As patients, it's important to understand that dental implants are not just a one-time solution but a long-term investment in your oral health. The cost-effectiveness of implants over time is a key factor to consider. With advancements in implant technology and cosmetic outcomes, the future of dental implants looks promising. The increasing availability of educational resources and the growing awareness among patients further underline the benefits of this option.

As a cancer survivor, replacing any teeth you lost before, during, or after treatment can be an important part of regaining your health and quality of life. For many patients, dental implants are an excellent option – but the process requires some special considerations for cancer patients (i.e., is it possible for chemotherapy and dental implants to happen during the same time period?).

“Dental Cripples.” It may be politically incorrect, but in my specialty program 30 years ago, this was the way we were taught to think about people with full dentures. Implants were relatively new, and the start of research on “All-on-X” or simplified implant-supported teeth was a year away.

It often happens so quickly—a sudden fall, sports injury, accident, or trauma. One minute everything is fine and the next, a tooth is damaged beyond repair and needs to be removed. Traditionally, whether with implants or other restorative techniques, the tooth replacement and healing process could take several months. But now there is another option called immediate implants which can speed up the process and restore your smile right away.

When a dentist discovers a cavity, we immediately want to clean out the bacterial infection and fill the void left by the disease. When we see a missing tooth in someone’s mouth, our natural instinct is to fill the space with a new tooth as soon as possible! That is what dentists were trained to do.  That is the way that we improve our patients’ lives!