Myths About Dental Implants: Debunked

Thinking about getting dental implants in Pflugerville, TX, but something’s holding you back? It could be one of these common myths about the procedure.

Check out this article to get them debunked and understand how dental implants actually work. 

1. Dental Implants Are Risky Because the Body Can Reject Them 

Dental implants have a success rate of around 97%. While yes, the body can reject the metal post inserted into the bone, patients will go through a thorough screening process to reduce this risk as much as possible.

Here are the main things that you need to be a good candidate for dental implants:

• Healthy jawbone and sufficient mass of it
• Healthy gums and no other dental issues
• No titanium allergy
• No medical conditions or medications that could implant healing, such as arthritis, diabetes, or chemotherapy

2. Implants Feel Strange

Dental implants look and function just like a natural tooth, but patients may be even happier to know they feel like one too. 

You might feel some tightness once the dental crown part is attached, but this feeling usually goes away in 1-2 days. If you’ve been dealing with missing teeth for a while, your teeth will need some time to adjust to the new implant.

3. Your Teeth Move After Getting Dental Implants

The previous myth also leads to the idea that implants cause natural teeth to move. But that tightness disappearing doesn’t mean your teeth moved to make room for the implant; it’s just that they got used to it. 

In fact, tooth loss is what caused your natural teeth to move in the first place, as a way to compensate for that extra space on the arch.

4. You Have to Change Your Diet After Implants

For a couple weeks following your dental implant placement surgery, you will have to shift your diet. This is just until the surgical site has healed. After that, you can resume your normal diet. 

Once your permanent crown is placed and your dental implant treatment is complete, you should be able to eat whatever you want! Dental implants are strong and designed to function just like natural teeth. 

That being said, the dental crown is vulnerable to wear and tear, and constantly munching on hard foods, or non-food items, can affect its lifespan. If the crown is ever damaged, you can get it replaced without needing a new metal post or abutment.

5. Implants Can Fall out

The metal post of the dental implant is not likely to fall out. During osseointegration, it fuses to the bone and should remain firmly in place. 

There is potential for the crown to fall off the abutment, but with proper placement, good oral hygiene, and chewing only things that are meant to be eaten, your new crown should remain secure.   

Find Out If Dental Implants Are Right for You

Come see Dr. Moetaz Homsi for a short consultation to learn if you’re a good candidate for dental implants or what other tooth replacement options are available to you.

Request an appointment with Primavera Dental Group online, or call our office at (512) 640-8175 if you have more questions.