Facing Facts: 3 Things to Know About Dental Implants

If you’re seeking a reliable and long-lasting solution for tooth loss, you might benefit from dental implants. Many experts consider these replacement teeth the ideal way to rebuild smiles because of their placement directly in the jaw, which provides unique advantages over alternative treatments, such as dentures or bridges.

But you might hesitate to schedule a consultation appointment if you’ve heard negative rumors about dental implants. Continue reading to learn 3 facts that can provide some much-needed clarity so you can make a well-informed decision!

Fact #1: They Don’t Develop Cavities

Getting dental implants requires oral surgery that can take several months to recover from, and you might want to avoid the commitment of time and personal resources if you’re convinced your new teeth will likely get cavities and fall out anyway.

But these restorations are not made up of the same organic components as your enamel, so they cannot develop tooth decay themselves. With that said, any remaining teeth in your mouth are prone to caries, which can spread to your jawbone and contribute to failure if left untreated for too long. This can thankfully be prevented by brushing and flossing twice daily and visiting your dentist every 6 months for a routine dental exam and cleaning.

Fact #2: They Help Maintain the Jawbone

Did you know that your jaw starts thinning when adult teeth are lost? The roots help stimulate new bone growth to help keep it active and healthy, and when one or more go missing, you could lose up to 20% of the surrounding density within the first year. This can alter your facial structure and cause sunken cheeks and facial wrinkles as well as contribute to additional tooth loss.

These restorations are the only ones that are surgically positioned in your jaw and fuse with the bone to function like roots, helping protect your dental health and appearance the same way your natural teeth do.  

Fact #3: The Procedure Is Usually Successful

It’s natural to feel nervous about oral surgery or worry that you’ll develop side effects, but fortunately, the dental implant procedure has an incredibly high success rate of more than 90%. That means that most patients will recover without developing complications, such as peri-implantitis, an infection which is listed as the leading cause of failure.

But your new teeth aren’t invincible, either. You must follow your provider’s post-operative instructions carefully to help protect your dental implants during recovery. Then, you can help maintain them in the long run by keeping up with your at-home dental cleaning regimen and regular visits to your dentist’s office.

If you’re still unsure whether dental implants are right for you, you can learn more by scheduling a consultation with your dentist!

Meet the Author

Dr. Carroll R. Butler has nearly 30 years of experience helping improve his patient’s daily lives by enhancing their dental health. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School and has since become a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. He’s equipped with state-of-the-art technology to deliver a complete menu of services, including implant placement and restoration, to meet your unique needs at one convenient location. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (830) 257-4900.