Four Misconceptions About Dental Implants

Dental implants are one of the most effective ways to replace natural teeth. They are reliable, effective, resilient, and look natural. At Major Dental Clinics, we often notice that many patients are intimidated by the Dental Implant procedure and are often swayed by misconceptions that they have heard or read somewhere, so we wanted to take a moment to talk with you about some of the myths that exist regarding Dental Implants.

Misconceptions:

1. Dental Implants are Painful

   1. While patient experiences vary, most agree that dental implants cause minimal pain. The actual procedure is carried out under local anesthesia, so the implant site is numb and patients only feel some pressure for a few seconds to minutes. In fact, the anesthesia shots are perhaps the only slightly painful part of the whole process! However, we at Major Dental Clinics use a topical anesthetic to numb the gums first before injecting with special Comfort Control Syringes that make it painless for the patients. After the procedure, once the anesthetic fades away, patients may experience some soreness or discomfort, but this can be easily be addressed with pain killers. Many times, only two to three pills of regular Over the Counter painkillers – like ibuprofen – or dentist-prescribed medicine per day is sufficient to deal with any type of discomfort you might experience from the procedure.

2. They Are Expensive

   1. Similar to how most common dental procedures seem to have climbed in cost over the years, Dental implants can sometimes appear more expensive than other alternatives, but implants offer you much more value than you can ever experience from other alternatives. Especially for a single tooth replacement, the cost of an implant may be similar to making a three-unit bridge. Dental Implants are the most durable and reliable replacements for natural teeth, and they can easily last for a lifetime if properly cared for.
   2. A dental implant can replace a single missing tooth which allows for an easier maintenance routine for patients than caring for a bridge. Dental implants have proven to have a 98% success rate compared to alternatives like a bridge which has an average 10 to 12 year lifespan and needs repair/replacement after that. Also, in certain cases where making a dental bridge isn’t possible due to weak adjacent teeth or missing teeth to support a bridge, dental implants may be the only choice for a fixed replacement of teeth.
   3. If the price is a concern for you, we also offer financing options that can help you break the cost down into small recurring payments.

3. “I am Not A Candidate for Implants”

   1. Some patients have been told that “Implants are not for everyone”. Some patients have been told that don’t have enough bone structure to support them while others have health issues that make implants a poor choice. However, most patients are suitable candidates for implants and can go through the procedure without any complications. We will carefully examine your teeth, jawbone, gums, and study your medical history before recommending this process. There’s no reason why you can’t ask us for our opinion on this matter…we believe that it never hurts to talk!

4. The Implant Process is Really Long and Drawn Out

   1. Dental technology has advanced considerably over the years, and the Dental Implant procedure isn’t as long and drawn out as it once used to be. Patients that require single placement or a limited number of replacements may be a candidate for immediate loading dental implant procedures. They can also get a permanent crown after 72 hours of implant placement. A standard or delayed loading process can take up to three months. Different patients require different approaches, and that will influence treatment time. If you need bone or gum grafting, dental implants may take longer.

At Major Dental Clinics, A qualified specialist will study your individual case and come up with a treatment plan custom to your unique case as well as provide a detailed timeline. Our Prosthodontist specialists provide both surgical and restorative care hence eliminating the need to visit various specialty clinics for different procedures. Most patients can get safe and secure implants in just a few months. Once the implants have healed, a crown is made in the office thanks to our in-office dental lab which makes the process seamless. It is important that proper dental hygiene is maintained at home and we also offer regular maintenance visits with our hygienist to help you care for them properly.

If you want to know more about dental implants or need to get the procedure done, please get in touch with us here at Major Dental Clinics. You can schedule a free consultation appointment by filling this form.