Dental Implants – Hingham, MA

Day-to-Day Benefits

• Boosted confidence – Your new teeth will stay in place at all times; unlike with traditional dentures, there’s no inopportune slipping to worry about! Additionally, the dental crowns, bridges, or dentures that we install on top of your implants are virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. Casual observers shouldn’t notice a difference.
• Varied diet – While dentures often make it challenging to chew your favorite foods, dental implants restore the strength that you had with your original tooth roots. As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of chewy, crunchy, and delicious foods.
• Easy maintenance – Tired of the complicated daily routine of cleaning a regular denture? Dental implants in Hingham make your oral hygiene much easier. All you have to do is brush and floss them as you would real teeth.

Health Benefits

• Oral health – Because dental implants are so easy to care for, they naturally lower your risk of oral health issues like gum disease. Plus, they don’t require healthy tooth enamel to be removed like dental bridges do.
• Whole-body health – Poor oral health (and gum disease in particular) has been linked to a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and a host of other general health problems. Since dental implants lower the risk of gum disease, they may also improve your overall health as well. Furthermore, they make it easier to chew nutritious fruits and vegetables that may give denture wearers a hard time.
• Jawbone health – When natural teeth are lost, the jawbone loses the stimulation it received from the tooth roots, causing it to weaken over time. Eventually, the remaining teeth lose support, increasing the risk that they’re fall out as well. Not to mention, jawbone loss can make your face look sunken and aged! However, dental implants stimulate the jawbone so that it continues receiving the nutrients and blood flow that it needs to remain healthy.

Long-Term Benefits

• Reliability – You may feel worried knowing that dental implants require oral surgery. However, the procedure is completely safe, especially when performed by an experienced implant dentist in Hingham like Dr. Hegazi. In fact, dental implants are successful in more than 95% of cases!
• Lasting results – Traditional dental bridges and dentures tend to break down after five to ten years at most. Dental implants, on the other hand, have an average lifespan of 30 years or longer with minimal maintenance.
• Saved money – Although they cost more initially, dental implants can actually save you money over time. Because they can last for decades, you won’t have to spend money getting your prosthetic replaced every few years.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

You’re likely a good candidate for dental implants if you meet these three main criteria:

• Great Oral Health: Gum disease, cavities, and decay can all increase the risk of dental implant failure. They’ll need to be resolved before moving forward with your dental implant placement.
• Good Overall Health: Since dental implants will involve minor surgery, you’ll need to be in sufficient shape to undergo the procedure and recover properly.
• Adequate Jawbone Density: Your dental implant(s) will need to integrate with your jawbone to provide the stable foundation needed for lifelike restorations as well as to ensure a successful treatment.

If you don’t have enough jawbone tissue or your gums aren’t healthy, we can provide preliminary services like bone grafting and periodontal disease treatment to get your mouth ready for the process. Once any necessary preparations have been made, we can offer the following types of implant-retained restorations depending on your situation.

Missing One Tooth

When there’s a lone gap in your smile, it can be filled with a single implant that has been topped with a dental crown after fully joining with the jawbone. Doing so will mean we won’t have to remove enamel from remaining healthy teeth to prepare for a dental bridge.

Missing Multiple Teeth

Even if your remaining teeth aren’t healthy enough to support a bridge, you can still have it supported by a pair of dental implants. Implant-retained bridges can be used to replace three or more teeth all at once. You can also get implant-retained partials that fill in multiple gaps in different places throughout the mouth.

Missing All Teeth

When replacing an entire arch of teeth, we’ll aim for a conservative number of implants – usually about four to six – to hold your dentures in place. Implant dentures are permanently fixed in place, meaning they stay in place and can be treated as real teeth whenever you brush and floss. This also means you won’t have to worry about using special cleaning products to maintain them.

Learn More About Implant Dentures

Initial Dental Implant Consultation

Your journey to a new smile begins with a consultation with Dr. Hegazi. During this appointment, he’ll talk to you about the specific things you wish to accomplish with dental implants and then thoroughly examine your mouth and jaw to make sure you’re eligible for implants. He’ll outline what you can expect at every step of the treatment process. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask him any questions you may have about how dental implants work in Hingham.

There’s a chance that you might need to undergo one or more preparatory procedures before your implants can be surgically placed. For example, you may require bone grafting if your jawbone has weakened after tooth loss. Dr. Hegazi will guide you through these procedures, which are designed to give your implants the healthy foundation they need to last for life.

Dental Implant Surgery

Once your mouth and jaw are ready, Dr. Hegazi can place the implant posts in your jaw. The surgery itself is fairly straightforward, and it shouldn’t be painful due to the modern anesthetic techniques we use. After making small incisions in your gums, Dr. Hegazi will access your jawbone and insert the implants at precise angles and locations that will allow them to fulfill the functions of real teeth. Then, your gums are stitched closed, and you’re sent home to heal.

Dental Implant Osseointegration & Abutment

The next step is osseointegration – the process by which the biocompatible implant posts merge with the bone and tissue in your jaw, creating a sturdy foundation for your replacement teeth. For most patients, osseointegration takes somewhere between three and six months.

When you’ve sufficiently healed, you’ll return to our dental office to have your abutments installed. Abutments are small metal connectors that are responsible for connecting your implants to your final restorations. After abutment placement, you’ll be given another couple of weeks to heal.

Delivery of Dental Implant Restoration(s)

Once you’ve healed from getting your abutments, it’s finally time to receive your brand-new teeth! Your implant dentist in Hingham will secure your personalized crown, bridge, or denture on top of your abutments. After checking your bite to make sure everything feels natural, you’re free to enjoy your newly complete smile!

Preliminary Treatments & Dental Implant Surgery

If you need any preliminary treatments before getting your dental implants, such as a bone graft, tooth extraction, or periodontal therapy, they will naturally add to the overall cost of rebuilding your smile. Then, the implant placement surgery itself, including the use of sedation, will incur its own price. Dr. Hegazi will be performing your implant surgery right here in-house, so you won’t need to spend extra time or money on seeing an outside specialist.

The Parts of Your Dental Implant

Next, there’s the cost of your dental implant itself to consider, including:

• Number of dental implants: The more dental implants you need, the higher your cost will be.
• Type of restoration: Replacing one tooth with a small crown will be less expensive than replacing all your teeth with a full implant denture. However, remember that replacing many teeth with an implant denture will be more cost-effective than replacing each one individually.
• Size or material: Some dental implants are bigger or smaller depending on where they’ll be placed in the mouth, and they may be made of titanium or zirconia. These variables will influence the price of your treatment as well.
• Brand of dental implant: Dr. Hegazi only uses high-quality materials and trusted brands for his dental implants. Remember, cheaper is not better when it comes to replacing your missing teeth for life! If you’d like to learn more about the specific brand of dental implant Dr. Hegazi has chosen for you, feel free to ask!

How Dental Implants Can Save You Money

Dental implants may cost more than traditional dentures and bridges at first, but it’s important to remember what you’re investing in. Dental implants are more comfortable and functional than other options, so you are essentially investing in your health, confidence, and quality of life.

Additionally, dental implants can potentially save you thousands of dollars over the years. With dentures and dental bridges, you’ll need to pay for replacements every 5-7 years, plus readjustments, repairs, and extra cleaning products throughout that time. In comparison, the one-time cost of dental implants can easily last you a lifetime without repairs or replacements. What’s more, dental implants promote better oral health and prevent jawbone deterioration, which will save you money on your oral healthcare costs.

Does My Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?

Unfortunately, most dental insurance plans do not fully cover the cost of dental implant treatment. However, every policy is different, so we’ll be happy to review your coverage with you. Many times, insurance companies will pay for parts or percentages of your treatment, such as the consultation, sedation, or restoration. Our experienced team will be happy to file claims for you and ensure that your benefits are being maximized.

Making Dental Implants Affordable

Don’t have dental insurance? Unhappy with your policy’s coverage for your treatment? Not to worry! We never want cost to stand between our patients and the healthy smiles they deserve. That’s why we’re proud to offer a FREE, no-obligation dental implant consultation! Then, if you decide to move forward with dental implants, flexible financing options through CareCredit can help. With one of their low- to no-interest payment plans, you can break up the cost of your dental implant treatment into smaller chunks that fit into your monthly budget.

What to Do Directly After Dental Implant Surgery

Immediately following the placement of your implants, you’ll need to make sure the blood clots forming over the surgical sites remain undisturbed. This will prevent the dreaded dry socket and ensure the gum tissue is able to heal smoothly. To protect these areas, avoid placing your fingers or tongue over them. Also, don’t spit forcefully, smoke, or drink through a straw.

Common Side Effects When Recovering from Dental Implant Placement

Intermittent bleeding is to be expected for the rest of the day after dental implant surgery, but you should be able to stop it by applying pressure with a gauze pad (and by changing these pads out regularly).

Your mouth will probably be sore for the next two or three days. We’ll advise you on how to take your pain medication, whether prescribed or over-the-counter. Another way to mitigate pain as well as swelling is with cold compresses. Holding one to the outside of your cheek in ten-minute intervals produces a numbing sensation that can help greatly.

Your Diet After Dental Implant Surgery

To prevent the surgical sites from becoming irritated, it’s crucial to stick to a soft food diet for at least a week or two after getting dental implants. Ahead of your surgery, be sure to stock up on chewing-free foods like:

• Yogurt
• Soup that isn’t too hot
• Ice cream
• Pudding
• Scrambled eggs
• Soft-cooked pasta

Post-Op Health & Oral Hygiene

Keeping your mouth clean is crucial to preventing post-op infection. Starting on the day after your surgery, you’ll be able to brush and floss as you would ordinarily. However, you should be extremely careful near the implant sites so as not to disturb them.

You should also rinse your mouth with saltwater after each meal (just be sure not to swish or spit too vigorously!). This will soothe any irritated tissues and reduce bacterial buildup.

What to Do After Your New Teeth Are Attached

Most patients feel completely back to normal after about one week, but you’ll need to wait for three to six months to receive your prosthetic teeth. At that point, the implants should have fully integrated with your jawbone. Once we’ve placed your crown, bridge, or denture, your new smile is complete! Your gums might feel slightly sore for a day or two, but it’s nothing that an over-the-counter pain reliever shouldn’t be able to manage.

Make Oral Hygiene a Priority

While dental implants themselves can’t get cavities, you still have to take proper care of your teeth and gums to maintain good oral health. Otherwise, you may develop issues like cavities or gum disease that can lead to dental implant failure. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and rinsing your mouth every day with an ADA-approved mouthwash will keep your smile in tip-top shape.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Once you’re all healed up, you can eat almost anything you want with your new smile! However, you should avoid overindulging in hard, sticky, or sugary foods as these can wreak havoc on your implants. Instead, you should maintain a healthy diet full of nutrient-rich foods that keep you full. Eating foods particularly high in calcium and vitamin C will keep your jawbone strong and gum tissues healthy.

Break Bad Habits

Poor habits like smoking, chewing tobacco, using your teeth as tools, and biting your fingernails can damage your implants. It’s a good idea to drop these habits as soon as possible for the sake of your smile. If you need help quitting smoking, don’t hesitate to ask your team for assistance. They’ll provide you with the support, guidance, and resources you need to make the feat as easy as can be.

Protect Your Dental Implants

Dental implants in Hingham are certainly strong, but they’re not indestructible. If you regularly play sports, make sure you wear a sports mouthguard to protect your teeth from injury should you sustain a blow to the face. If you regularly grind your teeth at night, you can ask about a nightguard to keep your enamel safe from extra wear and tear. These oral appliances will help your implants last as long as possible.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Everyone knows to visit their dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. These routine appointments are essential for maintaining a healthy smile. Your dentist will spot and treat any oral health issues to prevent serious complications down the line. With their help, you can avoid needing more invasive and expensive treatments in the future.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

For most patients who are in decent health, dental implants are quite safe, especially when placed by a trained implant dentist in Hingham like Dr. Hegazi. The posts are made of biocompatible materials, so there is almost no chance of your body rejecting them.

While dental implant surgery may be unsuccessful or unsafe if you have gum disease or low jawbone density, Dr. Hegazi will make sure to address these issues before your procedure. If you have certain medical conditions that could complicate surgery or healing, such as diabetes, he can discuss ways to minimize risks.

Am I Too Old to Get Dental Implants?

It is possible to be too young for dental implants (it can take until your mid-twenties for your jawbone to finish developing), but there isn’t really an upper age limit for the treatment. The only thing to keep in mind is that seniors are more likely to have other medical issues, or take certain medications, that could complicate the treatment. However, Dr. Hegazi will go over your medical history and current medications to develop a plan that makes dental implants as safe and successful as possible.

Do Dental Implants Make You Look Younger?

Yes! Every time you bite or chew, that force spreads through the implant posts to stimulate your jawbone in a way that traditional dentures and bridges cannot. Without the stimulation from natural tooth roots or dental implants, the jawbone begins to deteriorate. Eventually, it becomes unable to support your facial structure. You may develop a sunken, wrinkled appearance that ages you. Fortunately, dental implants in Hingham make you look younger by strengthening the jawbone just like real teeth do.

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

After you’ve recovered from dental implant surgery, there is virtually nothing that you can’t eat with dental implants. They function like natural teeth, restoring almost all of the chewing power that you used to have.

That said, some foods that are particularly sticky or chewy, such as gummy candies, can loosen or dislodge the restoration on top of your implants. Extremely hard foods, like nuts and popcorn kernels, can damage implants in the same way as natural teeth. Be careful with these foods.

Does Getting Dental Implants Hurt?

Fortunately, no – the process of getting dental implants doesn’t hurt. You can rest assured that the placement work won’t cause pain to your smile.

Your dentist will numb your mouth before the surgery even starts. As a result, you shouldn’t feel any aches while they place your implant posts; the most you’ll sense is some slight pressure. This effect is even more pronounced if you receive a sedative as part of treatment.

With that said, your mouth may feel sore for a while after treatment. The good news is that such soreness is temporary and fades quickly. To manage it, use over-the-counter pain medicines (or cold compresses) as needed.

What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?

While they rarely ever do, dental implants can fail from time to time. The two main reasons for such failure are peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration.

Peri-implantitis is a form of gum disease centered around an implant. Often a result of poor oral hygiene, this infection harms the bone and gum tissues supporting your post. This damage can accumulate over time and cause an implant to loosen and fail.

Failed osseointegration refers to when an implant doesn’t fuse with your jawbone. While it usually stems from low jawbone density, the condition can have other possible causes. These latter ones include teeth grinding, tobacco use, certain medications, and specific health conditions.

Do Dental Implants Affect Taste?

Dental implants won’t do anything to affect your sense of taste. On the contrary, getting the posts should help you enjoy meals more than before.

Don’t forget that dental implants fuse with your jaw. Because they’re made of titanium, the posts are biocompatible and integrate with nearby bone tissue. Their placement has nothing to do with your taste buds, which are on your tongue and palate.

In fact, many patients find that dental implants improve the eating experience. They help you eat a wider range of foods than before, meaning you can enjoy a wider range of tastes. This more varied diet also increases your overall nutritional intake.

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

Most people you know – your family, friends, etc. – won’t even notice you have dental implants. In fact, only your dentist will likely recognize your “new” teeth.

The fact remains that implants are customized for your mouth. Indeed, Dr. Hegazi will take impressions that ensure your posts “match” your other teeth. You can trust that your final dental implants will have the color, shape, and size needed to blend seamlessly with your smile.

Dental implants are also designed to be secure. Once placed in your jaw’s sockets, they fuse with nearby bone tissue and become permanent parts of your mouth. That means you won’t need to worry about them slipping or falling out; such things simply won’t happen.