Year: 2018

Dental implants from an implant dentist in Framingham are designed to last for decades. That’s because they’re crafted from medical-grade materials that are not only strong but exceptionally lightweight. Modern dental implants are indistinguishable from natural teeth.

 How Dental Implants Are Created

Dental implants are made up of three separate components. These include the fixture, the abutment, and the restoration itself. Here’s how they fit together:

1. The fixture. This is what gives the implant its remarkable strength. It consists of a tiny titanium fixture that sits beneath the gum line and fuses to the bones in your jaw, just like the roots of a natural tooth. Dentists use titanium for this purpose, the same metal used to make airplane wings.
2. The abutment. This is what joins the fixture to the restoration itself. It’s added after the fixture fuses to the underlying bone through a natural process called osseointegration.
3. The restoration. Sometimes called the “prosthesis,” this is the artificial tooth, denture, or bridge that serves as the visible tooth. It’s made from a mixture of ceramic and other materials.

How Dental Implant Therapy Works

Dental implant therapy occurs in stages. The first step is to emplace the fixture. Like any other form of dental surgery, this is performed using anesthesia and sedatives for your comfort.

The dentist will place the fixture underneath the gum line and close the surrounding tissue over the area of treatment. A waiting period of 2-3 months normally follows this phase. This is to allow the surrounding bone to fuse with the fixture.

During your second visit, the dentist will place the abutment. He or she may also place the restoration itself at this time. Once it’s ready, you’ll be ready to show off your fully restored smile to the world.

Taking Care of Your Dental Implants

November 14, 2018

Invisalign in Framingham offers distinct advantages over traditional metal braces. Nonetheless, many people who could benefit from Invisalign therapy hesitate to see their dentist due to concerns over costs. Fortunately, Invisalign is not only effective it’s also affordable, especially when compared to the expenses associated with other options.

Costs for Invisalign Vs. Metal Braces

Only your dentist can tell you exactly how much Invisalign aligners will cost in your case. However, it is possible to give some ballpark figures. Some of the factors that can affect the fee structure include:

• The amount of treatment you need to correct the underlying problem.
• Your age and the state of your overall health.
• The type of health coverage you carry.
• The city or region of the country in which you live.

For most people, costs for Invisalign before insurance and discounts usually range from $2000-$5000. This compares favorably to expenses for traditional braces, which can cost up to $6000 or more.

Payment Plans and Other Helpful Options

The first resource you should consider is private dental coverage. Most plans cover a portion of Invisalign expenses. Check with your insurance representative, human resources specialist or benefits coordinator for more information.

Most Invisalign patients find that there is still an outstanding amount due after allowing for insurance contributions. There are a variety of ways to cover these costs, including private financing. Many lenders specialize in helping people to afford Invisalign and other dental procedures. Check with your financial institution or a reputable online source to find out more. You can also talk to your dentist about setting up payment plans.

Other Options to Consider

Nowadays there are more resources to help with the cost of dental care than ever before. Here are some other options for affording Invisalign:

• Free and reduced-cost dental care clinics sponsored

Do you wish your teeth were straighter? Thankfully, Invisalign treatment can give you a perfectly straight smile without the hassle, maintenance, and appearance of metal braces. Read on to learn the average cost of Invisalign in Framingham, why these clear aligners are worth the investment, and how they can improve your health and confidence from your local dentist.

The Average Cost

The cost of Invisalign can vary based on where you live, and the kind of alignment you need. For patients in the Framingham area, the average cost of this treatment is $5,000. This may seem like a big chunk of change, but Invisalign is a treatment well worth investing in. See below to learn why.

The Advantages of Invisalign

Here are some of the most common benefits patients see from receiving Invisalign:

Appearance

Possibly their biggest benefit, Invisalign clear aligners allow you to straighten your smile without the unsightly look of metal braces. With Invisalign, you can go about your daily life without anyone noticing you’re on your way to a beautifully straight smile.

Comfort

Since Invisalign aligners are removeable, you can take them out to eat, drink, or brush your teeth. Rather than having food caught in your braces and bothering you all day, Invisalign offers the patient a chance to be able to eat whatever they want with confidence. Just make sure to rinse your teeth and your aligners before putting them back in your mouth.

Safety

Traditional braces are known well for their safety hazards. The metal brackets can get caught on the inside of your lip and cheek, which hurts a lot. And, if you play physical or contact sports, the chances of an injury due to braces are high.

Clear aligners are smooth and comfortable against your cheeks and lips. Additionally, they don’t trap

September 4, 2018

Enhancing your smile with porcelain veneers can be life changing for most patients! Veneers create beautiful teeth, which allow you to smile with confidence. This can help you achieve your personal and professional goals. While porcelain veneers are stain resistant, there are some things your Framingham cosmetic dentist wants you to know about your veneers that will help you make the most of your investment in your smile.

What is a Porcelain Veneer?

Dental veneers are comprised of a thin, micro-layer of porcelain that covers each tooth. The veneers are coated with a protective, stain-resistant resin that helps them maintain their shade and protects the veneers from damage. Keeping the coating intact is the key to your veneers remaining stain resistant.

If the protective resin coating is scratched or damaged, by eating hard foods or using abrasive toothpastes, it will eventually begin to allow staining to happen.

Protecting Your Investment

Just like with your natural teeth, it’s important to protect your veneers by limiting certain foods and beverages and avoiding biting into hard foods such as apples, carrots, or crusty bread. These foods can still be enjoyed in smaller bite size pieces that don’t run the risk of breaking or damaging your veneers.

Acidic foods and drinks will also wear away the protective coating of resin on your veneers over time. So be wary of food like lemons, marinara sauces, and soy sauce.

Beverages to be aware of that cause the most staining and discoloration are:

• Coffee and black tea
• Red wine
• Dark colas

The other lifestyle factor that greatly affects your teeth and veneers is smoking or tobacco use. Smoking leaves a yellow film on your teeth that is hard to clean with just brushing alone; not to mention the damage to your overall health and increased risk of

If you have orthodontics, the only way to prevent plaque build up is by cleaning your teeth after every meal and snack. At Clear Advantage Orthodontics, we want you to have a beautiful healthy smile. In order for us to achieve this goal, good hygiene on your part is vital.

Here are some tips to great dental hygiene while undergoing orthodontic treatment:

1. Brush, and not just your teeth

Your teeth aren’t the only areas that accumulate bacteria. After brushing your teeth in a soft, circular motion, gently brush your gums, tongue and sides of your mouth. Brush after every meal or snack. 

2. Brush with fluoride toothpaste

Using fluoride toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay. It makes your teeth more resistant to acid.

3. Use a soft-bristled brush

Your gums are delicate, so make sure you use a soft-bristled brush to gently remove particles. 

4. Floss around your teeth

Floss daily to remove trapped food and particles. Don’t forget to floss the areas behind your back teeth. Use a scooping motion to remove the food particles. For those with braces, use a floss threader to get to your teeth behind the braces wire.

5. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash

Rinse your mouth after eating with mouthwash to kill any bacteria. Try to avoid sugary drinks altogether. If you must, swish with water or brush after your drinking a sugary drink.

6. Clean teeth with a proxabrush

With braces, there are more areas for bacteria to grow. Use a proxabrush to clean between the brackets.

7. Get regular check-ups

See your dentist throughout your treatment. Although most patients go for a regular checkup twice a year, some may require more frequent professional cleaning. This of course depends on how well your maintain your dental hygiene! 

Whitening may not be advisable for all patients—for instance, if you have several tooth-colored dental restorations. Sometimes, whitening products can cause adverse effects, such as tooth sensitivity and gum inflammation. Typically, this happens when you don’t have the right dental professional caring for your smile while undergoing your whitening treatment. However, meeting with your dentist before a cosmetic treatment can clear up a few different things—including how to avoid the problems listed above.

Your cosmetic dentist in Framingham is here to help you through the process of whitening your teeth safely—assuming you’re the perfect candidate for this treatment. In fact, there are a few different questions that you should ask to kickstart the conversation with your dental expert. Continue reading to learn more.

Kickstart the Conversation with Your Cosmetic Dentist

You might be nervous to talk about what you don’t like about your smile, but a cosmetic dentist is definitely the one to tell all to. After all, they are here to help you improve your aesthetics. Talking about your insecurities and what you want to do to improve your look can ensure that your dentist helps you achieve the results you really want. Here are a few examples of questions to ask during your next cosmetic appointment.

How long can I expect my whitening results to last?

Contrary to drugstore whitening products, professional teeth whitening can last months at a time with the proper maintenance. Your dentist will be able to provide details about how to maintain those results with you.

Will the whitening solution damage my teeth?

Of course, professional-grade products are much stronger than what you get in the local store. However, your dentist is here to make any accommodations that you may need to keep your smile safe. If you have sensitive teeth, your dentist will

While most people associate orthodontics with braces, many are uncertain about what dentofacial orthopedics is. Dentofacial orthopedics is the specialization in guiding facial growth and development– in other words– your jaw development. Your jaw develops mostly during your childhood; that’s why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends dentofacial orthopedic treatment for children from 8 to 12 years old. It is not uncommon for adults who have experience dental changes to also undergo treatment.

Common reasons for getting jaw alignment treatment includes:

• Underdeveloped lower jaw
• Malocclusions
• Protrusion of upper teeth
• Overbite
• Crossbite

What to Expect

Getting treatment can be a daunting experience for both children and adults when you don’t know what to expect. By understanding what we use and how we apply the use of orthodontic appliances, you can get a better idea of what to expect.

You may get either fixed or removable orthodontic appliances to correct your jaw alignment. Fixed orthodontic appliances are normally glued to your teeth with cement, while removable appliances can be taken off. The benefit of fixed appliances is that once they’re on, you can practically forget about them in between check ups. With removable appliance, it requires you to wear them consistently as instructed.

You may feel some discomfort while your jaw adjusts to the appliance, but it is important to follow the treatment as planned. Doing so will give you the best results and may also shorten the time that you need to have them on. It takes about a month to adjust to the feeling of a new appliance in your mouth and on average 12 months to correct your jaw issues.

Types of Orthodontic Appliances

The type of appliance used to ensure proper growth of your jaws is different for everyone. Most of these dentofacial orthopedic appliances involve attaching metal