Dental implants are Titanium root replacements that can be used almost anywhere with a wide variety of auxiliary attachments. They have been used for over 40 years with a remarkable amount of scientific research. Success at 20 years may approach 99%. They are significantly more successful than any other dental treatment. They don't decay or get periodontal disease and they almost never break. They are the only dental treatment that brings in new support; all other treatments redistribute more stress over fewer teeth. They restore function, comfort, and longevity better than other treatments. The surgery is generally gentler than tooth extraction.
The cost of dental implants may seem expensive because you have to add the surgical cost to the typical prosthetic replacement. It is good to think of the surgeon replacing your root support system and the prosthodontist replacing the top or functional part. Over a ten year period, cost is usually less for dental implants than for other treatments because they rarely require replacement.
A direct connection exists between implant restorations, overall health and lifespan. Studies have shown that when people lose all of their teeth and wear complete dentures chewing efficiency and blood nutrients decrease to the 20% level. The addition of just two lower implants will raise nutritional levels up to the 70% level.
The value of our quality of life is not something that we contemplate. The denture wearer that desires a $20 steak would surely pay an extra $5 to enjoy it. A grandmother who spends $200 to go to a granddaughter's wedding, would surely pay a few dollars to have a beautiful and secure smile for the evening and no doubt would continue to do so each day. Life is short and there is great value in being comfortable and healthy; dental implants allow us to return to a better time of life.
Implant treatment is divided into five stages: diagnosis, planning, surgery, healing and restoration. Routine cases maybe treated by some general dentists that have sought additional training. Complex situations are usually treated by the dental implant team that has had graduate training: the prosthodontist and the oral or periodontal surgeon.
