As a person who had a dental implant procedure done about two years ago, I can say from personal experience that I would recommend this to anyone whose dentist says they are a good candidate. As for myself I don’t even think about the implant and it feels like a normal tooth. It is strong, and I don’t have to worry about biting down hard on something I should not. If you are considering a dental implant, however, there are certain pros and cons to be aware of.

On the negative side, one should be aware of the fact that not all dental implants are successful. In a recent article I read that 95% of the implants attempted on bottom teeth are good, while on top teeth the number drops to 90% success rate. The article did not explain the difference. My educated guess is that the skill of the dentist, or the periodontist in my case, is a major factor, as these procedures are not trivial. Also, the condition of one’s jaw bone material is probably another factor.

Cost is something else to consider. My dental insurance plan paid for about half the costs, but I still had to pay about two thousand US dollars out of pocket. The other alternative we discussed in my case was a bridge, and I was told the cost for that would have been similar. So replacing teeth is not an inexpensive venture.

Lastly on the downside is the length of time the procedure takes. For me it was about ten months from start to finish. This included time just waiting for my appointment with the periodontist, who is of course a specialist. I needed to have to tooth extraction, and he also decided to give me a small bone graft. This was a piece of bone material that he placed onto my jaw after pulling my tooth. The purpose of this was to reinforce the bone in my jaw which would be eventually supporting the implant. After letting this heal thoroughly for about five months, the periodontist placed the implant into my jaw. He then let that grow into my jawbone for several months before putting a sort of stud onto the implant and ordering a permanent cap. Needless to say for all this time I had to chew food on the other side of my mouth. This was cumbersome at first but before long I got used to it.

The major upside of dental implants is the fact that the replacement tooth will be just as strong as a natural tooth. This is because the titanium material in the implant will actually make a chemical bond with the jawbone. This was a fascinating thought, and the result has been a replacement tooth that I don’t even feel or think about because it is just like any other natural tooth.

On the whole dental implants are a great idea if your dentist says you are a good candidate. They should be seriously considered by anyone who needs to replace a lost tooth.

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Category: Medical Business
Keywords: dental implant,dental implants