Unless you live on the dental care equivalent of the moon, you’ve probably heard of dental implants. Dental implants are famous for lasting longer and providing a higher level of restored chewing ability than any other dental prosthetic. It seems as though this cutting-edge tooth replacement procedure is everywhere and information about the procedure isn’t terribly difficult to find. However, for all you thought you knew about dental implants, Dr. Michael J. Young, your Lafayette LA dental implant dentist, has a few surprising facts you may not have heard.
1. Dental Implants Can Improve Your Bone Health
Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant can improve your self-esteem and your general health, but we bet you didn’t know dental implants can also improve your bone health. When you lose a tooth, your body senses the loss and, to conserve energy, stops sending crucial bone-building nutrients (specifically, calcium and phosphorus) to the area around the missing tooth. As a result, the jawbone begins to deteriorate, which can actually lead to further tooth loss. Because dental implants mimic the root-and-crown structure of a natural tooth, they continue to exert pressure within the jaw, thus stimulating the body to send those critical nutrients. Rather than lose bone tissue, dental implants prompt the body to reinforce and strengthen the jawbone.
2. People with Compromised Jawbone Health Can Receive Dental Implants
One of the unfortunate drawbacks of dental implants, according to most of the information out there, is that they are not appropriate for patients with compromised jawbone strength. This is hugely problematic because many of the people who could benefit the most from dental implants (i.e. long-term denture wearers with no remaining teeth), can’t get them. That’s where mini dental implants come in. These high-quality titanium implants have a smaller diameter which means they are appropriate for patients with less-than-ideal jawbone density. Mini dental implants provide an excellent and surprisingly affordable implant option for securing loose-fitting or ill-fitting dentures into place.
3. You Don’t have to Go to Different Specialists for Dental Implants
If you thought receiving dental implants meant visiting your family dentist for a referral, visiting the oral surgeon for implant placement, visiting the periodontist for placing the abutment, and visiting the prosthodontist for the restoration, think again. Dr. Michael J. Young has received extensive hands-on training and education at the prestigious Misch Implant Institute and is qualified to perform all phases of the dental implant procedure in his office. This saves you time and, since you already love the care you receive with Dr. Young, you don’t have to worry about getting to know a whole spate of new doctors.
Talk to Your Lafayette LA Dentist about Dental Implants
If you are missing teeth or have worn dentures for years and want a more secure option, we can help! To schedule an appointment or dental implant consultation with Dr. Michael J. Young, please contact our Lafayette dentist office by calling (337) 237-6453. Located in the 70508 area, we proudly serve patients from Lafayette, Acadiana, and all surrounding communities.