It’s becoming more common to utilize dental implants to restore lost or missing teeth and non-restorable teeth. Patients are becoming more educated in regard to the benefits of dental implants over traditional bridges (where adjacent teeth are prepped) and removable partials and dentures (which can be uncomfortable to wear, make chewing properly difficult and may lack the desired level of aesthetics). With this increase in knowledge on options, and electing to have dental implants placed, aesthetic and hygienic restorations are becoming the new expectation. The ability to develop a “Prosthetic Driven Implant Placement” treatment plan (that is, working from the ideal final prosthetic platform and planning in reverse) allows practitioners to optimize surgical and prosthetic results.
"Dental implants changed my life!"
Dental implants can certainly be life changing. Patients often express how wonderful the new smile looks and a feeling of improved self confidence with their new implants in place.
As the Mayo Clinic says:
"How dental implant surgery is performed depends on the type of implant and the condition of your jawbone. Dental implant surgery may involve several procedures. The major benefit of implants is solid support for your new teeth — a process that requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant. Because this bone healing requires time, the process can take many months."
Be cautious of ads that imply it's always a "quick fix", and you are smiling on the golf course tomorrow. It is true that some implants can be done very fast with minimal discomfort, others can will take more time and patience to allow your jawbone to heal and properly accept the implant(s).
