Should I Get Dental Implants?

We see a lot of patients come into our office asking about dental implants. Even though nothing will ever be as good as our natural teeth, missing teeth will never be replaced naturally — they will always be gone. A dental implant is the next best thing to a missing tooth.

Fortunately, there are now plenty of very good options to replace missing teeth. But often, patients wonder if it is necessary, or worth it.

Continue reading for more information about dental implants.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a metal post made of titanium.

Titanium metal is the same metal that is commonly used in hip replacements. It’s been proven safe and it’s been used in dentistry for many years.

This titanium post is surgically placed into your jaw bone. Over a period of time, titanium metal and bone fuse together and integrate the implant into the bone.

It can take up to several months for a successful integration. But once your surgeon has determined that the implant has successfully integrated, your dentist can attach the tooth to the implant to complete the process.

Who performs dental implant surgery?

Placing a titanium post into our jaw is a surgical procedure and is best done by a qualified trained surgeon.

The Journal of the American Dental Association did a study in 2014 that suggests greater implant success rates when done by a dental specialist.

An oral and maxillofacial surgeon has specialized education and training in the complexities of the bone, skin, muscles, and nerves involved. This type of surgeon can ensure you the best possible result in dental implants.

How long do dental implants last?

More and more people are getting dental implants to replace missing teeth. In 2016, an estimate of 3 million people have dental implants. The number appears to be growing by about 500,000 every year.

This growing number has shown great results.

This just shows that dental implants are considered a long-term solution to replacing missing teeth.

First patients are still happy with their implants. – The vast majority of first patients of dental implants in the USA more than 20 years ago, still have functional implants today. More importantly, those patients who received those early implants are still satisfied and believe they’ve made the right choice.

Should I get an implant?

Today, dental implants continue to be the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. And one benefit of dental implants when compared to fixed bridges is that implants do not affect neighboring healthy teeth.

If you have missing teeth from a previous extraction, or need to have a tooth extracted, call our office and we can walk you through the process of replacing your teeth.

About Dr. Steven Paul, MD, DDS

Dr. Paul is a member of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.

He has devoted his profession to all aspects of Oral Surgery with special interests in the treatment and restoration of missing teeth through dental implant procedures including advanced techniques in full mouth rehabilitation (All on 4), bone and soft tissue grafting, restoring both function and aesthetics, as well as extraction of wisdom teeth and associated cysts and tumors of the oral cavity. All this done through anesthetic techniques specific for each individual patient.

NOTE: This article is intended to promote understanding of, and general knowledge about dental implants. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dental care specialist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.