Dudley
Contact us (774) 220-7355 219 W Main St. Dudley, MA 01571 Located in Dudley Family Dental
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8:00 am – 5:00 pm
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Our team of oral surgeons at Elite Oral Surgery Associates understands that tooth loss can be devastating. Even if only one tooth is missing, it can create many difficulties when attempting to eat, speak, or smile. Fortunately, we are pleased to partner with many dentists in the area to provide dental implant placement. By performing the surgical component of this process, we can ensure that patients’ new prosthetics are firmly in place and positioned for optimal comfort and support. Call us today if you are interested in learning more about the dental implant process, whether you're in Sturbridge, Dudley, Worcester, Fitchburg, Randolph, Lowell, or the surrounding areas.
Dental implants are tooth replacement solutions that are made out of titanium, ceramic, or zirconia and mimic tooth roots to provide continuous stimulation to the jawbone. Designed to support a customized restoration (i.e., dental crown, bridge, or denture), they are positioned and placed within the gums so that they will fuse with the bone tissues over several months. These prosthetics are the only tooth replacement solutions that replace the entire root-to-crown structure, and they are made to last a lifetime as long as you commit to taking proper care of your smile as you age.
At Elite Oral Surgery Associates, we are pleased to help patients who have been recommended by their dentists for dental implant placement. Several steps must be followed to ensure optimal success, including:
Over half a million dental implants are placed annually, meaning that there are many patients out there gaining access to all the benefits that they have to offer! They assist with day-to-day tasks, impart unique health benefits, and of course, set a patient up for a lifetime of healthy, happy smiling. Keep reading to learn more about how dental implants in Worcester can be used to masterfully rebuild your smile and grant you access to all sorts of incredible, life-changing advantages.
Our teeth’s primary uses are to bite and chew food and to help us speak clearly; without our teeth, these types of daily tasks would be quite difficult to manage! Here are a few ways how dental implants vastly improve one’s day-to-day routine:
Teeth are important for more than just chatting with your friends and biting into your favorite foods; they’re also integral for maintaining overall health. Here are just a few of the noteworthy health benefits that dental implants can offer:
Dental implants can be thought of as a long-term investment in your smile; you’re picking a solution that’s going to serve you well for the foreseeable future. Here are some of the long-term benefits of dental implants:
Most patients who suffer from tooth loss can receive dental implants. However, it may be that the timeline for treatment varies because preliminary services must first be performed. If your jawbone or oral health is not in prime condition for oral surgery, you’ll need to undergo additional dental care before moving forward with your new dental implants.
You will be pleased to learn, however, that dental implants are extremely versatile, which means they can replace any number of missing teeth, so when you’re ready, you can expect these prosthetics to address:
If only one tooth is missing, you might assume it’s not worth replacing. However, it can create significant challenges as it relates to your eating and speaking habits. With just one post, a metal abutment, and a custom dental crown, your smile can be fully restored.
When two or more teeth are missing consecutively, there is the option to have two dental implant posts positioned and placed in the exterior spaces before a custom dental bridge is secured. This will eliminate the need to alter healthy abutment teeth, allowing you to keep more of your natural tooth structure.
Instead of replacing an entire arch of teeth with traditional dentures, we can use four to eight dental implant posts to create a solid foundation for your new denture that will be secured into place by your dentist. We will position these for optimal support so that your new smile will last decades and deliver optimal functionality while performing normal daily tasks.
Naturally, the cost of dental implants in Worcester is different for each patient. Apart from the cost estimate you will receive from your dentist, you will also have a separate estimate from our team, as we will perform the surgical placement of your implant posts. As always, you’re more than welcome to bring any questions you have to our team. We’d be happy to go over our available payment options to ensure that you feel confident and comfortable placing your smile in our hands. Until then, you can also learn more about the cost of dental implants right here!
For some patients, the dental implant process starts with gum disease treatment, tooth extractions, and other preliminary treatments. Naturally, each of these comes with its own price, which needs to be factored into the overall cost. Then, there is the fee for the surgery. Since our team handles this portion of the treatment process, we can be transparent with you about the price as well as the financial solutions available. That way, you don’t have to stress about any unwanted surprises when it comes to the cost.
Although “dental implants” is often used as an umbrella term, this tooth-replacement solution doesn’t look the same from patient to patient. In addition to different manufacturers, there are different sizes, materials, and techniques that need to be considered. Plus, the type of restoration needed to restore the visible portion of your smile (i.e., crown, bridge, denture) will play a role as well.
Note: our team at Elite Oral Surgery Associates takes pride in using state-of-the-art, world-class materials. If you ever have a question about the parts of your dental implant or want to learn why we use the manufacturers we do, don’t hesitate to ask!
Since the upfront cost of dental implants is higher compared to other tooth-replacement solutions, many patients assume that they aren’t a smart investment. In reality, their 30+ year lifespan means they have the potential to be the most cost-effective option in the long run. Furthermore, dental implants stand apart from the rest because they are inserted directly into your jawbone, which helps prevent bone loss, preserve your youthful face shape, and provide you with a stronger bite.
While some dental insurance providers cover dental implants, that’s not the case across the board. That’s why we encourage our patients to talk to their insurance company directly or review the fine print on their plans. Our team also has extensive experience filing claims and maximizing our patients’ benefits, so we’re happy to help as well.
If you are uninsured, don’t automatically assume that rebuilding your smile with dental implants is too expensive. Our team at Elite Oral Surgery Associates also welcomes flexible financing through CareCredit, which is a trusted third-party financier that’s helped millions of patients. With their low-to-no-interest payment options, you can break down the cost of your dental implants into manageable chunks that fit easily into your monthly budget.
After you’ve had your dental implants placed, it falls on you to take the recovery period seriously to ensure that your implant sites heal up without any issues. Our team here at Elite Oral Surgery Associates is ready to assist you with every single step of this process, so if you’re feeling worried or anxious about your recuperation, allow us to guide you! Below we’ve provided some general post-op instructions that don’t just make absolute sense but are also easy to comply with. Of course, if you have any other questions during your healing period or are experiencing a complication, contact us promptly!
Perhaps the single most important thing to keep in mind while recovering from dental implant surgery is that you must protect the blood clots that form over the surgical sites. These clots are instrumental in the healing process, and if one is damaged or dislodged, it might result in a painful issue known as a dry socket. However, safeguarding these regenerative blood clots is a straightforward task—consider the following guidelines:
Sometimes, it’s tricky to differentiate between normal symptoms and concerning ones after you’ve undergone oral surgery. Some mild soreness is to be expected, but should resolve within a few days. Here are several common side effects you can expect following your procedure:
After your procedure, you’ll be advised to stick to eating softer foods and liquid items for the first few days, to avoid interfering with the blood clot(s). Here are some things you should include in your meals:
By maintaining excellent oral hygiene following dental implant placement, you’re setting yourself up for a functional and beautiful smile that lasts for decades. Remember, if osseointegration isn’t facilitated and your implant posts cannot fuse with your jawbone, your implants will suffer. Here are some practical hygiene tips you should follow moving forward:
Once you’ve recovered and your implants have fused with your jaw, you can receive your final restoration that sits atop the implant post(s). You might feel mild sensitivity in your gums, but this can easily be managed with pain medications. If you notice any bleeding or swelling once your restoration has been attached, don’t hesitate to let us know right away so we can resolve the issue. Otherwise, you’ll be all set to enter the world with your brand-new restored smile!
We understand that the process of rebuilding your smile with dental implants can be a little intimidating, and you might have a few questions that you’d like answered before you feel comfortable about committing to treatment. With that in mind, we’ve gathered a few of the most frequently asked questions that we receive about dental implants, along with their respective answers, so that you’re making a well-informed decision about the future of your smile. Of course, if you have any other questions about dental implants or the process for receiving them, don’t hesitate to contact our team today for help!
Dental implants are designed with the future in mind; they’re made to last for several decades under ideal circumstances, capable of lasting even 30 years with proper care. This greatly exceeds the lifespans of other restorative treatment options. That said, it falls on you to ensure that your implants serve you well for the foreseeable future. To prolong their longevity, you’ll want to adhere to a solid oral hygiene routine and continue visiting your dentist for routine preventive care. It’s also sensible to avoid poor oral habits that might compromise your implants: nail-biting, chewing on ice cubes, smoking cigarettes, and using your teeth as tools are all ill-advised habits.
Since the process of receiving dental implants involves surgery, it’s reasonable for patients to have initial concerns about pain and discomfort. That said, the very first thing your oral surgeon will do is numb your mouth, to ensure that no pain whatsoever is felt during the process. Fortunately, the jawbone itself doesn’t have many nerve endings to begin with to register pain. While the surgery portion itself will be painless, it’s normal to experience soreness for a few days afterward as your mouth heals up. You can counteract this discomfort by taking prescribed or OTC pain medication as directed, using cold compresses or ice packs, and getting plenty of rest. If you experience worsening pain following the procedure, contact your dentist at once.
You’ll be delighted to hear that there is no upper age limit for dental implants! As long as you’re in good oral health and have adequate jawbone density (or you’re willing to undergo any necessary preliminary procedures), you can receive this life-changing procedure. However, the same cannot be said for younger patients; dental implants typically aren’t recommended for patients under the age of 18, since the jawbone is often still growing and maturing throughout the teenage years.
Perhaps the biggest reason why dental implants are considered the “gold standard” of tooth replacement is that they restore lost teeth in terms of functionality and appearance. The implant posts themselves, made from titanium alloy, are embedded into the jawbone and are not visible. The restoration that’s secured on top of these posts, whether it’s a crown, bridge, or denture, will be crafted from precise impressions of your mouth, ensuring that it handsomely resembles your natural teeth. This means that no one aside from your dentist and those trusted few people that you tell will even know you have dental implants; they’ll just see a dazzling, beautiful set of symmetrical teeth!
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