5 Misconceptions About Dental Implants

Dental implants are a great option to consider if you are missing a tooth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of myths about dental implants, and some of these misconceptions may keep you away from the help that you need. To point you in the right direction, here's a look at some common misconceptions and the truth behind them.

1. Misconception: Anyone Can Get Implants.

Unfortunately, not everyone is a great candidate for dental implants. Dental implants consist of a piece of metal put into your jaw bone. Then, a fake ceramic tooth is attached to the metal rod. For this procedure to work you need healthy jaw bones. The dentist may also recommend that you have healthy gums as well. During your initial consultation, your dentist can let you know if you're a good candidate, and if not, he or she can suggest alternatives.

2. Misconception: Implants Are New

Many people think implants are new because they haven't heard of them before. However, this treatment is actually quite old. In fact, some archeological evidence suggests that implants have been around since ancient times. In France, archeologists have uncovered artifacts from 2,300 years ago that consist of a piece of iron attached to a bit of ivory shaped like a tooth. There is speculation that this is one of the first implants.

3. Misconception: You Can't Get Implants If You Have a Metal Allergy

This is true if you are allergic to all metals. However, in most cases, it depends on what type of allergy you have. If you have an allergy to titanium, for example, you shouldn't get implants made with titanium, but instead, you should choose implants made of zirconium. Alternatively, if you have a zirconium allergy, you may want to get implants made with titanium.

4. Misconception: Implants Only Replace One Missing Tooth

It is true that a single implant replaces just a single tooth, but that is not the only option when it comes to implants. You can also get implants that are connected to bridges. That is several teeth connected by implants on either side. In some cases, that is referred to as permanent partial implant dentures.

5. Misconception: Implants May Disrupt Your Mouth

When you have a skilled ceramicist create your implant, they make it so it works perfectly in your mouth. They create an implant that fits with your bite and that works in conjunction with the rest of your teeth.