Replace those bridges to nowhere. 

Aging dental bridges are a maintenance headache and a recipe for oral-health disaster. They are difficult to floss, often decay, and require replacement with longer bridges. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), these bridges to nowhere should be replaced with permanent dental implants.    

“Many of us have had the same bridges in our mouths for 20 years or more. They were put in at a time when bridgework was considered to be the norm for replacing missing or compromised teeth,” said Dr. Olivia Palmer of Charleston, South Carolina, a fellow of the AAID and diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology.    

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

 

Are you missing one or more teeth? You’re not alone. The average adult loses at least one permanent tooth throughout their lifetime.

That’s part of the reason why September is Dental Implant Awareness Month: to spread awareness about the benefits of dental implants and the value of choosing an AAID dentist for treatment.

This year's theme is “Healthy Mouth, Healthy You,” celebrating the many health benefits of implants. Many patients don’t realize that implants provide more than just a cosmetic fix. When you lose a tooth, several things happen that may not be immediately obvious and can have a long-term effect on your health.

Dental implants provide a healthy tooth replacement option for adults of all ages, whether you were born without a tooth or have had to have teeth removed due to injury, infection or decay.

Here are 5 health benefits of dental implants:

Topics: Getting started with dental implants, Choosing an implant dentist, what to know about implants, health connection, overall health, Dental Implant Awareness Month

Many patients who have significant bone loss in their upper jaw are told by their dentist that they don’t have enough bone for dental implants. Sometimes their bone has even dissolved under their nose.

While this may pose difficulties for some dentists, when you're working with an AAID dentist who has the extensive education, training and experience required to make sure your dental implant procedure is a success, they will be knowledgeable about alternative solutions, such as zygomatic implants. 

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

Are you considering dental implants, but concerned that it will hurt? This is a common fear among individuals who are looking to replace one or more teeth.

Rest assured, when you choose a qualified dentist, dental implants are the closest replacement to healthy, natural teeth with a high success rate and minimal discomfort reported by patients.

While every patient’s experience will be different, here are the answers to the most common questions people ask when concerned about pain associated with dental implants:

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

When considering dental implants, people often have a mixture of emotions when deciding to set up an initial meeting with a dentist. It’s very common to feel nervous and research a lot of dental implant questions to determine if this is the best solution for tooth loss replacement.

There are great resources about what to expect when getting dental implants, and it can be especially reassuring to know what will occur at the initial consultation.

Although every dentist will deliver a slightly different experience, this post covers an overview of what you can expect at your first appointment and steps you should take to ensure you are choosing the best dental implant expert for the procedure.

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

Getting dental implants to replace missing or damaged teeth can be a long process from start to finish. Patients who may benefit from the procedure will often ask common questions such as what to expect after getting dental implants and what the recovery time and post-operative care will be like. We’ll answer that in this blog, along with explaining the procedures that make up dental implant surgery.

The process of placing dental implants has several steps, with their own recovery times and precautions to take along the way. Each patient’s surgery can be different, depending on the health of your teeth and jawbone, and on how many implants are needed. Your AAID-credentialed implant dentist will talk with you about the specifics of your care and explain what the best approach is for you as a patient. In some cases, some of these steps may be able to be combined, shortening the total surgery and recovery time.

Topics: Getting started with dental implants, dental implant process, what to know about implants, Dental implant procedure

Plenty of things can change your life. Winning the lottery, for one. But when it comes to living your life to the fullest, there’s nothing like a great-looking smile to build confidence and make you feel like you’re putting your best foot forward.

If you’re missing teeth, smiling can often be a struggle. Along with chewing your favorite foods, speaking comfortably and naturally, or even being as active as you’d wish.

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

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