Dental implants have changed my life completely! I have had problems with my teeth for as long as I can remember. While other kids worked frantically to get a loose baby tooth out to put under their pillow at night, I was keeping the tooth fairy in business.
My permanent teeth weren’t much better. If I ate or drank anything that contained sugar, it felt like it was going right through them. I could actually feel it eroding my enamel. Yellow spots started forming on my teeth, and I stopped smiling for school pictures.
I got my first bridge during my sophomore year in college and had a full upper plate of dentures before I was 40. It was embarrassing and made me feel old. I could no longer enjoy certain foods because they would get stuck between the dentures and my palate. Worst of all, they were uncomfortable, and the adhesive made them difficult to remove at night.
More than Just a Pretty Smile
Dental implants actually improved my overall oral health. I had quite a few gaps between my remaining bottom teeth due to periodontal disease. This led to:
- Osteoporosis
- Jawbone deterioration
- Heart disease
Osteoporosis involves demineralization of the bones and loss of bone density, making the bones more susceptible to fracture. Some of the more common sites to be affected are the hips, spine, and jawbone.
In my case, my jawbone began to deteriorate, and I developed something called endocarditis. The bacteria collected in the pockets in my gums created from my loosening teeth eventually entered my bloodstream, and a virus attacked the inner lining of my heart.
Oral implants, however, actually improved the density of my jawbone by simulating the natural movement of tooth roots in my jaw. This simulation takes place while chewing, and it naturally produces bone growth. It is the only documented procedure known to do so!
Okay, but How Do They Feel?
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that dental implants actually feel like one’s own teeth. This is because they fused permanently to my jawbone. It has been so much easier to eat and speak with the implants versus dentures, not to mention there isn’t sticky adhesive to buy and then having to clean it off of the dentures at night. That was such a tedious chore.
Firm, Functional, and Fabulous
Dental implants have allowed me to leave my lifelong history of oral health problems behind, along with other health issues in the past. My jawbone has regained its proper density, and I no longer suffer from any digestive issues, because I can finally chew my food properly.
I enjoy eating all types of foods now, without worry. My dental implants are stronger than natural teeth, so they are resistant to chipping. I love apples, but I had to stop eating them years ago. With my dental implants in place, I can bite into an apple with confidence, and I do so regularly!
Since implants are inserted through the gum and jaw, there is also no chance of slippage or clicking that can happen with dentures. Did you ever find yourself in an important conversation, only to find that your dentures were slipping? Or perhaps you were giving a talk only to notice that your dentures were continuously clicking?
I have, and I was absolutely mortified. I can’t even explain the depth of my embarrassment.
My dental implants, however, are made to anchor teeth roots and offer a firm, compact foundation. No more slipping, no more clicking, no more awkward moments!
Another fact that is very important to me is that they look like my natural teeth despite being much stronger. Your oral surgeon has the ability to actually match your implants to the color of your remaining natural teeth for a flawless transition.
And did you ever notice that when someone doesn’t wear their dentures regularly that their face sort of caves in, giving them a hollow-looking appearance? That doesn’t happen with dental implants, because they are in your mouth permanently and promote both jawbone and gum re-growth and support.
What About the Cost of Dental Implants?
Contrary to what you may think, dental implants are a very good value for the money and much more cost effective than frequent procedures to repair your natural teeth.
Consider, for a moment, the reasons why people have wisdom teeth removal:
- Inflammation and Infection – When wisdom teeth don’t have enough space in your jaw to sit properly, they can become impacted and pockets in the gum form where bacteria collect. This can lead to periodontal disease.
- Damage to Nearby Teeth – Wisdom teeth, like dental bridges, often push teeth out of their way leading to crooked teeth due to overcrowding. This situation can contribute to bone loss and the development of cavities.
- Difficult to Keep Clean – Given their location all the way at the back of the jaw, wisdom teeth can be a challenge to keep clean. Dentures can present a similar challenge due to the strong, sticky adhesive used to keep them in place during the day.
I learned that the decision to have wisdom teeth removed is based on the same or very similar criteria as making the decision to have dental implants placed. Both alleviate similar problems, and both require oral surgery.
As with wisdom teeth removal, dental implants are often quite necessary for your overall health.
The reliability and longevity of implants versus dentures, with implant life usually ten years or more, pays for itself while dentures break down easily, often surpassing the initial higher cost of implant surgery in the long run.
Does Insurance Cover any of the Cost?
Each insurance company has its own individual policies regarding the coverage of implant surgery. Some pay for it, and others do not. Some insurance companies pay for certain parts of the procedure, such as the crown attached to the abutment of a dental implant. It can depend on many other factors as well:
- Whether medical insurance, in addition to dental insurance picks up some of the cost.
- Your insurance plan’s annual limits.
- The coverage details.
- Which insurance company has issued your policy.
In my case, my insurance provider did cover some of my dental implant costs, but I had a limit as to what I could spend each year. So, I had some of my oral surgery completed at the end of one calendar year and the rest done at the beginning of the next calendar year.
Whatever your total cost may be, it will be far less than the continuous costs associated with significant oral problems like I had.
Why Choose Dr. Christopher Johnson to Perform Your Dental Implant Surgery?
Dr. Johnson D.M.D is one of the most accomplished oral surgeons in central Florida with over ten years of experience in successful oral and maxillofacial surgeries. He also has a very calm and reassuring manner that I greatly appreciated. I was also impressed by the fact that he performs all the surgeries himself with the assistance of a skilled team of experts in their individual fields. Set up your personalized consultation today. I am glad I did!