Dental implants can seem like a complicated procedure. That's why it's important to learn as much as you can about them. Learning the facts - both about the procedure itself and popular scientific interest - is guaranteed to make you feel more relaxed before the procedure.
1. implants are similar to spaceships
Although this connotation does not immediately come to mind, dental implants and spaceships have something in common. Both are made of titanium. That's right, your implant will be as strong as the rockets that take off for Mars!
2. Dental implants are very old
As early as 2,500 B.C., people were already trying to fix their teeth. In 2000 BC, in ancient China, missing teeth were being replaced with bamboo. The Maya, in 600 AD, used a hammer and shells as the primitive dental implants.
3 Implants mean no tooth decay
Once you have implants, you will no longer have any fillings and you will certainly no longer experience toothache. Of course, you still need to look after your remaining original teeth, as these can certainly still have cavities.
4 The jawbone becomes stronger
Once the implant is placed in the mouth, the bone fuses with the titanium rod. This is a process called osseointegration. As the bone and implant fuse together, the jawbone becomes stronger.
5 Implants can last a long time
Unlike dentures, which need to be replaced every ten years or so, dental implants can last for the rest of our lives. As long as you take good care of them by brushing, flossing and regular dental visits, you won't need to replace them.
6. Placing an implant is easier than pulling a tooth
Placing dental implants - although this sounds quite invasive and is definitely part of dental surgery it doesn't require a lot of force, just precision. It is much easier than pulling a tooth. You often have to use a lot of force and pressure to move the tooth and pull it out.
7 Placing an implant is less painful than pulling a tooth
During tooth extraction, a large area of tissue is disturbed. Placing an implant is much more precise and less painful. Of course, painkillers are provided during the procedure, so you can be completely relaxed.
8 Implants look like natural teeth
Dental implants are designed to look like natural teeth. Therefore, you can replace just one tooth and still maintain a very natural smile. This is also the reason why you can replace all your teeth with dental implants and your smile will still look natural.
9 Many people have implants
Of course, this is difficult to measure precisely, but it can be assumed that many millions of people around the world have dental implants, and the number is still growing. According to a study conducted in the US in 2019, more than three million people had them at that time in the US only.
10 Most people can have dental implants
Most people are good candidates for the procedure and there are no age restrictions for them. Follow your dentist's advice and take good care of your dental implants, in which case the risk of not adopting the implant is only 4%.
What conclusions can we learn from this?
If you are thinking of getting dental implants, it is important to know as much as possible about them. Although the procedure is completely safe and painless, it is quite natural to be nervous about it. The more you know, the more confident you can feel when planning your dental implant procedure. If you have any questions, please contact our clinic.