With people living longer, the need for us to have teeth as we age has become increasingly important. Fortunately, advancements in dental research and engineering have made this possible. Dental implants in particular, are proving to be an ideal solution for many reasons. This is evident to me not only by the many successful implant cases I have performed over the years, but also by reviewing the numerous research studies that continue to be published in many highly respected, peer-reviewed dental journals.
Cost savings and an improved quality of life
A recent report published recently by the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants and cited in the US National Library of Medicine, demonstrates that implants are a cost-effective alternate to traditional tooth replacement options like bridges and dentures.
For single-tooth replacement, implant-based solutions are generally less expensive than approaches that involve bridges. For those who require multiple-tooth replacement, the report revealed that while the upfront costs of implants are generally higher than those associated with dentures, over the long-term, implants are the better value and pay for themselves, so-to-speak, over an extended period of time. Furthermore, those in the study who had implants experienced an increased quality of life and decreased health care costs.
Remarkable implant survival rates
Two of the largest international clinical studies on dental implants have just released their findings, and they are impressive indeed! Together, the studies evaluated over one thousand cases utilizing The Straumann Dental Implant System. I have actually used the Straumann System in my practice for many years, and continue to do so, and have witnessed their excellent results firsthand. The studies’ findings each reported an astounding 98% implant survival rate with practically no bone loss around the implants. This latter finding is especially important because one of the main, yet infrequent, problems that has been associated with implants over the years is bone loss. One of the two studies therefore paid particular attention to this matter, carefully examining bone levels changes among its subjects. It showed that bone level remained stable over three years after implant placement, showing a mean decrease of less than .7 mm which is actually quite slight, especially when considering the advantages of the patients’ newly acquired teeth which by far offsets this very marginal bone change.
Reasons to rethink same-day dental implants
Achieving the highest levels of satisfaction from my patients is my number one goal. I listen to what they want and do my best to deliver. So when people ask me about whether I can provide them with same-day implants, I completely understand where they are coming from. No one wants to walk around with missing teeth and we all – myself included – love immediate gratification. However, there is a very significant downside to same-day dental implants and it is reason enough for me to have made the decision to not offer them in my practice. While they do indeed offer a significantly faster return to normal life, this is far outweighed by their significantly higher failure rate. My advice to patients is to take their time, do things right, and invest their hard-earned dollars in a technology that is backed by years of solid research.
Smokers, beware
Since bone loss is one of many side-effects of smoking, it is no surprise that dental implant failure rates increases significantly amongs patients who smoke. Many research studies dating back from 1998 all the way to a more current one conducted by Brazilian researchers that was published just this past May, clearly demonstrate the reduced survival rates of implants in smokers.
While dental implants are not for everyone, many can benefit from this very effective approach to replacing missing teeth. Call us today to book your implant assessment. Find out if you could be a candidate for dental implants and learn more about how you could enjoy the benefits of implanted teeth that look and feel like your very own.
Steven Deskin is a Dentist in general practice.