Nearly 70% of adults aged 35-44 in the United States have at least one missing tooth due to an accident, tooth decay, or dental fracture. Most people, however, don’t understand that there are multiple options to replace a missing tooth or teeth, including dentures and implants.
When people hear dentures, many people think of those teeth floating in water next to their grandparents bed. While dentures provide a facade of teeth and allow people to help with chewing, this method of teeth replacement is not for everyone. Dentures tend to slip out of place and may even cause tooth decay of adjacent teeth.
Today, implants have become a better option to replace a missing tooth/teeth. Implants are surgically placed titanium posts in the jaw, capped with a crown. They look and appear totally natural. Because they are surgically placed, this method preserves the jaw bone health because with the titanium post in place of the tooth, the brain is tricked into believing that the tooth is still in place, allowing the bone to thrive.
In order for a patient to be a good candidate for an implant, they should be a non smoker and have healthy jaw and gums.
Typically, implants are a low risk procedure with a less than 5% failure rate. With a life span of roughly 20 years, they are also long lasting.
Unfortunately, implants can be expensive because many times work is performed by both a surgeon and a dentist. In addition, this process is not immediate. It can take anywhere from 4-6 months, giving enough time for the implant and bone to fuse together. In the mean time, a temporary crown can be placed over the top of the titanium rod.
Luckily, Frankel Dentistry has a periodontist on staff, allowing all implants to be completed in house. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask. Please call for a complimentary consultation.