Six Myths Surrounding Dental Implants
Your Lawrence Park Dental Team is Here to Answer Your Questions
Often fear of dental treatments is based on wrong information, or misperceptions. Before you let a misperception stop you from seeking beneficial dental care, such as a dental implant, let’s make sure you know the real story.
Our first set of myths looks at dental implants, an important procedure for many North York residents wishing to restore full functionality to their mouth and avoid further complications. The general misconception of dental implants surround the perceived pain and healing time.
Let’s set the record straight.
Myth #1: Dental implant surgery is painful.
While everyone has their own pain threshold, generally dental implant surgery is minimally invasive and painful. With today’s modern techniques, most dental implant patients are placed under local anesthesia and given nitrous sedation for the duration of the surgery… typically about an hour. If you have any concerns about dental surgery, talk with your Lawrence Park dental team and they will walk you through the steps before your scheduled surgery time.
Myth #2: Dental implants take a long time to heal
Dental implants take a long time to heal and I’ll have to miss too much work / school. While it does take generally 3-6 months for the titanium dental implant rods to bond to the surrounding gums and jaw, there is actually very limited down time. You may have to be more careful for the first day or two to allow the surgical area to heal, but once this is complete and your dentist gives you the go-ahead, you can get back to your everyday routine, including enjoying the foods you love.
Myth #3: Dental implants require time-consuming special after care.
Actually, dental implants are probably one of the easiest restorative products to care for. After care is pretty simple. You will have to be careful for the first day or two following surgery as the site heals, but afterwards it is business as usual. Regular oral hygiene practices will keep the area clean.
Myth #4: Dental implants don’t look natural. Everyone will notice.
The materials we use for tooth restoration are amazingly realistic. Plus, as the titanium rod is rooted right into your jaw bones, not only will the dental implant look real, it will feel and act real. Nobody will be able to tell that your teeth aren’t your own… unless you tell them. You might even forget which one is the implant.
Myth #5: Dental implants are not a permanent fix
Dental implants are not a permanent fix and I’ll require follow-up surgery in a couple of years. Just like your natural teeth, if you take good care and practice good oral hygiene habits, your dental implants can last years, if not a lifetime. Alternatively, if you are hard on your teeth, they will wear down and require replacement. It’s in your hands.
Myth #6: I can wait to get dental implants… it’s not urgent.
This might not be the case. If you require dental implants because of a missing tooth, your mouth and facial structure might be in jeopardy. The longer you wait, the more the rest of your mouth compensates for the missing tooth. Tooth loss leads to subsequent bone loss, which is progressive. The only way to prevent further bone loss is by placement of a dental implant in the area. You will likely notice shifting with your other permanent teeth and changes to the shape of your face. It is critical that you address missing or highly damaged teeth as soon as possible.
If you still have questions about dental implants, don’t be shy to ask. The answers might just surprise you.
If you have any other questions about family dental care at every stage, we invite you to talk with our North York dental team today. Your oral health matters to us and we strive to ensure our patients create healthy and lifelong habits. We invite you to visit us in office at Lawrence Park Dental, or call us at 416-488-7454 to speak with our team of experts at any time. We’d love to help you address your dental questions and concerns. It’s our job to keep you, and your baby smiling, and we love it!
