Everything You Wanted to Know About Dental Implants: A Dentist in Pueblo CO Addresses Your FAQ, PART 1 This four-part article series provides the answers to the common questions and concerns dental implant patients have about this advanced tooth replacement technology.
Have you been told by your dentist that you will likely need to have one or more of your teeth replaced? Or have you wanted to replace a missing tooth for months or years but have felt too “in the dark” about your options? Well, you’re in the right place if you want to learn more about dental implants! In this four-part article series, an experienced dentist in Pueblo CO will be answering every FAQ we could get our hands on so that you can march into your dentist’s office equipped with the knowledge to make the smartest tooth replacement decision possible. Let’s get started with a look at exactly what dental implants are… FAQ: What are dental implants? Answer: “Dental implants are essentially titanium tooth roots,” explains the Pueblo dental implant surgeon. “They are inserted in the jawbone where your natural tooth root used to be and they provide very strong and stable support for an artificial replacement tooth.” FAQ: What prevents the implant from falling out? Answer: “Dental implants are constructed from titanium metal, which is very strong, lightweight, non-corrosive and bio-compatible. What happens in the weeks and months following your procedure is that your jawbone actually bonds or knits to the surface of the implant as if it were a part of your body. This
healing process is called osseointegration and it’s what enables dental implants to function as non-removable replacement teeth!” How many teeth can I have replaced with dental implants? Answer: “You can have one tooth replaced or you can have ALL of your teeth replaced with dental implants,” says the Pueblo CO dental implant dentist. “That’s the great thing about implants – they are incredibly versatile in the variety of tooth loss cases they can treat.” FAQ: I heard that just one dental implant costs thousands of dollars. If that’s the case, won’t it be hugely expensive replacing all of my teeth? Answer: “We don’t use 28 dental implants for full mouth reconstruction! That wouldn’t be possible and the risk of complication and infection would be too great, not to mention the enormous expense to the patient. No, if you require a complete set of new teeth, we only need four dental implants per jaw to support a custom-built prosthetic dental bridge. This non-removable bridge will look and function like a complete set of natural teeth and so the expense is a fraction of what you’d expect it to be.”
FAQ: Why is dental implant surgery so expensive? Answer: “In short, the resources, hardware, time, treatment planning and expertise that goes into providing you with new teeth is all costly, so that is reflected by the cost of getting new teeth. But, I don’t think that’s the real issue here,” says the Pueblo dental implant surgeon. “The REAL question is: why are dental implants more expensive than dentures or dental bridges? The answer to that question is simple… dental implants are the closest thing to having natural teeth again as is possible. Their function, aesthetics and benefits are far superior to those offered by the alternative technologies and they can also last a lifetime if cared for properly. Dental implants are worth the investment, purely because they support a much higher quality of life and self-esteem.” Stay Tuned for Part 2 Stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series to read the answers to more of your frequently asked questions about dental implants.