Many Americans are finding out to their delight that tooth loss no longer has to be permanent. We all grew up with an understanding that first we would have “baby teeth,” followed years later by our “adult teeth.” While it was normal to lose our “baby teeth” over the course of our childhood, permanent teeth were to be maintained and retained for a lifetime.
 
Unfortunately, that expectation has not necessarily been true for approximately 40-45 million Americans who are missing some adult teeth. Millions of people have had the benefit of bridges (a series of crowns that fill in the spaces of missing teeth) or dentures to replace teeth, and while these are still a great choice for many patients that are still missing teeth, now there are other options.
 
Today, with dental implants, we have the opportunity to have a third set of teeth. Patients that have lost one, two or more teeth are finding that dental implants offer the best solutions for them.
 
As close to natural teeth as possible, dental implants are titanium cylinders that can be placed into the jawbone in a minor and relatively painless surgical procedure. For instance, a patient who needs a tooth extracted for any reason today can often have what is called an "immediate implant" placed at the same time as the extraction. This eliminates the need for a separate implant placement procedure and begins the healing process almost immediately.
 
While every patient is not a candidate for an immediate implant, those that can take advantage of this opportunity will have less bone shrinkage or bone loss following an extraction.

 

Why Should Patients Consider Dental Implants?

 

The loss of your natural teeth often results in facial structure collapse and loss of confidence. With dental implants, many people have an opportunity to have an exceptional quality of life. The result of this short, relatively painless procedure is a new permanent replacement tooth root that will have a post and crown placed on it, and appear so real that your friends will never be aware that it’s not your natural tooth.
 
So feel free to visit us and talk with Dr. Polyviou about the potential of dental implants for your unique situation. Millions of patients worldwide are now benefiting tremendously from the enhanced quality of life that dental implants provide. As the field of implant dentistry continues to advance, there are more and more options available to patients. Contact us today to learn more.