82 W. Main Street Northborough, MA 01532

Dental Implants Westborough, MA

Missing teeth, or losing a tooth, can be a traumatic experience and affects daily life for many patients. Chewing food is difficult in many cases, and speech can also be affected. Frequently, embarrassment is also a factor, and patients find themselves trying not to smile and avoiding social situations. Apex Dental, with Dr. Robert J. Gauthier Jr., offers complete placement of dental implants in their Westborough, MA, area dentist office.

Dental implants are the most natural-looking and advanced solution for replacing missing teeth. The procedure has drastically improved and now has a 98% success rate.

With proper care and routine dental visits, your dental implants can last a lifetime. Dental implants can be used to successfully and securely replace one missing tooth or several missing teeth or to secure a denture when an entire arch of teeth has been lost or removed.

For most cases, Dr. Gauthier will perform the surgical placement of the dental implant as well as the restoration of the dental crown or denture. If a specialist is needed, Dr. Gauthier will make the appropriate referral and coordinate the entire treatment plan.

By having Dr. Gauthier perform all phases it will save you travel time to other offices and the hassle of additional bills. Having only one doctor work on your case from start to finish means that your care is more precise.

Our dental office also provides additional dental services to new and existing patients in Westborough, MA.

Benefits of Dental Implants

  • Up to 98% success rate
  • Avoids bone loss due to missing teeth
  • Reduces risk of gum recession due to tooth loss.
  • Avoids further damage or decay of remaining healthy teeth.
  • Improves speech
  • Increases comfort and alignment of bite
  • Improves ability to chew comfortably and eat a balanced diet
  • Supports long-term facial integrity.
  • Improves appearance of smile and lower face
  • No worry of dentures slipping or falling out
  • Look exactly like your natural teeth
  • Superior durability and longevity

affordable Dental implants in Northborough Massachusetts

Affordable Dental Implants in Westborough, MA

The restorative options for replacing a missing tooth – or teeth- are dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants. In most cases, unless a patient is not a good candidate, Dr. Gauthier recommends dental implants. Dentures can offer patients natural looking replacement teeth that are removable for cleaning and can be adjusted for fit as needed.

However, this feature can also cause discomfort for many patients who may find it difficult to eat certain foods due to slippage. Additionally, over time the jaw bone may begin to recede and dentures will begin to feel loose and uncomfortable.

Dental implants, while more costly up front, offer many long term benefits and provide a natural looking AND functioning replacement for lost teeth. Anchored into the jaw bone with a tiny titanium post, a dental implant acts much like a natural tooth. The post can also help to preserve jaw bone, minimizing bone recession that naturally occurs when a tooth is removed.

Dr. Gauthier will place a custom-made crown on the post once it heals which will feel secure and blend with surrounding natural teeth. Implants do not require patients to watch what they eat because they are permanently attached to the jawbone.

Patients with ill fitting full dentures often choose to replace them with implant secured dentures. Dr. Gauthier permanently secures the dentures with strategically placed implants. No more slipping dentures or adhesives.

Dental Implant FAQs

We welcome you to learn more about dental implants at Apex Dental with answers to these common questions:

How much are dental implants?

The cost of dental implants depends on your number of missing teeth, pretreatments, insurance coverage, and type of implant restoration. Treatment will cost more if you have both arches of teeth missing rather than a single tooth. We will review the projected implant cost with you before treatment. 

The return on investment with dental implants is also higher than removable restorations like dentures. With dentures, you have to replace the whole appliance every 5 to 7 years. With implants, the implant posts are permanent, and you may only need to replace the restoration every 10 to 15 years.

Is the dental implant procedure painful?

The dental implant procedure is usually not painful because your dentist will numb the area with a local anesthetic. This means you won’t feel pain during the procedure itself. After the procedure, you might feel some soreness or discomfort in your gums and jaw as they heal, similar to what you might feel after other dental work.

The discomfort usually goes away in a few days, and your dentist will likely give you instructions on how to manage it, such as using pain relievers or ice packs. Most people find the pain is mild and temporary.

Can I get dental implants if I have gum disease?

If you have gum disease, you might need to treat it before getting dental implants. Gum disease can weaken the gums and bone that support your teeth, and since dental implants need a strong and healthy jawbone to stay in place, untreated gum disease could cause problems.

We provide gum disease treatments to make sure your gums and bone are healthy enough for the implant. Once the gum disease is under control, you can talk with our dentist about moving forward with dental implants.

How old do you have to be to get dental implants?

You usually need to be at least 18 years old to get dental implants. This is because your jawbone needs to be fully developed before an implant can be placed. If your jaw is still growing, the implant might move out of place as your bones change. In some cases, if you’re younger but your jaw is fully grown, your dentist may consider implants. It’s important to talk to your dentist to see if you’re ready for dental implants.

How many implants can you get?

You can get as many dental implants as you need, depending on how many teeth are missing. If you’re missing just one tooth, you might get one implant. If you’re missing several teeth, you can get multiple implants. We will check the health of your gums and jawbone and then recommend the right number of implants for you. You must have enough bone and gum health to support the implants, so our dentist will evaluate your situation carefully.

How long does it take to get dental implants?

Getting dental implants usually takes several months, but the exact time can vary based on a few factors. The actual surgery to place the implant takes about 1 to 2 hours. After the implant is placed, you’ll need some time to heal.

Then, it takes 3 to 6 months for the bone to heal around the implant and hold it securely in place. Once the implant is healed, your dentist will place an abutment (a small connector) on the implant. This might take another appointment.

After that, you’ll get the final crown. This can take another 1 to 2 weeks to make and fit. In total, the whole process can take 4 to 9 months or sometimes longer. 

Why should I avoid tobacco during implant treatment?

Tobacco can slow down the healing process. After you get an implant, your body needs time to heal and integrate the implant with your bone. Smoking or using tobacco can make this healing take longer.

Tobacco use can weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections. This increases the chance of problems after surgery. Studies show that dental implants have a higher chance of failing in people who smoke or use tobacco. The implant might not stay in place or work well.

For these reasons, you should stop smoking cigarettes, vaping, or using tobacco products when you get implants.

Do dental implants look natural?

Yes, dental implants can look very natural! The crown (the part that looks like a tooth) is made to match the color and shape of your other teeth. Dentists use materials like porcelain that can look and feel just like real teeth. When placed correctly, dental implants blend in well with your smile, so most people won’t even be able to tell that you have an implant. 

Restore Your Lost Teeth

If you have a missing tooth or several missing teeth, we offer dental implants in our Northborough, MA, Shrewsbury, MA, and Westborough, MA area cosmetic dentistry office.

Schedule an appointment today with Dr. Gauthier to discuss the benefits of dental implants, your oral health, concerns, and budget to see if dental implants are the right choice for you.