Do Dental Implants Really Work?

People often ask if dental implants really work and if they are for them or not. Others have experiences that are horrifying stories of how implants did not work for them. The misinformation and misconceptions are abounding, but what is true and what’s not? Approximately 100 million Americans are missing at least one tooth or more. About 69% of people have between ages 35-44 have at least one tooth in their mouths lost to permanent decay or a failed root canal or even gum diseases or accidents. 1/3 of all people 65 or older have no original teeth at all. Many people who lose teeth prematurely have poor nutritional habits and are not getting the nourishment they need to be healthy as they could be. Others cannot smile comfortably and be OK with who they are. Modern-day dentistry offers implants and dentures and many ways to fix one’s teeth, but many people are all confused about what to do and what works or doesn’t work for them therefore they don’t go see a dentist or do anything to fix the problems at all. They just don’t bother. Dental implants are growing popularity as about 5.5 million were inserted for people in the US alone in 2006, and that number is set to increase exponentially in the future as popularity continues to grow. However, many Americans refuse to consider these implants as they don’t even know what they are getting into, or are afraid of what may go wrong.Here are 5 things you need to know about implants and their conspiracies that are FALSE also known as myths before making your decision as to what works best for you: 1) Implants Are Too Invasive & Painful: Dental implants can be put in by a surgeon in little as 10-15 minutes, and patients often report less discomfort having the implant put in than having the previous tooth extracted. They are not nearly painful as people make them out to be. However, some people will recover faster than others depending on how they are at bouncing back from a procedure. 2) Implants Are Expensive: Procedures do cost money, yes, but an implant is often partially covered by your insurance, and moreover an implant should last a lifetime. Keeping the surrounding teeth healthy and the mouth full of teeth can save you a lot of money you otherwise may spend in the future! Most implants also likely do not need more care than just general dental upkeep for the rest of their lives unless they chip or crack. 3) Implants Are Frequently Rejected by the Patient’s Body: Overall the success rate of an implant is about 96% over the past 50 years as experience and research have gone into making the implants a very healthy option. The implants are also made of materials like titanium that fuse well with the bone structure of the mouth so the chances of infection are minimal. 4) I Don’t Have Enough Bone Mass or I Am Too Old for Implants: Jawbones may become thinner with age, but grafting techniques that are available for oral surgeons allow them to easily make it so that the implants have adequate structure around the tooth to hold it in place. Grafting procedures are available for almost everyone including the elderly. As a result, these implants can improve eating patterns and confidence in social settings to provide older people with a fuller life all around. 5) Any Dentist Can Perform Dental Surgeries: That’s false as very few dentists are certified oral surgeons. Oral surgery is a totally different job, and it requires at least 8 years of school and 10,000 hours of experience and practice to ensure the dentist is adequately equipped to do this procedure. Very few people who try get the whole way to being an oral surgeon. You are in good hands! Dental implants are really one of the most ideal ways to replace lost teeth as they are fixed in and permanent. They are able to provide longer-term fixes that don’t need as much maintenance as other forms of fixing teeth! If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”