Dental Implants – Common Questions and Concerns

If you are missing any or all of your natural teeth and are currently considering dental implants, you may have a number of questions or concerns about the treatment. The following are responses to some of the questions and concerns most commonly raised by dental implant patients.

How much do dental implants cost?

The answer to this question depends on how many implants you need, where you live, and other factors. Whether your cosmetic dentist is able to perform the implant placement surgery or has to refer you to a qualified oral surgeon can also affect your overall cost.

If I am missing several teeth, will I require a separate dental implant for each missing tooth?

Not necessarily. If you are missing, say, two adjacent teeth, a single implant may be able to support a bridge containing two replacement teeth. A full set of dentures can be supported by just a few implants placed in the upper and lower jaws.

Could my body reject my dental implants?

This is highly unlikely. The titanium used in dental implants is not recognized in the body as a foreign substance; hence, it fuses with the bone as though it were a natural part of the human anatomy. It is exceedingly rare for a dental implant to fail.

Are dental implants permanent?

Be wary of claims that dental implants are permanent. While the titanium posts, themselves, could last a lifetime without need for repair, the replacement teeth attached to them are prone to the same wear and tear as any other tooth restoration. A high-quality porcelain crown, dental bridge, or set of dentures will likely last for many years with proper maintenance; however, they may eventually require replacement. Dental implants, however, are the longest-term tooth replacement treatment currently available.

Contact our Cary cosmetic dentistry office for more information about dental implants and other cosmetic dentistry treatments such as porcelain crowns and Zoom teeth whitening,