Myth #1: “My neighbor’s cousin-in-law’s roommate got an implant, and it didn’t work, so I don’t want one”
Nothing in the human body is 100%, but a professionally placed dental implant comes pretty close, at 95-99% long term survival rates. For replacing a failing single tooth, if you can afford it, a modern dental implant is the way to go. The biggest drawbacks are cost and time. Most dental insurances are still very stubborn about paying for dental implants. Also, it usually takes somewhere between 3 and 6 months to complete the process, as the jaw bone needs to heal and fuse to the implant itself.
Myth #2: “I don’t like the idea of metal in my mouth”
Of course this is a totally rational concern. But a lot of people don’t realize that dental implants are made of titanium which is the most biocompatible metal. This means study after study and everyday use has shown titanium is friendly to the human body in all areas of medicine. Artificial hip and knee joints are made of titanium. I believe people are getting this confused with amalgam fillings which are toxic and contain mercury and also nickel which can cause allergy. Neither of these are in a dental implant.
Myth #3: “A dental implant must be painful”
While it is a surgical procedure, it continues to surprise me how often patients tell me how easy and painless the process was for them. We hear things like “it was much easier than having a tooth pulled” and “I got all worked up about nothing”. When someone needs a whole bunch of implants for a fixed denture or “hybrid” or “all-on-four” as they are sometimes called, I am also astonished at how well they are doing on day 2 or 3 after surgery. It’s a game changer compared to the old way of pulling all the teeth and slapping in an old fashioned loose and floppy denture.
Myth #4: “I got an implant now I don’t need to worry about it” or “I got implant dentures and I don’t have to ever go to the dentist again”
This couldn’t be further from the truth. It is nice that dental implants do not get cavities or decay, like a natural tooth can. However implants can still suffer from gum disease and infection if not properly cared for. They still need to be brushed, flossed and we especially recommend a water-flosser to help clean around them. Dental implants can also fracture just like teeth, so wearing a mouth guard can be critical if someone is a known grinder or clencher.
Myth #5: “I saw a commercial for new-teeth-in-a-day and the guy was eating corn on the cob that first day!”
Nope. Let’s be very clear that if you are in a losing battle with your teeth, due to decay or pain or loose teeth, implant dentures are the way to go. But it’s important to realize that even though the typical process of removing the remaining teeth and screwing in a temporary denture can be done in a day, you still cannot use them to chew for a few months!
For a lot of folks, just having a new set of teeth to smile with is worth the effort, but I roll my eyes whenever I see one of these advertisements implying a lifetime change in one day. Remember, if you lost a leg, you wouldn’t be running a marathon the next day on your new prosthetic leg. Things take time but fortunately humans are great at adapting.
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