Patients are often anxious about the process of getting dental implants. It's a significant oral surgery, but can have many long-term positive effects on your appearance, smile and dental health.

It's important to keep in mind that dental implant surgery, when performed by a qualified implant dentist, is the most effective method of replacing missing teeth. It has an excellent success rate, and provides stable, long-lasting replacements for your natural teeth. These results simply can’t be duplicated with older methods, like bridgework.

There are several questions and concerns I often hear from patients in my own practice. Here are the honest answers I provide to my patients to help address these anxieties:

Topics: Getting started with dental implants, dental implant process, Dental implant procedure, Dental anxiety

 

If you're looking for information regarding dental implants, there's no resource more trusted than  the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), the oldest organization in the world dedicated to implant dentistry.

 

We asked Dr. Sanford N. Schwartz, DDS, FAAID, a Fellow of the AAID, to weigh in on some of the most frequently asked questions about dental implants.

Topics: Getting started with dental implants, Choosing an implant dentist, dental implant process, what to know about implants, Credentialed Implant Dentist

 

If you’re considering dental implants, it’s important to choose a dentist with experience and knowledge you can trust. Here are three reasons why it’s a smart move to select a dental implant dentist credentialed by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID):

Topics: Getting started with dental implants, Choosing an implant dentist, what to know about implants, Board Certified Implant Dentist, Credentialed Implant Dentist

 

Have you lost one or more teeth? Then it may be helpful to have a discussion with an implant dentist about the types of food you eat. 

Studies suggest that the "inflammatory potential" of your diet can impact your oral health. Specifically, researchers found that an anti-inflammatory diet may lead to fewer lost teeth. The data in this research came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Topics: overall health

Everyone knows regular visits to the dentist are important. But they may be even more beneficial than you thought.

Why? Because you might have hypertension without realizing it. Often referred to as high blood pressure, hypertension often has no significant signs or symptoms, yet it can cause serious health problems.

Topics: overall health

 

What do people think about your smile? Would they describe it as "effective," "genuine," and "pleasant"?

 

It's not simply a question of vanity. These characteristics of a "successful smile" provide important reference points for surgeons and implant dentists that have patients recovering from accidents or strokes that affect their smiles.

Topics: overall health

 

Even if you’ve done your research on dental implants, you may be wondering if you are qualified to get them. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but chances are you will fit the bill.

 

According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), the best candidates for dental implants share four characteristics.

Topics: Getting started with dental implants, what to know about implants

Word has it you’re looking to get dental implants. A quick Google search will yield hundreds of results—but where on Earth can you find an implant dentist that you trust?

For starters, you should find a dentist with credentialing and expertise in implant dentistry. Many general dentists offer implant services at their practice; however, most do not have the expertise in all phases of implant dentistry that an AAID-credentialed member possesses. The success rate of dental implants has been reported to be as high as 90-95% (source: Journal of Oral Implantology), making it one of the most predictable dental procedures.

Topics: Choosing an implant dentist

As a patient, getting a dental implant can seem simple, straightforward, and easy. But that is primarily because your implant dentist is highly trained, experienced, and—in the case of those credentialed by AAID—a dental implant expert.

One of the important factors your implant dentist considers is how any drugs or supplements you take will affect the implant process. This includes herbal supplements, blood thinners, antidepressants, tobacco, osteoporosis medication, and anything else you take or use.

Topics: dental implant process, what to know about implants

Hundreds of  American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID)   dentists and their patients around the country will celebrate 2018 Dental Implant Awareness Month in September. This year’s theme, “Live a Life Full of Smiles,” highlights the benefits that more than 3 million people in the United States who have implants have realized from their investment in their dental health.

Topics: Dental Implant Awareness Month