There is no doubt that the popularity of dental implants has risen over the last decade and they remain the gold standard of missing tooth replacement. So to celebrate, here are 6 interesting facts about dental implants you may not already know
Fact #1 – 15 million people have dental implants
Since their induction in 1965, dental implants have been placed into the mouths of approximately 15 million individuals. This is growing by around 500,000 per year with a net spend of 4.5 billion dollars. Until recently, the biggest market for dental implants was the US but this has recently been overtaken by Europe with countries like Hungary, Spain and the UK seeing the largest increases.
Fact #2 – A dental implant is the longest-lasting tooth restoration available
Dental implants have a pretty good track record with regards to longevity. Take the first-ever implants for instance; they were placed into a Swedish man back in 1965 and continued to function well until his death in 2006 some 40 years later. While conventional bridges and dentures need to be replaced periodically, dental implants – on the proviso that they are cared for correctly – can comfortably last for decades
Fact #3 – Age is no barrier to implant-based restorations
You may think that age is a barrier to getting dental implants – after all, it’s a surgical process and along with that carries risks right? True… However, what’s more important is that the patient is generally healthy and the jaw remains in good condition to sustain a dental implant. If these two criteria are in place, then it isn’t important what age a person is.
With this in mind, the oldest person to receive dental implants was an American woman called Filomena Battista. Born in 1912, she was 100 years and 210 days old when she underwent treatment back in Florida in 2012.
Fact # 4 – A dental implant comes in 3 parts
How many of you thought that a dental implant was actually the visible crown that replaces a missing tooth gap? Don’t worry, it’s a common misconception. In actual fact, a dental implant is made up of 3 parts
- The implant itself – the rod or screw that is secured down into the jawbone
- The abutment – a tiny shock absorber that helps to attach the implant to the crown and…
- The crown itself – The visible tooth-like restoration that everyone sees.
Collectively they combine to create a natural-looking, long-lasting and durable restoration
Fact #5 – Dental implants halt bone loss
Bone loss occurs naturally after a tooth is missing and is why we look ‘aged’ as the jaw continues to shrink. When a dental implant is anchored into the jaw, it re-stimulates the bone tissue, thus halting the bone loss process. A dental implant is the only form of restoration to achieve this and the changing shape of the jaw is also the reason why conventional bridges and dentures need to be replaced often.
Fact #6 – Dental implants are ‘Nasa’ proof
Just in case you didn’t know, dental implants are mainly designed using titanium. This is the same material that encased Space Shuttle engines enabling them to withstand thousands of degrees, but also on Formula 1 racing cars as skid blocks preventing them from crashing during high-speed corners.
Apart from its incredibly lightweight yet durable nature, titanium has one more redeeming feature …It happens to be one of only a handful of materials in the world that can bring about a process known as osseointegration – This is vital to dental implant success and occurs when over time, bone tissue fuses with the implant and creates a super-strong platform.
So there you have it, 6 interesting facts about dental implants you might not know!
If you are interested in how dental implants can help you to restore a missing tooth or teeth then come and talk to the team at 44 Dental Care. We used the very latest technology and equipment to ensure that you get a healthy confidence-boosting smile that you can be proud of for many years to come.
Call today on 0116 251 9647 and book a consultation.
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