If you have been longing to have your old smile back and the confidence to eat whatever you want, dental implants might be the way to go. Dentures may look good but you will probably be thinking about them all day and you won’t be able to eat certain foods.
If you are seriously considering dental implants, then you need to know what you can expect from them. We’ve gathered together some of the most common misconceptions about dental implants so that you can understand what is true and what myths you can ignore as you make your decision.
1. You can easily spot someone who has dental implants
When people claim that they can tell that someone has a dental implant they are often mistaking it for a metal crown or some other dental procedure. The truth is that dental implants are often almost impossible to tell apart from the person’s original teeth. Even to the person who has the dental implants may not be able to tell you which tooth it is without really thinking about it.
2. You have to be young and healthy to get a dental implant
There is no upper age limit on when you can have dental implants. Very young patients may not be ideal candidates until the jawline has fully developed. Other than that there are no age restrictions. Provided that you are in good health and do not suffer from some specific health ailments then you will likely be approved for a dental implant.
3. Dental implants require a lot of maintenance
This is completely untrue. All that you need to do is keep up the regular oral hygiene routine that you have all of your life. In actual fact, dental implants require much less care and attention than your original teeth. Compared to dentures they practically take care of themselves.
4. Dental implants will often fall out
It is very rare that a dental implant will become loose or fall out. The vast majority of patients have their dental implants one day and then never think about them again and treat them as their own regular teeth.
5. The dental implant procedure is very painful
The pain will be insignificant thanks to the pain medication that will be used. You may feel some very minor discomfort shortly after your procedure but for the most part, it will be smooth sailing with almost no pain.
6. There is a great deal of risk
Dental implants have been around for over 4 decades. There is very little to no risk involved with the dental implant procedure and you can then look forward to many years of pain-free eating a drinking whatever it is that you want.
7. They won’t last forever
With proper care and your regularly scheduled visits to the dentist, you will be able to sit back safe in the knowledge that your new teeth will last for a long time. You should ask your dentist what the lifespan of the dental implants are as every patient is different and the teeth that are implanted will be a factor in this also.
8. It’s not worth the money
If you were to add up the cost of dentures and denture care, or the number of repeat visits that you would need to repair, maintain and replace any bridges that you have, it can really start to add up. By having implants, there will be no follow up costs associated with them so it’s really up to you to do the number crunching. Many patients find that with the additional comfort of having a dental implant, there really is no debate that the procedure is worth the money.
