Did you know that dental implants were invented after a Swedish orthopedic surgeon discovered that titanium can fuse with bone? He found this out by coincidence, by the way – Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark was actually researching rabbit femurs and noticed that the bone completely grew around one of his metal devices.
Both of those pieces of information are true, although you’ll find plenty of false facts about dental implants on the internet! If you’d rather get the true scoop on this tooth replacement option, not the myths, then keep reading.
“The Surgery is Painful”
Actually, most patients find that dental implant surgery is minimally uncomfortable. During this part of the process, your dentist will fix the titanium posts to your jawbone, which does sound scary! However, your jawbone actually has few nerves, and your dentist will be sure to administer the proper anesthesia to secure your comfort.
“You Can Get an Implant in One Day”
While this can happen in very specific cases, it’s more common for dental implants to be placed in two or three appointments. Your dentist will first make a small incision in your gumline so they can anchor the implant posts to your jawbone, as previously mentioned. But then patients typically have to wait for their bone to fuse with the posts, which can take months! Only after the posts are secured is your dentist able to attach the connector piece and the dental crown.
“It’s Obvious That They’re Fake”
This might have been true decades ago, when metal amalgam restorations were still popular. Nowadays, though, dentists have some pretty sophisticated materials at their disposal. They take great care to make sure a dental implant will fit in seamlessly with your smile and use tooth-colored ceramics that look perfectly natural. Even the way light reflects off the implant crown will be incredibly like the sheen of dental enamel!
“Dental Implants Need Special Care”
It’s understandable how this myth gained traction. After all, dental implants are pretty fancy, so a sensible gut-reaction would be to think they need special care. Fortunately, that’s not the case! Simply brush and floss your teeth like you normally would: twice per day for brushing, once per day for flossing, and with your favorite fluoride toothpaste.
You can find a lot of information about dental implants on the internet or by old-fashioned word-of-mouth, but not all of it is true. To make sure you know what you’re getting into, confirm what you hear with your dentist. As a professional, they’ll know fact from fiction and can give you a better idea of what to expect!
About the Practice
At Buda Dental Professionals, we have three highly experienced and skilled dentists on staff. Dr. Jason Carlyon, for example, has completed advanced training in dental implant treatments, and is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. If you’d like accurate, dentist-approved information about dental implants, Dr. Carlyon would be happy to talk with you during a consultation! To contact our office, call 512-295-5555.