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CHAPTER EIGHT
3. Question: Are there any age limitations for 7. Question: What causes dental implants to
placing dental implants? fail?
Answer: No, anyone above the age of 18
years old who is in generally good health is a Answer: The most common cause of dental
potential candidate for dental implants. implant failure is smoking cigarettes.
Cigarette smoking will decrease implant
4. Question: How long do implants last? prognosis by as much as 50%. Uncontrolled
Answer: If the dental implant ‘takes’, or diabetes is another cause of dental implant
osseointegrates into the bone, implants can failure. Other factors contributing to dental
last 20+ years. Many times dental implants implant failures are poor oral hygiene, poor
will last the entire lifetime of the patient. diet, systemic illnesses, and poorly constructed
restorations above the implant.
5. Question: Are there any special mainte-
nance requirements for dental implants? 8. Question: How long does the dental implant
Answer: Yes, you must brush and floss your restoration process take?
teeth daily, and have your teeth professionally
cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist three Answer: After dental implants are placed,
to four times per year. they should be allowed to heal for at least
four months. After this initial healing period,
6. Question: Can dental implants be ‘rejected’? the dental implants can be restored with
Answer: Yes. If dental implants are rejected, either fixed teeth, or with removable overden-
this usually occurs within two to three months ture type teeth. Depending upon the complex-
of placement. If implants are stable after one ity of the restoration, it can take several addi-
year, they typically last a very, very long time. tional months to complete.
9. Question: Does dental insurance cover
dental implants?
Answer: There are a few exceptions, but usu-
ally insurance companies do not cover dental
implants. Ask your benefits provider for the
specifics of your dental insurance policy.
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