Whether you’re looking at long-term studies or reading Google reviews, it quickly becomes apparent just how reliable dental implants are. They’ve maintained a 95% success rate for decades, which is something very few treatments (dental or otherwise) can boast.
While this sounds great if you’re thinking about getting them to replace your missing teeth, how is it possible? What makes dental implants different from all the other tooth replacement options? While there are many factors to consider, here are the three most important.
The Material
Getting dental implants involves having a post placed into the jawbone to mimic the lost tooth root. In most cases, it is made of titanium.
Titanium itself is not only extremely strong, but also biocompatible. That means it works seamlessly with the human body and its tissues. In fact, it bonds directly with the jawbone just like natural tooth roots (which is why dental implants are so strong).
Plus, as opposed to rusting like other metals, titanium forms a thin and invisible protective coating when exposed to moisture and oxygen, further ensuring its longevity.
The Planning
You don’t just show up to your dentist’s office, ask for dental implants, and get them right then and there!
A lot of planning and diagnostic images are taken prior to the placement procedure to evaluate the health of the mouth, and more importantly, the bone where the new tooth will be held.
This allows your dentist to figure out if you’re a good candidate for dental implants right now or might need a bone graft or gum disease therapy first. 3D scans using CBCT enable your dental team to create a detailed map of your mouth and determine the best angle and depth of your implant down to the millimeter.
The Dentist
Over the past few decades, dentists have collectively taken millions of hours of continuing education solely focused on dental implants. Individual dentists who have been practicing for 20-30 years have also placed hundreds, if not over a thousand, implants and helped every type of patient through every conceivable situation reclaim their complete smiles.
That all is to say that not only is technology a big reason why dental implants are so consistent, but so is the training and skill of dentists who choose to make it a core part of their offerings.
So if you’re ready to get rid of the gaps in your smile for good, know that dental implants present an option you can certainly rely on (and will be able to for decades to come).
About the Author
Dr. Michael Kirk has been taking care of Oklahoma City smiles for more than 30 years as a trusted implant dentist. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, he went on to earn a certificate in dental implantology from the University of Texas, and he also holds Fellowship status in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, making him one of the leading implant dentists in the state.
If you’d like to learn more about dental implants in Oklahoma City and what they could do for you, contact Grand Dental Studio today.