Maybe you’ve been thinking about dental implants for yourself or a loved one for a while. But, it’s hard to know the facts about dental implants from the myths about dental implants. Ads are meant to get your business, so they are often slanted in some way, too. You need to know the truth about dental implants so you can make an informed decision.
You’ve come to the right place! Let’s start with some dental implant myths, followed by some facts you need to know:
Dental Implant Myths:
Implants are too expensive for most people.
About 500,000 people get implants every year. All those people found out that the upfront costs of implants don’t have the long-term price tags of dentures or bridges.
Older tooth replacement products have to be replaced every 5 to 15 years. There are also convenience costs that are for a lifetime: soaking them every night, the cost of fixatives, and the pain or discomfort from deteriorating bone under the denture or bridge.
The bottom line is that over the life of the implant, it is a more cost-effective solution to missing teeth.
Dental implants look fake.
The crowns of dental implants are made of ceramic or porcelain so they look natural over a lifetime. They are designed to look exactly like the teeth surrounding them in your mouth, including the color. Implants don’t allow the bone underneath them to deteriorate over time, so they also won’t slip like dentures and bridges can.
Dental implants also don’t feel fake. Chewing and talking won’t be interrupted by the implants slipping or making noise like dentures can. This is as important as how they look in your mouth.
It’s painful to get dental implants.
There is no reason with today’s sedation techniques to experience pain during a dental procedure. Dr. Kardon at TLC Dental Center is experienced in conscious sedation which allows you to be relaxed yet responsive to any directions. Some patients even sleep during their implant procedure! Many patients have said that having a tooth extracted was more uncomfortable than implanting a tooth.
After each procedure, you will be provided pain medication to use as needed. In other words, discomfort is part of any surgical procedure but it is managed both during and after the implant process. Feel free to discuss this ahead of time with Dr. Kardon if you are still unsure about getting implants because of a fear of the pain. She will gladly answer any questions you may have about dental implants until you feel comfortable.
Implanted teeth get badly stained over time.
The fact is that your natural teeth stain with age. Food and drink, tobacco use, medications, trauma, excessive use of fluoride, and genetics can cause our natural teeth to become discolored. Because of the material they are made of, it’s more likely that the implants won’t stain, but the difference can be noticeable.
Since implants are not likely to change color, the solution is to take care of your natural teeth so they don’t stain. A good oral hygiene routine can go a long way in accomplishing this. Professional teeth whitening is also a possibility if you need to bring your natural teeth back to the color of your implants. Ask the dentist as well as your hygienist for their advice and assistance with this issue.
Facts About Dental Implants:
Now that we’ve cleared up some common dental implant myths, here are some facts about dental implants that you should know:
You don’t need perfect teeth to get implants.
What you do need is enough bone in the jaw to support the implant, healthy gum tissue, and a missing tooth. If the bone isn’t enough to do the job, a bone graft can fix that so you can move forward with the implant later.
But your teeth don’t have to be perfect already in order to get implants.
Dental implants protect your oral health.
You are preventing future problems by permanently inserting an implant where a missing or damaged tooth was. Dentures or bridges are not anchored in the jaw bone, so over time, the bone deteriorates. Implants do 2 things that prevent this:
- Preserve adjacent teeth – If a space is left empty in your mouth, the surrounding teeth shift to fill this space. This in turn leads to more crooked teeth than existed initially.
- Preserve bone – The implant functions as a tooth root that helps keep the jawbone intact. This also means the structure of your face is protected from a sunken appearance.
Dental implants are a lifetime solution.
A dental implant is designed and inserted as a lifetime solution to a missing or damaged tooth. Implants have been shown to be 95% – 98% successful for up to 50 years. And that success rate doesn’t go down over time. Dentures or bridges need to be replaced as they age. This fact needs to be weighed as you consider investing in implants. The initial cost will eventually be defrayed, which is not true with dentures or bridges.
Implants can be inserted years after losing a tooth.
Maybe you had an injury years ago and lost a tooth. Even if you had a bridge made and have been using that, you can switch to an implant with few exceptions. Your bone density is the key; if your bone is healthy, an implant can be placed. But even if your bone density doesn’t offer a strong enough foundation for an implant, a bone graft can be done to create the base you need for an implant.
If you are considering dental implants, contact Dr. Kardon at Cherry Hills’ TLC Dental Center today. Dr. Kardon and her staff will thoroughly answer all your questions and help make you comfortable. Their goal with every patient is to create an intimate and relaxing experience for patients that leads to a positive dental experience.