Western Dental Clears Up Misconceptions About Dental Implants

If you’ve been thinking about getting a dental implant to fill that
missing spot in your smile but have hesitated because of preconceived
notions you may have, Western Dental wants to set the record straight.

The six common myths about dental implants:

1. Only old people get dental implants.
While dental
implants are an ideal solution as we lose teeth over time, older adults
aren’t the only candidates. People of any age can have a tooth mishap,
whether from playing sports, falling off a bicycle, or tooth loss from
poor dental health maintenance. Gum disease, which occurs in over half
the population, can also cause tooth loss and require a replacement
tooth in the form of a dental implant.

2. People will be able to tell if I have a dental implant.
Dental
implants are made to fit firmly alongside your other teeth and blend in
perfectly in size and color. After an impression is taken of your teeth,
a lab will create a perfectly fitting replacement crown to fit the gap,
in an exact color match to your surrounding teeth. Only your dentist
will know for sure!

3. Getting dental implants is really painful.
On the
contrary, a dental implant is no more painful than having a cavity
filled. In fact, the placement of an implant is conducted under local
anesthetic and is generally completed within an hour.

4. Dental implants need a lot of special care.
Of
course, it’s important to maintain good oral hygiene, whether you have a
dental implant or not. Dental implants require periodic checks, like
cleaning and inspection of the implant holding the crown in place. Any
maintenance can be done during regular check-ups.

5. Dental implants are too expensive.
Just like big
screen TVs, the cost of a dental implant has decreased in recent years.
Some dental offices, like Western Dental, even offer affordable payment
plans, allowing you to budget over time.

6. I can’t eat certain foods with dental implants.
Because
dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, they perform just like
real teeth. Dental implants are firmly “implanted” in your jaw, so they
allow you to eat all the foods you enjoy, including steak, apples and
corn on the cob.

“Dental implants can be the right answer for some people,” said Dr. John
Luther, Chief Dental Officer at Western Dental. “We encourage people to
get the facts first and consider dental implants as an option for your
dental health.”

ABOUT WESTERN DENTAL

Western Dental (with its affiliates, including Brident Dental &
Orthodontics, Access Dental, Blue Hills Dental, South Texas Dental and
Vital Smiles) is one of the nation’s largest dental providers and is the
leader in accessible, affordable oral healthcare, serving approximately
2.9 million patient visits annually in 317 affiliated offices throughout
California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and Alabama. In addition to general
dentistry, Western Dental offers orthodontics, oral surgery, pediatric
dentistry, periodontics and endodontics in its offices, creating a
convenient full service “Dental Home.”

In California, Western Dental is the leading provider of services to
both adults and children in the Denti-Cal program – part of the Medi-Cal
public insurance program that provides health care benefits for more
than 13 million low-income individuals and families. Western Dental
dentists provided care to more than a half-million Denti-Cal
beneficiaries in 2017 and is committed to continuing to partner with the
State to improve the program. In Texas, Western Dental is the leading
provider of Medicaid services and recently entered into a
first-of-its-kind agreement to participate in a value-based care and
payment model under the state’s Medicaid program.

All of Western Dental’s services are backed by a unique quality
assurance system that electronically monitors all patient visits,
treatments, dental staff and clinical performance to enable high-quality
care. To learn more about Western Dental or inquire about an office in
your community, visit www.westerndental.com
or call 1-800-6-DENTAL.

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