The Dental Health Blog - Why We Do It
Here at the Dental Health Blog our goal is simple, to keep you informed on the latest in dental health news and to stay engaged with you. We hope that, through this simple format, the subjects we pursue are important to you and that they are worth your reflection and consideration. We also hope that, as your Littleton area prosthodontist for the past two decades, the information we provide has, or will, help you make an informed decision on your dental care.
Because we realize that you my sometimes suffer from information overload, as do we all these days, we want you to know how much we appreciate the time you take to read this blog. If there are subjects you’d like to know more about, please feel free to use the comments section below. We try to respond to all comments as quickly as our schedules allow.
The "Teeth in a Day" Fallacy
One of the most important and controversial subjects we deal with on an almost daily basis in our Littleton office, and about which we’ve written repeatedly here at the Dental Health Blog, is the idea that you can get your teeth replaced in a single visit – or – that you can get new "teeth in a day".
This is important not just because of the time involved with almost any tooth replacement therapy, but also because of the expense involved. Dental implants for tooth replacement requires a relatively high up-front investment; yet are a wonderful alternative to dentures because of their effectiveness and durability; they can literally last a lifetime.
Yet, by the very definition of the word "implant" where a titanium screw is placed in your jaw to support your new teeth, it must be understood that this process involves dental surgery, which requires time to heal. As with any surgery, the healing process takes time. For example, there will be swelling within your mouth that must recede before your permanent prosthetic teeth can be set on your implants.
The notion that this can be avoided is simply not true and, while we can certainly set you up with a temporary prosthetic while you heal from the implant surgery, there will be a follow-up visit or two required to ensure that the new teeth you wanted have been fabricated and set in place properly – that they fit and are comfortable for the long term.
Due the need to heal from surgery and the time required to fabricate prosthetic teeth, only a very few patients will ever be able to enjoy a real "teeth in a day" experience with dental implants.
This is not to discourage you from considering dental implants as the most effective tooth replacement therapy for you but, rather, to give you a realistic expectation of what is involved.
If you have questions for, or experiences you would like to share with, the Dental Health Blog, please use the comments section below.
The doctors and staff at The Colorado Center for Implant and Prosthetic Dentistry are available to help you determine effective solutions to all of your dental problems. If you would like more information from your Littleton area Prosthodontist, please call to make an appointment today.