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Answer: No. Local anesthesia is more than adequate to numb and eliminate the pain during the procedure. There should be absolutely no pain associated with dental implant placement.
Answer: Any dentist trained in advanced dental implant surgery can place an implant. Implant dentists are listed in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry directory.
Typically, a ‘fellow’ in the academy will have more experience in implant placement. Board certified periodontists and oral surgeons, who are not members of this academy, may also be qualified to place dental implants.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Answer: No, anyone above the age of 18 years old who is in generally good health is a potential candidate for dental implants.
Answer: If the dental implant ‘takes’, or osseointegrates into the bone, implants can last 20+ years. Many times dental implants will last the entire lifetime of the patient.
Answer: Yes, you must brush and floss your teeth daily, and have your teeth professionally cleaned by a dentist or dental hygienist three to four times per year.
Answer: Yes. If dental implants are rejected, this usually occurs within two to three months of placement. If implants are stable after one year, they typically last a very, very long time.
Answer: The most common cause of dental implant failure is smoking cigarettes.
Cigarette smoking will decrease implant prognosis by as much as 50%. Uncontrolled diabetes is another cause of dental implant failure. Other factors contributing to dental implant failures are poor oral hygiene, poor diet, systemic illnesses, and poorly constructed restorations above the implant.
Answer: After dental implants are placed, they should be allowed to heal for at least four months. After this initial healing period, the dental implants can be restored with either fixed teeth, or with removable overden- ture type teeth. Depending upon the complex- ity of the restoration, it can take several addi- tional months to complete.
Answer: There are a few exceptions, but usu- ally insurance companies do not cover dental implants. Ask your benefits provider for the
Frequently Asked Questions
specifics of your dental insurance policy.
Answer: No. Besides health concerns, there are local factors in the mouth which may pre- clude someone from getting dental implants. These include the quality and quantity of the available bone for implant placement. Other factors such as nerves, blood vessels, cysts or sinus’ may also influence implant placement.
Chapter Nine
