Dental implants are the ideal treatment option for people who want a permanent, natural-looking solution for missing or broken teeth. Although most dentists offer multiple treatment options for replacing teeth that are no longer functional, none can replicate the quality, effectiveness, and durability of natural teeth like dental implants. This tooth replacement option will have you smiling in no time!
With our advanced family dentistry in Nashua, NH, Dr. Keith Levesque and Dr. Tara Levesque-Vogel are members of the American Society of Implant & Reconstructive Dentistry (ASIRD). ASIRD is committed to improving the quality of care for dental implant patients by elevating the standards of surgical and restorative dental education and practice.
Not every dentist routinely restores and maintains dental implants and not all dentists who offer implants are surgeons. By using an ASIRD team, rest assured that your dentist routinely restores and maintains dental implants, and provides oral maxillofacial surgery by an in-house oral surgeon, Dr. Lucas Patrick.
Are Dental Implants right for you?
Losing one or more of your teeth creates a gap in your smile, affects your ability to chew properly, and can alter your diet and nutrition. In addition, tooth loss can lead to bone loss – which can alter the shape of your face and make you appear much older than you actually are. Dental implants are a proven solution for missing teeth and ill-fitting dentures.
- 98% success rate – highest of any dental procedure!
- Helps to avoid bone loss and gum recession associated with tooth loss.
- Restores proper chewing, leading to a better diet and improved health.
- Avoids grinding down healthy teeth for conventional bridgework.
- Improves speech.
- Increases comfort.
- Helps promote long-term facial integrity.
The Cost of Doing “Nothing”
Avoiding dental implants because of treatment cost can mean more expensive treatment and decreased quality of life. The longer you put off dental implant treatment, the more likely you are to need additional procedures that can increase the total cost, such as:
- Bone grafting
- Sinus surgery
- Additional dental implants
- Periodontal (gum) treatment
And it’s not just the financial cost of all these treatments. Going without your teeth impacts the way your smile looks, your ability to speak, and your overall self-confidence. The impacts of missing teeth can be far-reaching, affecting your overall health, social interactions, and even your ability to get a job.
Dental Implants in Nashua, NH
At the Levesque Dentistry, Nashua dentists Dr. Vogel and Dr. Levesque utilize advanced technology not found in most dental practices to plan your tooth replacement solution. There are a number of affordable dental implant solutions depending on your specific needs.
Are you missing one or two teeth?
Dental implants can be used to replace one or two teeth. Usually, the implant is placed and restored with a porcelain dental crown or bridge. They can be used to replace teeth that are congenitally missing, or teeth that have been lost due to accidents, tooth decay, gum disease, or other reasons. The tooth implant will help maintain the bone structure and prevent neighboring teeth from moving or shifting, which can cause additional problems and/or tooth loss.
Are you missing several teeth?
If you are missing several teeth in a row, dental implants can be placed to support a dental crown, hybrid bridge, or partial denture. Implant-supported partial dentures and Implant-secured bridges are becoming increasingly popular for their durability and seamless fit.
Are you missing all of your teeth?
We offer a variety of treatment options to replace all of your missing teeth using affordable dental implants. We can also secure ill-fitting dentures with the use of mini dental implants. Favored solutions include All-on-Four Dental Implants and Teeth-in-a-Day. Teeth-in-a-Day offers immediate functioning dental implants, so you never have to go a day without your smile.
How to Take Care of Dental Implants
The routine care and maintenance of dental implants are exactly the same as the care of your natural teeth should be. To ensure the longevity of your dental implants, it is crucial to maintain healthy gum tissue and supporting jaw bone.
How To Keep Dental Implants Healthy
To avoid calculus forming or gums becoming inflamed, dental implants should be kept clean and plaque-free by brushing twice a day and flossing as is already recommended for your natural teeth by your Levesque dentist. Performing regular oral hygiene after meals is especially important. An ADA-approved toothbrush should be used for this to make sure it’s done properly and will not damage the implant or your surrounding teeth or gums.
Your Levesque Dentistry dentist advises using the following:
- Small, soft, ADA-approved manual toothbrush or an electric brush
- Low-abrasive, tartar-control toothpaste
- Dental floss for cleaning around the implant
- Antimicrobial mouth rinses
Not only should you perform a dental hygiene routine at home daily, but be sure to schedule regular visits to Your Levesque Dentistry dentist. It is recommended that you have a professional cleaning and examination, complete with annual x-rays, every 3-6 months to ensure that your gums are healthy and your implants are functioning properly.
Dental Implant FAQs
Can dental implants get infected?
Because dental implants are artificial with a titanium screw as a root and a ceramic crown, it is impossible for the implant itself to succumb to tooth decay and develop a cavity, or for the artificial “tooth” to become infected. However, the lifespan of the dental implant can be jeopardized when the gum and jawbone tissue around the implant becomes inflamed due to infection, a condition known as implantitis.
When bacteria are allowed to flourish in your mouth due to neglect, dental implants can become covered in the same destructive bacteria that cause periodontal infections in natural teeth. If left undisturbed, these bacteria can form dental calculus — tartar. Tartar is a rough hard deposit that can inflame your gums and erode the bone that holds the implant in place.
Once calculus has gained a foothold, this deposit cannot be brushed or flossed off and can only be removed by a dental hygienist using specialized tools. Failure to do this can lead to receding gum tissue and bone loss and may result in the implant falling out.
What happens if I don’t take care of my implants?
Dental implants can develop serious issues without conscientious daily care. Bleeding from the implant site — known as mucositis — is usually the first sign of a problem. The current research suggests that mucositis may be successfully treated and reversed if spotted and addressed early enough.
Unfortunately, if the condition worsens to the point that bone loss has occurred, also known as peri-implantitis, it is not reversible. If peri-implantitis is allowed to go untreated, it can lead to advanced bone loss and the implant may become loose or even fall out.
What should my dentist check for at every cleaning?
Your dentist and their team of hygienists need to probe and measure the gums around the implant the same as they do around your teeth. We will check and compare x-rays annually, look for looseness, check your bite pattern, and check that all of the components are attached correctly and functioning properly.
What if I want implants or need my implants checked?
If you think you would benefit from implants due to missing or broken teeth or need the dental implants you already have inspected, our dentists at Levesque Dentistry in Nashua, NH are ready to help. Please call us at (603) 547-9203 or request a dental exam online today!