Occasionally, my husband jokes about the number of shoes in my closet. As a female, I’m well aware I have many pairs. While Joe has brown and black dress shoes, brown and black casual shoes and a pair of sneakers, I have a vast array of dressy, casual and sporty shoes on my side of the closet.
Quite frankly, my excuse is “I NEED these.” Women wear a wide variety of colors, styles, hem heights and fabrics – all seasonally appropriate – so our must shoes coordinate. And, it’s not just shoes. While he wears a wedding ring and a watch, my jewelry consists of earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, a watch and pins. Women, over time, have always been more adorned and I’m just following suit – right?!!!
All kidding aside, different needs require different options. This is especially true for Dental Implants. When Dental Implants first arrived as a dependable tooth replacement system for missing teeth (back in the 1950’s), there were only one or two types. Although various implant types were developed with encouraging success rates from the 1940’s through the 1960’s, the most impactful development occurred in the late 1970’s when titanium was used.
Titanium was a fairly new metal that had been found to be biologically compatible to living bone. That means it could be placed in human bone without rejection. This discovery opened the door for a surge in implant successes in addition to dental implants. Titantium was being successfully used for hip joints, knees and reconstruction, such as jaw sections and skull plates. In dental implantology, Titanium broadened the field’s ability to conquer virtually every need, from bone resorption challenges to single implants that supported several teeth.
Named after the Titans of Greek mythology, Titanium is as strong as steel but only 45 percent the weight. And, although it’s twice as strong as aluminum, it’s only 60 percent heavier. While nearly every igneous rock (rocks formed from the solidification of molten rock) contain titanium, the process that made extracting titanium possible on an industrial scale wasn’t developed until the 1930’s. (https://www.livescience.com/29103-titanium.html)
In the process, titanium oxide ore is treated with chlorine, producing titanium chloride. This is mixed with magnesium or sodium under extremely high temperature to reduce the titanium chloride to pure titanium. Because the process is about 10,000 times less efficient as that used to make iron, it’s easy to understand why titanium is a
n expensive metal.
Today, there are over 40 Dental Implant systems, each designed to accommodate unique needs and goals. For example, one implant system (the ‘All On 4’) uses only four strategically-placed implants to support an entire arch of upper or lower teeth in minimal bone. This is ideal for people who have lost bone mass due to extended periods of tooth loss.
The All On Four implant system also supports non-removable teeth. This is a preferred option for people who have worn dentures for years and felt soaking their denture in a glass at night embarrassing. All On 4 restores chewing comfort and the pleasure of brushing their teeth in their mouths again.
Other implant types can support one, two or several teeth in one area. This provides an exceptional alternative to Crown-&-Bridge combinations. Since implants are held in the jaw bone, they do not require adjacent teeth to be crowned for the sole purpose of holding the bridge. An implant can provide dependable support without the need to compromise otherwise healthy teeth.
A bonus of Dental Implants, regardless of the type, is the ability to halt bone resorption. This is when the jaw bone shrinks due to the absence of natural tooth roots. By recreating the presence of a tooth root, the implant provides stimulation needed to keep the bone at a healthy mass.
The type of implant best suited to your needs can be determined after imaging and a thorough examination. The selection should be made by an experienced doctor who understands your needs and goals. This is established during a free consultation appointment. To schedule, call 586-739-2155.
During this time, we can also discuss affordable payment plans, most interest-free with no down payment required.
