Dental Implants — Merrimack, NH

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

At first, the consultation may not seem too important, but it is actually essential. In order to be successful with this treatment, we take our time in the planning stage, meticulously examining your mouth and jawbone to confirm that they’re healthy enough for implants. The consultation is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about how dental implants work in Merrimack and to get a clearer idea of the timeline and cost associated with this treatment.

Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants are surgically placed below the gum line. While many patients worry about this surgery, it is actually a minimally invasive procedure, and it’s performed right here in our office. First, we simply need to make a small incision into the gums. Then, we place the dental implant into the jawbone, and a protective cap is attached to it. This cap maintains the space needed to attach the restoration to the implant while also allowing the post to fuse with the surrounding bone and gum tissue.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

Following the surgery, a process called osseointegration needs to occur. Basically, the implant post, which was positioned in the jawbone, stimulates new bone growth. This can take between three and six months to complete, but it’s the secret to the stability and strength of these replacement teeth. After the implant has fully fused with the jawbone, we can then do another quick placement procedure for the abutment, or connector piece, which will stick up above the gum surface.

Delivery of Dental Restoration(s)

When your gums have healed after the abutment placement, you return to our office so we can take impressions of your mouth. With this information, our trusted dental lab technicians can fabricate your custom restoration. Once they’re finished, we can connect your restoration and complete your new smile! At that point, you’re free to use your restored teeth as you would natural ones—just be sure to take care of them with daily oral hygiene and regular visits to our office.

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Dental implant posts fuse to your jawbone, creating a secure and stable foundation for your replacement teeth. You’ll never have to worry about any embarrassing slippage, clicking, or whistling, so you can speak and smile with confidence.
• Although conventional options like dentures allow you to eat a variety of foods, there are still limitations. To maintain a nutritious and balanced diet, you should choose dental implants in Merrimack. Because they recreate the root structure of missing teeth, they restore the majority of the biting and chewing power you had before tooth loss.
• In addition to letting you eat whatever you want, dental implants also allow you to enjoy your favorite beverages. Traditional dentures often warp when exposed to hot drinks like coffee and tea, making them fit less comfortably. With dental implant restorations, this shouldn’t be a problem.
• You won’t have to spend more than a few minutes per day on oral hygiene. In most cases, cleaning dental implants is as simple as brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash – just like with real teeth!

Health Benefits

• Since dental implant maintenance is so simple, you’ll have a much lower risk of oral health problems like infections in your gums and remaining teeth.
• Dental implants are the only tooth replacement to preserve the density of your jawbone. Ordinarily, the bone deteriorates after tooth loss without the roots of your teeth. Implant posts stimulate your jaw and encourage new bone growth. This not only keeps your face looking young, but it also protects your soft tissues and any natural teeth you have left.
• Studies have suggested a correlation between a patient’s number of teeth and their lifespan. Because dental implants fill all of the functions of real teeth, it’s reasonable to believe that they can help you enjoy a longer life!

Long-Term Benefits

• With the right at-home hygiene and routine checkups with your implant dentist in Merrimack, your dental implants have the potential to last for a lifetime. You shouldn’t need frequent adjustments to ensure that they continue to fit well, nor should you have to get your implants replaced every five to ten years like you would with traditional solutions.
• Over the years, you’ll save quite a bit of time that you would have otherwise had to spend getting a bridge or denture replaced. You’ll also save a great deal of money in the long run; not only will you not have to pay for replacements, but you also won’t need to purchase specialized cleaning supplies or adhesives.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Although most healthy adults are eligible for this treatment, you’ll still need to attend a consultation with a dental implant dentist in Merrimack just to be sure. During this appointment, we usually look for these three things:

• Good general health – Ideally, you should be free of any medical conditions that could make it difficult for you to undergo minor oral surgery.
• Great oral health – Cavities, gum disease, and other pre-existing oral health concerns should be addressed prior to dental implant surgery. Otherwise, they could interfere with the procedure’s success.
• Strong jawbone – The jawbone naturally begins to shrink after tooth loss, so if you’ve been without teeth for some time, your jaw may not be able to adequately support implant posts. In this case, you might need to undergo a bone grafting procedure beforehand.

Even if you don’t initially meet all of these qualifications, there’s still a chance that you can benefit from dental implants. With the right preparatory procedures, like gum disease therapy and bone grafting, this treatment could very likely become an option for you.

Depending on the extent of your tooth loss, we’ll create a customized treatment plan to help you enjoy a complete smile again:

Missing One Tooth

To replace a single tooth, Dr. Braga places a small titanium post that mimics a tooth root in the gap created by a missing tooth. Over time, your jawbone will fuse to the implant, forging a solid foundation for a custom crown. Dr. Shetty then attaches a crown to the implant, restoring your smile’s health and appearance. Although receiving a dental implant requires oral surgery, it’s actually less invasive and more conservative than getting a dental bridge. Bridges require enamel from two of your remaining teeth to be permanently removed, making them more prone to sensitivity, decay, and breakage in the long run. Because dental implants are self-supporting, they let you preserve more of your natural tooth structure.

Missing Multiple Teeth

A few strategically placed dental implants in Merrimack can permanently anchor a bridge or partial denture. The specific number of implants you receive will depend on the number and positions of your missing teeth. If you have lost multiple teeth in a row, an implant post can be placed at either end to secure a custom bridge. For several missing teeth located throughout the mouth, a small number of implants can anchor a partial denture. Both of these solutions prevent your prosthetic from wearing down your natural teeth, which can occur over time with traditional bridges and partials.

Missing All Teeth

Even if all of your natural teeth are gone, you can still enjoy a complete smile with an implant denture. By inserting an average of four to six dental implant posts at predetermined areas and angles in the jaw, we can secure a full denture into place. Implant dentures eliminate the most common complaints that patients have about regular dentures, such as slipping, gum irritation, and lack of chewing power. Not only are implant dentures incredibly stable, but they can last for decades!

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

Before we can surgically place your implants, we’ll need to make sure you’re free of any oral health issues that could jeopardize the success of your new teeth, such as jawbone loss, gum disease, or tooth decay. If we detect any of these conditions, we’ll need to schedule the appropriate preparatory procedures (bone grafting, periodontal therapy, tooth extractions, etc.). Although these treatments are necessary, it’s worth mentioning that they will increase your total costs.

Dental implant surgery itself will also incur its own cost, as will any sedation used during the procedure. Because we can handle this procedure in-house, you won’t need to worry about paying a separate bill to an outside specialist like you would with many general dentists. This will make your payment process much easier!

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Several variables go into the cost of dental implants in Merrimack, including the number, material, brand, size, and even the location of the implant posts within your mouth. Depending on where your implants are placed, you may require shorter or longer posts, which naturally influence the price. The materials the implants are crafted from, such as titanium and zirconia, are ideal for different situations and come with different price tags. Additionally, the number of implants you require also determines the type of restoration – crown, bridge, or denture – that you’ll need.

If all of this sounds confusing or overwhelming, don’t worry! Our team will go over each of these factors and their associated fees during your consultation to give you a clear understanding of your new smile.

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Would you love to never spend another cent on denture adhesive? Want to avoid having to purchase specialized cleaning products to maintain your new pearly whites? Prefer a solution that can last a lifetime instead of needing to be replaced every five to seven years? If so, then you’ll be happy to know that dental implants can save you money in the long run by staying firmly in place, requiring only basic daily hygiene products, and being able to last for several decades.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Not every dental insurance provider will cover dental implants; it depends on your specific policy. However, other treatments associated with implants may qualify for some coverage. For example, the restoration that goes on top of your implants typically receives about the same level of coverage as a crown, bridge, or denture ordinarily would.

We’re proud to say that Dental Designs of New England is a very insurance-friendly dental practice! We’re in-network with Delta Dental Premier, but we’ll happily file claims and maximize benefits for virtually every other PPO dental plan.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

In addition to insurance, we offer other ways of making dental implants more accessible. For patients who want to spread the price of their treatment out over several months or years, we work with CareCredit and Wells Fargo Health Advantage to provide qualified patients with low- to no-interest payment plans that are flexible enough to fit comfortably within most budgets. Our in-house membership program also provides an alternative to insurance that gives you significant discounts on most of our services, including dental implants, as well as FREE basic preventive care – all for one low, flat annual rate!

How Long Do Dental Implants Last? 

Dental implants are built to last, which is why many patients enjoy their new and improved smile for 30+ years! It is important to note, however, that their longevity is largely based on how well you care for them. For example, if you smoke, neglect to brush your teeth, or skip your biannual cleanings, then they most likely won’t last as long. On the other hand, if you implement a solid at-home oral hygiene regimen, are cautious of your sugar intake, and avoid unhealthy habits, like using your teeth as tools to open things, then you’ll enjoy them for significantly longer.

How Successful Are Dental Implants?

When placed by a skilled professional, dental implants have an impressive success rate of 95%. In fact, that number is even higher among certain patients, like non-smokers. As mentioned above, their longevity is based largely on your lifestyle habits, which is why prioritizing oral hygiene and avoiding unhealthy habits is so important. This will help prevent the common reasons for dental implant failure, like peri-implantitis.

Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?

If you think you’re too old for dental implants, think again. After all, there is no upper age limit for this state-of-the-art tooth-replacement solution. Whether you’re 55, 65, or 75, you could be a candidate! The best way to find out if dental implants are right for you is by scheduling an appointment with our skilled dentist in Merrimack.

Will I Have to Take Off Work for Dental Implant Surgery?

The answer to this question depends entirely on your treatment plan. For example, patients getting 4-6 dental implants often need more time to recover than someone just getting one. Typically, taking off one or two days is all that’s needed. If you have a job that requires you to lift heavy objects, then you may need to take more time off. After all, you don’t want to compromise your results by accidentally overexerting yourself so close to your surgery.

Will People Be Able to Tell That I Have Dental Implants?

Since dental implants are designed to be an exact replica of your missing teeth, even your closest loved ones will have a hard time telling the difference. Furthermore, dental implants are inserted directly into the jawbone, ensuring they will function like your natural teeth too.

Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat with Dental Implants?

Fortunately, dental implants don’t come with a long list of dietary restrictions. With that being said, it is a good idea to continue to exercise caution with crunchy, sticky, and sugary foods. In fact, for the first couple of weeks following your surgery, you should stick to mostly soft foods, like hard-boiled eggs, applesauce, and yogurt. Eventually, you’ll work your way back to your normal diet. Just be sure to incorporate lots of nutrient-dense and vitamin-rich foods to promote good oral and overall health.

Do Dental Implants Decay?

In short, the answer is no. That’s because top-tier materials, like titanium and porcelain, are resistant to decay. That doesn’t mean, however, that you’re automatically immune to dental problems moving forward. While your natural teeth can still get cavities, the tissue that surrounds your dental implant can also become infected. As a result, implementing a solid oral hygiene routine is still of the utmost importance.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

With a success rate of more than 95%, dental implant failure is relatively rare. If it does occur, it’s typically due to two reasons: peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration. In short, peri-implantitis is a form of gum disease while failed osseointegration is the unsuccessful fusion of your jawbone to your implant post. Chronic teeth grinding, tobacco use, and poor dental hygiene are all common culprits, which is why patients are carefully screened before becoming candidates for dental implants. This helps minimize the risk of implant failure and increases the likelihood of success in the short and long term.

Can I Get Dental Implants If I Smoke?

Candidates for dental implants are determined on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, tobacco use doesn’t automatically disqualify you. It is important to note that smoking causes complications. For example, research shows that it slows down healing, can interfere with osseointegration, and can cause dry socket. For this reason, patients are instructed to quit smoking at least two weeks prior and not to resume the habit for at least three months following the surgery. The good news is that following this important rule can help you break the habit altogether!

Do Dental Implants Feel Natural?

One of the biggest perks of dental implants is that they are incredibly lifelike in both look and feel. There are several reasons for this. To start, they are placed directly into your jawbone, replacing the root of the tooth entirely. This restores your bite force and ensures no unwanted movement when you eat, laugh, or speak. Next, they are completely personalized to you, bypassing any bulkiness. Lastly, the crowns, bridges, and dentures that are placed on top come in a wide range of lifelike shades.

Do I Need a Bone Graft Before Getting Dental Implants?

Over time, tooth loss can result in bone loss. Therefore, bone grafts are a common preliminary treatment. Essentially, this procedure transplants a piece of bone tissue to the jawbone to create an adequate foundation for the implant. Whether or not you’ll need one is dependent on your dental needs, which your implant dentist in Merrimack will determine at your initial appointment.