With the population aging, a large percentage of adults are entering their golden years. This means that there is an increasing number of people who experience tooth loss. In fact, studies show that roughly 25 percent of Americans over age 60 have lost some or all of their teeth. Sometimes it is linked to poor oral hygiene and advanced tooth decay or gum disease, and other times it simply has to do with age. No matter the cause, missing teeth can often be restored with dental implants.

One of the most recent and advanced options for tooth replacement, dental implants provide a comfortable and secure solution. The procedure requires surgically placing a titanium rod into the jaw so that it can attach to the jaw bone as it heals. Once it has sufficiently healed, an artificial tooth is placed on top to complete the restoration.

Dental implants are popular due to a number advantages that they have over alternatives. Some of the reasons patients like implants include:

• Durability – with good oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime.
• Side effects – there are very few side effects after the initial irritation or discomfort subsides soon after the oral surgery.
• Maintenance – implants are brushed, flossed and rinsed the same way as real teeth.
• Strength – made of titanium, which is one of the strongest metals around, implants are tough and resilient.
• Comfort – gum inflammation or irritation are rare with implants.
• Security – since implants are screwed right into the jaw, they are secure and can’t slip.
• Speech – the security of dental implants also means that they don’t negatively affect speech.
• Diet – implants function just like real teeth so that there are no special diet requirements.
• Confidence – the natural look and feel of dental implants gives patients confidence in the quality of the restoration.
• Success – the success rate of implants is extremely high.