You do your best to take care of your teeth. You brush twice a day, you floss, you see your dentist once every six months, and you never miss a cleaning. Does this mean that you will never develop tooth decay, and never need dentures, or cosmetic dental surgery? Unfortunately, the answer is no. While these proactive measures greatly reduce the chances of tooth problems, they are not a guarantee. The food we eat, our age, and sometimes our genetics play a role in how our teeth turn out. For people who do lose teeth to periodontal disease or ones that are severely decayed, cosmetic dentistry porcelain veneers or dental implants could be the solution.
More than 15 millions Americans have replaced their missing teeth with crowns or bridges, and one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures people turn to for this is dental implants. Dental implant surgery involves re-attaching an artificial tooth root to your jawbone. Once this root is fused to the bone using a titanium rod, a replacement, usually a crown, is joined to the rod using a connector. This process can be used for one tooth, or an entire mouth full of teeth, and takes about 2 to 6 months to heal. Dental implants are popular because they have a 98 percent success rate, and they are only the only cosmetic dental procedure that feel like natural teeth, even more so than full dentures, or cosmetic dentistry porcelain veneers.
Cosmetic dentistry porcelain veneers are also a common choice for people, and they typically protect an already damaged tooth from further harm, or protect teeth from any impending damage. Once you have lost your tooth, a set of veneers can cover up the gap in your smile, and also make your teeth look brighter. But since they are usually made of porcelain, they are prone to cracks, and breakage, making dental implants a more durable option.
Because of their efficacy, and their suitability for any age, dental implants are a highly sought-after cosmetic dental procedure. About 3 million Americans have at least one dental implant, and every year, that number grows by 500,000 people. With these numbers, the dental implant industry was valued at about 1.3 million U.S. dollars in 2010 alone. If you need to have implants put in, be sure to look at the cost first, and see if you will be able to make the full payment. One implant can cost you about $4,000. Your dentist might be able to set up a payment plan, or you can also look online to see if you qualify for a grant. It is expensive, but your oral health might depend on it.
