The Rise in Popularity of Dental Implants

There has never been a time when the use of dental implants has been so popular. With the improvements in technology, and more importantly the access people have to the information, dental implants are one of the fastest growing prosthetic products we have. This is because people do not want to be stuck with tooth loss. Looking for a permanent solution drives most patients in the direction of our dental office and implants.

Fundamentally dental implants work on a simple principle of replacing the root of a lost tooth with a tiny titanium screw. This screw acts as a base upon which we can place a new fake tooth, also known as a dental crown. The titanium in the screw creates a symbiotic bond with the jawbone, helping each of them to work in concert with the other for a long lasting solution. Currently over 3 million American's, who have experienced tooth loss, have taken advantage of dental implants to replace their teeth permanently.

Dental implants, for the longest time, have faced a degree of suspicion from people in the insurance world. This is because they viewed dental implants as a process that was only used for cosmetic purposes. We can certainly understand why there would exist such confusion. Dental implants, after all, can restore your lost tooth with one that is perfect in every way. People with dental implants tend to smile more and are more confident, which lead to a large number of patients seeking to replace their teeth with this solution. However, while there is an aesthetic element to dental implants, the science is starting to show that there is more to this than just appearances. Dental implants are found to create important changes in the mouth including helping to stabilize the jawbone that may have been going through resorption, augmenting facial structure, and even helping some patients with their bite related issues. As the information is being more widely studied, insurance companies have begun to soften their stance on the idea of dental implants being for purely cosmetic purposes.

There are over 15 million adults in the US that use dental bridges or dentures to replace lost teeth. These technologies have none of the advantages of dental implants but are cheaper and more convenient to get. As information spreads and implants become more accessible, we believe that the number of people looking for this treatment will continue to rise. Already, according to The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, there are over 69% of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 that have lost at least one tooth to a bad root canal, gum diseases, an accident, or tooth decay. Most of these people want a long lasting solution like dental implants, which can last up to 25 years or longer if properly cared for. In addition over 26% of all adults, 74 years or older, have lost every single one of their natural teeth. For folks like this dental implants isn't about looks, it's about the ability to function normally. Looking good is just a bonus.