Truth About Dental Implants — Debunking Some of the Popular Myths

As the only permanent tooth replacement treatment, dental implants are highly sought after. Given their high success rate, it can be easy to overlook the practical aspects of a dental implant, and there are a few myths that prevail concerning the time it takes to complete the procedure and who is eligible for the treatments. If you get a consultation at your local dental clinic, you can find out if it is a suitable treatment for your tooth replacement. Today we are going to debunk some of the myths surrounding them, with a view to revealing the truth about dental implants.

The Truth About Dental Implants Explained: Debunking The Myths About Treatment

Myth 1: Dental implants aren’t done overnight

A dental implant procedure takes time to complete, and each patient follows their own recovery timeline. Every patient will have his or her dental implants done in stages and each stage is completed with a period of healing. When you visit a dentist that offers consultation, you will be assessed, and your dentist will give you a treatment plan and cost estimate, which details the length of time it will take to complete your treatment.

Healing is a really important part of the implant process. Not only do your gums need to heal for you to feel comfortable and chew your food, but the titanium implant also needs to integrate with your jaw bone. This osseointegration makes the implant strong and stable enough to bite and chew with the same force as your natural teeth and to avoid implant failure.

Myth 2: Dental implants have a very high success rate

A dental implant can have a 95 to 98% success rate and is considered to be a very predictable treatment. However, what this statistic overlooks is the fact that not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant. Patients who have gum disease, unmanaged diabetes, cancer, or any condition that interferes with their body’s ability to heal would be encouraged to consider a different tooth replacement that doesn’t require surgery, such as dental bridgework or dentures. It’s also common for dentists to not perform dental implant surgery on patients who smoke, as their risk of developing peri-implantitis is statistically higher than non-smokers.

If your dental practitioner has concerns about your oral health or your ability to look after the implant, he or she may recommend a different tooth replacement that suits your lifestyle needs best.

Myth 3: Dental implants can last for the rest of your lifetime

A dental implant can last for decades – but it requires you to maintain your oral health to a very high standard. Even though the implant and dental crown will not decay, your remaining natural teeth can. Your gums are also vulnerable to gum disease if your oral health is not maintained. Even if you have dental implants, you still need to visit your dentist twice a year for checkups and professional cleaning. If plaque is not removed from the base of your dental implant, it can cause gum disease and peri-implantitis, as well as bad breath.

Myth 4: A dental implant is expensive

At first glance, a dental implant is more expensive than bridgework or dentures but patients tend to forget that implants have a longer lifespan and should not need to be replaced if they are well maintained. 

Dentures usually need to be replaced every five to ten years so the total cost needs to take all the dentures you would need to the end of your life to be a fair comparison. Dental bridges also need to be replaced every five to 15 years so if you are still fairly one, the cost of one bridge is not sufficient to be compared with an implant. Bridgework also weakens the structure of the adjacent teeth, so any restoration work should be factored into the comparative cost. An implant does not compromise your oral health and will allow you to bite and chew your food with comfort.

The Truth About Dental Implants

Ultimately, the best tooth replacement for your needs must be discussed with a dental professional, once your personal risk factors have been taken into account. Practical matters like the cost of treatment and the length of time it will take, also need to be considered. Getting a dental consultation near you from an experienced dental practitioner can help you to establish the best way to move forward.

If you’d like to discuss the truth about dental implants in more detail or book a consultation, please call us at (02) 8203 8760.

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

References

Dental implant procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant

Dental implants
https://www.teeth.org.au/dental-implants