Dental implants are one of the smartest and most popular options for replacing a missing tooth. They come with a unique set of benefits that make them a strong and sustainable way to replace any teeth that have fallen or been knocked out of place!

Benefits include bone loss prevention, gum disease prevention, performing the function of a normal tooth, stabilising the adjacent teeth and more. It’s for these reasons why Australians regularly choose this option to salvage their oral health.

However, like other medical procedures, dental implants aren’t without their myths. We naturally pick and choose falsehoods as a way of convincing ourselves not to receive such imperative treatments. Unfortunately, the only real outcome of believing any such myths surrounding the treatment is a lower standard of oral health!

With this in mind, here are four myths surrounding this treatment and the truth about them:

1. They only last for 10 years

Whilst certain dentistry procedures contain a limited lifespan, the best dental implants Melbourne has can last for several decades. This treatment has a fantastic success rate, but you have to follow the proper care instructions to ensure they do continue to work at full function for years to come. Naturally, not taking care of your result can diminish its success, so it’s important to follow the right care techniques to ensure its ongoing success.

2. They look & feel fake

This just isn’t so! Dentistry has come a very long way in the 21st Century, and you can trust that the best dental implants will look and feel like natural teeth. In time, the inserted titanium rod will integrate with your oral composition, thus performing the function of a natural tooth.

Made from strong materials that replicate a natural tooth’s appearance, it is honestly super hard to tell the difference (one of those things that you only know when you’re told!). The same goes for its function - the only way you will really know that you have one is because you lost the tooth and went to the dentist to get a new one.

3. There cannot be a gap between extraction & procedure

Whilst missing teeth does contribute to bone density loss, and this can be problematic if the tooth was extracted or fell out years ago. But you can receive a bone graft that will significantly strengthen the jaw. This is its own procedure, and requires its own recovery period, but it may make you a candidate for this important procedure once the recovery period ends.

4. It has a massive recovery process

Whilst it is true that dental implants require time to heal and integrate with the oral composition, it shouldn’t take longer than six months (but you can’t put an exact time on it!). If you require a bone graft before the procedure, you will have to add extra recovery time, as it is its own separate procedure with the intention of making you a treatment candidate.

So, if you just need the one treatment, you can expect to wait up to six months for recovery. However, if you require the graft and then the next procedure, the whole experience could take around a year to complete. But, is this really that long a time when you consider the lifetime benefits that come with receiving this valuable treatment?

We know which one we would choose, as it’s not only an investment in your oral health, but your general wellbeing, too!