The Future of Tooth Replacement is Here: Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of those few solutions that have withstood the test of time to come out as the front runner to be the future of prosthetic dentistry. Over the last several decades advances in medical science has made implants the best possible solution for people who have lost teeth. While we understand that other solutions have made advances as well, the truth remains that they still depending on antiquated ideas. Dentures for example still need to be held in place by adhesive, as a removable solution. On the other hand, you have implants that are inserted into your jaw directly by a skilled dentist or oral surgeon, giving the implant a level of stability and security normally only found in your naturally occurring teeth.

With implants, you are getting the most durable, strongest, and most natural looking solution to replacing a lost tooth. We do understand why some of the people that come to see us are still focused on solutions like dentures or bridges when they walk in the door. Taking the time to educated people about the benefits, and the extreme improvement in their quality of life, that dental implants offer is almost always a guarantee that patients will choose the future.

Dental implants, being a permanent solution to tooth loss, are still perceived as being a new technology.  Naturally, this causes people to have questions about it. Change is never easy, and many of our patients are unsure about whether or not they should take the plunge and replace their dentures. For those who already have a prosthetic device, this is the added concern about leaving behind a technology that they have gotten used to. Usually, there are three basic questions that people have. They revolve around how long dental implants will last. Another common question is what are the chances of the device failing? Finally, some of our patients are concerned about how long it will take to heal after the device is installed. The first two questions are intertwined in a sense. Dental implants are very successful in the installation process. Typically we have a success rate of around 98% though the average is between 92% and 98%. As far as longevity goes, dental implants can last anywhere between 7 and 30 years or a lifetime, depending on how well you take care of your mouth, your habits, and factors like jawbone density.

Regarding installation, we tend to install dental implants in stages. This allows us to do a couple of things. First it allows us to take each step very carefully which ensures that you are getting the best possible implants and that you have the greatest chances of success. At the end of each stage, we can check our progress and make any modifications as necessary. Between each of the stages, and at the end of the procedure, you will need to take between ten and fourteen days to rest and allow your implants to heal. After your dental implants are fully installed, you should take at least two weeks to allow the site to heal.  While this is a longer process than getting dentures or a bridge, it is the only permanent way to replace teeth.