Dental Implants in Post Office Square, Boston, MA

What Is an Implant?

An implant is a metal post that a surgeon inserts into the jawbone. Over the following few months, the post will integrate into the bone, becoming just as secure in the bone as the root of a natural tooth.

After you have had a chance to heal, the surgeon will perform a minor surgical procedure to expose the top of the implant. After about a week of healing, your Post Office Square dentist will place an abutment onto the implant, which will be securely screwed into place. We will take an impression of the abutment, and a dental lab technician will fabricate a custom implant crown.

The dental crown will fit onto the abutment. At this point, your implant looks and functions just like your natural teeth. The dental crown is made of porcelain, gold, or porcelain fused to metal. Your dentist will discuss all your options so you can choose the best one for your needs.

Implants are actually stronger than your natural teeth and can last up to 20 years.

Why Do You Need an Implant?

There are two reasons you should consider investing in an implant.

Esthetics

One of the main reasons people choose to invest in an implant is because of esthetics. They want a beautiful smile, and having a large empty space (or spaces) does not appeal to them. Restoring the missing tooth with an implant makes them feel more attractive and confident.

Your teeth like to shift. If there is an empty space, they will move to fill it. The teeth adjacent to the space will move/lean forward or back. Even the tooth above or below the space can supererupt/overerupt to fill in the space.

Function

For some people, a missing tooth is not a big deal. They do not mind having a space in their mouth where a tooth used to be – and that is totally fine.

However, there is another reason to consider restoring the missing tooth with an implant: function.

When you lose a tooth, it throws your whole bite out of balance. You may not notice it immediately, but over time, it will happen.

Your teeth like to shift. If there is an empty space, they will move to fill it. The teeth adjacent to the space will move/lean forward or back. Even the tooth above or below the space can supererupt/overerupt to fill in the space.

When this happens, it can result in some of your teeth coming out of occlusion, meaning other teeth do not fit into them as they are supposed to. While some teeth are out of occlusion, others take on more bite pressure force. The latter teeth can become sore, develop cracks, and even break.

When your teeth shift, your bite changes. This shift can also impact your jaw joint, contributing to TMJ disorder and its painful symptoms.

Another function issue is that chewing can become more difficult. You are not able to chew your food thoroughly, which can lead to digestive issues and even make it harder to absorb all the nutrients from your food.

Finally, an implant prevents bone loss. If there is nothing to hold the bone into place (like the root of a tooth), the bone will start to recede. This can adversely impact adjacent teeth and contribute to loose teeth, periodontal disease, and dental decay.