bridge or full denture. Dentures must to be taken out and soaked at night, and bridges require surrounding teeth to be ground down to anchor the false tooth. Dentures also use messy adhesives and are known to irritate the mouth and feel unnatural. With dental implants, all these problems can be eliminated, since they are permanent, stable tooth replacements that provide their own anchor, never using surrounding teeth.

Advantages of dental implants:

• None of the hassle associated with removable dentures
• Firmly attached to the bone structure, leaving them feeling much more like natural teeth.
• Foods avoided in the past can return to the menu
• Like tooth roots, implants stimulate the jawbone and prevent bone shrinkage
• Can even help prevent the appearance of premature aging that comes with jaw bone shrinkage

You can have one implant or several, based on the restoration you need. If you currently have bridgework or dentures but would like a more solid restoration, or if you are missing teeth and want to enjoy the lifestyle of a full set of teeth, call us today to schedule an appointment.

Call our Acton and Newton Centre, MA offices today to reserve your personal periodontal evaluation. As a periodontist, Dr. Stephen Grossman serves patients with specialized treatments, including periodontal therapy, implant dentistry, gum grafting, soft tissue management and bone regeneration procedures that are backed by extensive education and experience. Dr. Grossman and our team serve patients from Waltham, Lexington, Brookline, Chestnut Hill, Wellesley, Sudbury, Concord, Westford, and beyond from our Acton and Newton Centre practice locations. We look forward to meeting you and providing the same standard of care to address your periodontal needs.