Dental Implants in Lawrenceville, GA may be the future of your smile, and while improvements and technology have made them more accessible than ever, they aren’t a new thing.
Dental Implants in Lawrenceville, GA in the Past
As early as 2000 BC, the Chinese used bamboo pegs to replace missing teeth. Egyptians were found entombed with copper pegs in place of their teeth and in France, they found skulls dated to 300 BC with iron pegs. The need for a complete set of teeth, both aesthetically and functionally has been recognized for literally centuries.
The first idea of the modern dental implant though, came from an orthopedist, not a dentist and in 1965, Dr. Branemark performed the first titanium pin dental implant.
How are Dental Implants used today in Lawrenceville, GA?
Today, around 36 million Americans don’t have any teeth, and approximately 120 million are missing at least one tooth. Frighteningly the numbers appear to be increasing.
Whether from decay, gum disease, injury, or simply wear, more and more individual smiles are suffering.
With a success rate of over 95%, approximately 450,000 people per year are opting for dental implants as opposed to dentures and bridges. In 2021, over 800,000 people benefitted from the procedure.
Even if you’ve lost your tooth or had it extracted for quite some time, dental staff may still be able to use implants in Lawrenceville, GA.
Implants are the strongest way to maintain your smile and your oral health. A dental screw replaces the root pulp from the original tooth and then a crown is designed to resemble the original tooth, fitting it so that it supports the surrounding teeth.
Your teeth are important for so much more than just chewing your food. Tooth loss can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, even certain cancers and Alzheimer's disease. By maintaining your mouth, you maintain so much more than your smile.
The Future of Dental Implants
The amount of dental implants being performed is increasing at a rate of approximately 500,000 per year. Technology is improving the strength, time in the chair, and ability to perform implants when they had previously not been an option.
Currently each implant lasts for 10 - 15 years. Just like your natural teeth, wear and age affects them. But the 95% success rate and the fact that your teeth won’t fly out when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake make implants a better choice for many.
The cost of implants can be a big factor. Most insurance plans have annual limits and sometimes one implant can take out that limit. Implants are generally not covered by many insurance plans, however, plans that have cosmetic dental coverage may have some relief.
But the extra time and cost you have with dentures and bridges can be alleviated, making that initial investment to your future health worth it.
If you think that Dental Implants may be the future of your smile in Lawrenceville, GA, contact us at (770) 962-4322 to make an appointment.