5 Dental Implant Myths and the Facts
With the entire world becoming obsessed with their outward looks and appearance, you might also find yourself jumping on the bandwagon. While increased exposure to media and the Western world have been credited with this changing trend, there is no denying the fact that people independently are also becoming more aware. The days of just jumping out of bed, throwing on some clothes, and jumping in the car are long gone. In current times, much more thought and planning goes into the entire process so that everyone can step out looking picture-perfect.
The same thing could be said in the case of our teeth as well. This is because a smile is considered to be one of the most important assets that we possess. If that smile is tainted or damaged in any way, then our entire look and appearance is ruined.
In earlier times, damaged and misplaced teeth were treated with dentures, root canals, and bridges. While all these procedures were definitely effective, these treatments also tended to harm the adjacent teeth rather than supporting the damaged tooth. In addition, root canals were also considered to be one of the most painful procedures that one would be able to undergo. Even after the procedure, the patient would experience immense pain and only be permitted to have liquid food for a certain amount of time.
All this seems to have changed with the introduction of dental implants. To describe it quite simply, a screw or metal post is surgically positioned into the jawbone, located right beneath your gums. Once these are in place, it allows the dentist to mount the replacement teeth or cap on to them. As a result, dental implants have been found to be the most effective procedure for tooth replacement and smile correction. With just one streamlined procedure, you are be able to restore your teeth and smile to its formal glory. It does not get much simpler than this!
Despite the simplicity and effectiveness of implant treatment, you still find a large number of people remain hesitant when taking advantage of dental implants. This hesitance often results from a large number of implant myths that continue to float in the outside world.
If you are seriously considering dental implants, it is important to have a full understanding of this misunderstood procedure. The first step is to discover if there is any truth to the numerous dental implant myths. Specifically, we examine five of the most common myths that seem to exist for dental implants, along with the facts:
1. A painful procedure
The group of people who are against dental implants would say that it is a painful procedure, both during and after the procedure. However, this has been found to be completely untrue. This is because dentists now provide this service under local anesthesia, which means that you are not subjected to any pain. Also, an experienced and knowledgeable dentist would be familiar with the entire process of tooth implantation. As a result, they are able to offer you a wide variety of anesthetic options to suit your preferences and needs.
2. Risky
Again, this is another common dental implant myth! The fact is that dental implant technology has been continuously evolving for the past thirty years, with new advancements being introduced almost every other year. As a result, dentists are able to guarantee a success rate a whopping 95% of the time. This high success rate is due to experienced dental practitioners carefully performing the procedure in order to avoid any complications. All you need to do is select the right dental professional!
3. Extremely expensive
When choosing dental options, it is quite normal to select the most affordable option. Most individuals would prefer to not spend an exorbitant amount of money, unless it is absolutely necessary. While dental implants are definitely not as expensive as you may be thinking, there is some investment involved. However, when you examine the big picture and other alternatives, the investment is well worth it. When you compare dental implants to other treatment options, it is important to remember that most people only need dental implants once. So if there is a little more cost involved than some implant alternatives, it would definitely be worth it!
4. It takes too long to heal from dental implant surgery
This myth has also been found to be misleading for a number of dental implant patients. This is because the complete healing time could span from one day to six months, depending on a number of factors. In addition, the healing time can vary greatly from one patient to another. It is surprising to see many patients opting for same day implants, also known as immediate loading implants. This quick implant treatment option allows patients to solve their tooth problem without having to disrupt their busy schedule.
5. Involves special care and maintenance
This myth has been found to be completely baseless. This is because dental implants do not require cleaning, extraneous removal, or any sort of maintenance hassle. All you need to do is take care of your implants – the same way you take care of your natural teeth. This entails brushing, flossing, and going for regular dental checkups.
Hopefully, this shed some light on some of the most common misunderstood aspects of dental implants. While you will definitely come across more dental implant myths, you should now understand that most of these myths are completely baseless and do not have any solid evidence to back up their claims.
Before you proceed with any type of dental implant treatment, it is always a good idea to schedule schedule a consultation with a dental professional so they can walk you through the entire process and assist you with selecting the most suitable option for you. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Jeffrey Wert is considered a leading provider of dental implants in the San Antonio area. We encourage you to contact us for a free consultation and ask about our dental implant specials! San Antonio Oral Surgery & Dental Implants will make sure your implant experience is an enjoyable one!