Like Getting Your Own Teeth Back
Every one of your teeth is important for your health and comfort – not to mention your smile.
Sadly, though, losing teeth is a lot more common than you may have thought. In fact, studies show that a whopping 69% of people between the ages of 35 and 44
have lost at least one permanent tooth.1
Many folks have lost more than one, and a full 26% have lost ALL their permanent teeth by the time they reach 74.2
So, if you’ve lost one or more teeth to injury, gum disease or some other problem, you’re definitely not alone.
OK, what now?
Nobody likes losing an adult tooth, but if it doesn’t show lots of folks decide to simply “do without.”
That may sound like a reasonable choice, but it can lead to some very unpleasant consequences, including problems with your speech and difficulty eating some of the foods you love.
Worse yet, even one missing tooth can contribute to bone loss in your jaw that can cause your other teeth to shift and even change the shape of your face. 3
Clearly, doing without is a bad idea. But what should you do instead?
Traditional Solutions Come With Drawbacks
In the past, the best replacement options I could offer you were bridges and dentures (either partial or full) and all of them came with some pretty serious drawbacks.
Creating fixed bridges meant I had to drill down perfectly good, healthy teeth to hold the bridges. Partial dentures had to clip on to existing teeth, putting stress on them that could cause them to fail. And full dentures came with a whole host of problems like slipping, irritation and the inability to eat all sorts of tasty and healthy foods.
Bottom line: none of these replacements came close to the comfort and security of your own natural teeth.
Dental Implants: As Good As Your Own Teeth – Maybe Better!
Fortunately, today there’s a far better option. Called dental implants, these replacement teeth look, feel and act like your own natural teeth. In fact you could say they’re actually better because they never decay and, unlike bridges, partials and dentures they may last a lifetime.
Each implant starts with a high-strength, FDA-approved titanium “root” (what we dentists refer to as an abutment) that your body accepts as though it were a natural root. In fact, your body welcomes it so thoroughly it almost magically re-grows new bone around it.
It’s as though we slipped a brand new root under your gum and placed a brand new tooth on it. You brush and floss the new tooth just like any other – and you can go back to eating all the foods you enjoy.
Real Confidence for Denture Wearers, too
Implants can give denture wearers their confidence back as well by letting me create “anchors” that provide a strong and reliable foundation for dentures.4 So you can eat anything you like (including things like apples, carrots and corn on the cob), throw out that tube of messy adhesive and forget tell-tale “clicking” when you eat.
Sound good? Then you won’t be surprised to learn that the vast majority of dental implants placed more than 20 years ago are still performing well and the folks who have them are still sure they made the right choice.
If you’ve been doing without one or more teeth – or if you’re dissatisfied with a bridge, partial or dentures, just ask. My staff and I will be delighted to give you all the information you need to see how close dental implants are to getting your own teeth back.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
Chances are you’ve heard of dental implants. In fact you probably know several people who have one or more. But you may wonder if they’re right for you. So I’d like to answer some of the implant questions I hear from patients just like you every day.
Q. What, exactly, are dental implants?
A. Implants are high-tech, high-strength, FDA-approved replacements for missing teeth that include a titanium “root” your body welcomes and surrounds with healthy new bone.
It’s as though we slipped a brand new root underneath and placed a brand new tooth on it again. You brush and floss your new tooth like any other – and use it to eat everything you like in total comfort.
Alternatively, if you wear full dentures, we can use the implants to create anchors that hold your dentures perfectly in place – with no messy denture adhesive, no slipping, no rubbing and no pain.
Q. Why are they better than bridges and partials?
A. Implants are better in several ways. For example, with fixed bridges I need to actually drill down perfectly healthy teeth to hold the bridge. And if those teeth ever suffer damage or gum disease, the bridge can fail.
As for partial dentures, (the ones that clip onto adjacent teeth) they can lead to bone loss in the area where the tooth is missing and contribute to the loss of the teeth to which they are attached.
In fact, studies show that within five to seven years, there is a failure rate of us to 30% for the teeth located next to a fixed bridge or partial denture.5
Q. How long can I expect my implant to last?
A. With proper care your implant could last a lifetime.6 Studies show that the majority of implants placed more than 20 years ago are still performing well – and the people who have them are still sure they made the right choice.7
Q. Who can have a dental implant?
A. Implants may be right for you if you’re an adult with one or more missing teeth. They’re generally not done on children whose jaws are still growing.8
You should also have healthy oral tissues and enough bone to secure the implant or be able to have a bone graft.9
Q. I’m over 60 – Can I still have an implant?
A. Absolutely. Implants are appropriate whether you’re a young, middle-aged or older adult.10
Q. What about health problems?
A. Basically, if you can have other kinds of dental treatment you can usually have an implant. With certain conditions, I’ll take special precautions. However even patients with common chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure – as well as those with periodontal (gum) disease – are usually good candidates for dental implants.11(AAOMS)
Bottom line: nothing I’ve seen comes as close to looking, feeling and acting like your own teeth as implants do. And almost anyone can be a successful candidate for them.
Got more questions? Then please feel free to ask me or my team. We’ll be happy to explain how implants can work for you.
Find the free informational seminar:
- “Dental Implants” American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons http://www.aaoms
- Ibid
- “Implant Dentists Warn Tooth Loss Can Harm Your Health” American Association of Implant Dentistry, http://www.aaid.com/news_and_publications/50
- “Dental Implants” WebMD Oral Health Center. http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-implants
- “Dental Implants” American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons http://www.aaoms
- “Dental Implants” American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons http://www.aaoms
- “Dental Implants” WebMD Oral Health Center. http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/dental-implants
- “Dental Implants” American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons http://www.aaoms
- Ibid.
- “Why it’s done” Mayo Clinic http://www.mayoclinic,com/health/dental-implant-surgery/MY00084
- “Dental Implants” American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons http://www.aaoms
- Ibid.