Dental implants have been in use for more than 50 years, and today’s dental implant procedures have a success rate of nearly 100%. Nevertheless, myths about dental implants continue to abound, holding many people back from achieving the beautiful smiles they deserve. Below are the top 5 myths about dental implants, busted.

1. Getting dental implants is painful

Most patients are surprised to learn that dental implant surgery only causes minimal discomfort. It is not uncommon to have little or no pain throughout the whole process.  Nitrous oxide and local anesthesia are typically used so that patients don’t feel a thing throughout the procedure. Furthermore, pain medication is provided to keep patients comfortable post-surgery.

2. Dental implants are costly

Dental implants are by no means cheap, but considering that they fully restore the functions of healthy teeth and have the potential to last you a lifetime, they aren’t expensive. Other types of tooth replacement procedures cost more in the long run because they require extensive repairs and replacements over time. For example, the long-term cost of getting a bridge versus dental implants is higher because a bridge has to be replaced every 7-15 years.

3. Dental implants are often rejected

Dental implant rejection occurs when the body views a dental implant as a foreign body and pushes it out. Dental implants are only rejected in about 2% of cases, and it typically happens when the implant doesn’t osseointegrate correctly with the bone or vice-versa. Rejections may also occur if the implants are contaminated with bacteria. Research has shown that smokers and patients with illnesses that debilitate the immune system are at increased risk of dental implant failure. Nevertheless, dental implant rejection is a rare occurrence.

4. Dental implant surgery takes a long time

Dental implant surgery time varies depending on the number of implants, but the procedure usually lasts a little over an hour. It takes around 15-20 minutes for a single implant to be built. In addition, it takes about two to four months for your body to adopt the implants and for osseointegration to occur, but you can use temporary teeth in the meantime. It’s a small price to pay for beautiful teeth that are likely to last you a lifetime!

5. Dental implants cause numerous side effects

Side effects associated with dental implants include bruising, swelling, and discomfort, but they are mostly temporary in nature and around the time of placement. As long as you follow your Woodinville periodontist’s post-procedural care guidelines carefully, you shouldn’t have any problems. Typically, taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen is enough to alleviate the discomfort caused by dental implants.

Get Dental Implants at Woodinville Periodontist Dr. Terry L. LaBell’s Office

Dr. Terry L. LaBell is a Woodinville periodontist who specializes in the treatment of the gums and bone. His extensive educational background includes a D.D.S. degree, master’s degree in microbiology, and PhD in pathology from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Terry L. LaBell serves patients in both Woodinville and Bothell. For more information or to set up an appointment, please call 425.402.1246 or contact us via our website.
 

Added on 12/15/2011

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