Today, dental implants are one of the most popular treatment options patients choose to replace missing teeth. Whether they’re missing a single tooth or an entire arch, dental implants are the only technique that restores the entire structure of teeth, offering unparalleled benefits. If you’ve stopped yourself from scheduling a consultation because of any of these five dental implant myths, you might want to reconsider picking up the phone and calling your dentist!
Myth #1: Dental implants are solely a cosmetic treatment.
Dental implants often are covered by dental insurance plans because they consider them a “cosmetic” treatment. While it’s true that they offer a much more aesthetically pleasing result than traditional dentures or bridges, dental implants aren’t a cosmetic treatment. They provide a completely functional result as well by anchoring the dental implants within the jawbone. This provides a strong, stable foundation for any type of restoration to be attached to, making replacement teeth feel lifelike in every way.
Myth #2: Dental implants are for patients missing all their teeth.
Dental implants are an incredibly versatile tooth replacement treatment with the ability to restore one, several, or all of your missing teeth across an arch. This can be done by altering the number of dental implants placed. For example, a dental bridge can be supported by two dental implants placed at either end of the gap in the smile, while a full denture can be supported by anywhere between four and eight dental implant secured along an arch.
Myth #3: Dental implants have a low success rate because the treatment is so new.
While dental implants are a relatively modern treatment and there aren’t a slew of long-term studies out there, there’s plenty of research out there that points to them having a 97 percent success rate after 10 years of placement! Plus, a study conducted in 2022 published in the International Journal of Implant Dentistry showed that 99 percent of surveyed patients reported that they were satisfied with their results after five years.
Myth #4: Dental implants are hard to care for.
Not only do dental implants look and function like your natural teeth, but they can also be cared for in nearly the same way. This means that all you’ll need to do to keep your oral health on the right track is brush twice a day, rinse your mouth daily, floss daily, and schedule bi-annual checkups and cleanings with your dentist.
Myth #5: The dental implant procedure is invasive and painful.
It’s true that the dental implant procedure involves the surgical placement of the implant posts, but this part of the process is both minimally invasive and not painful. Some patients may feel some slight discomfort following their surgery, but in most cases, patients are able to return to their daily routine the very next day and experience little-to-no post-operative pain.
About the Practice
At Pioneer Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, PC, our team is led by four talented, board-certified periodontists with advanced training that makes them uniquely qualified to place dental implants. As such, they’re able to offer start-to-finish dental implant treatment under one convenient roof to make the process as streamlined and simple as possible. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 402-483-7631.