The Bedford, NH, area is fortunate to have many dental providers to choose from. However, not all practitioners provide equal services, especially concerning dental implants.

Ask Friends and Family

A dentist's reputation is their greatest asset. Ask your friends and family whom they would recommend for dental implants and whether they have heard any positive or negative anecdotes. Taking some of this information with a grain of salt may be necessary, but you can get a sense of general trends.

Ask Your Family Dentist

If your family dentist sends their patients to other doctors for implants, ask them whom they recommend.

Ask Your Primary Care Doctor

Medical professionals often have networks outside their fields. They may know a local implant dentist from dental school or community projects.

Check Professional Certifications

Search the practitioner's website for details on their professional memberships. Many dentists and oral surgeons belong to multiple organizations where they receive continuing education, such as the International Team for Implantology.

Study Online Reviews

As with personal anecdotes, you may need a balanced approach to online reviews. They should not be your only source of information. Familiarize yourself with the dentist's overall positive or negative reputation. If you read between the lines, you may be able to spot invalid reviews.

Compare Implant Procedures

Check the dentist's website to ensure they use advanced technology like CBCT scans or guided implant placement.

See an Oral Surgeon for Dental Implants

Many general dentists provide implants, but for truly exceptional results, patients should consider visiting an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These doctors receive much more hands-on training and education in oral surgery than general dentists, making them the most qualified to provide your dental implant. Prioritize oral surgeons in your search results.

Schedule a Consultation

A reputable doctor will meet with you and discuss your needs before scheduling your surgery. You may want to visit a few doctors and compare their recommendations.

Finding Success With Dental Implants

While dental implants have become a standard procedure, the surgery is not without risk. Oral surgeons have the most experience and the highest success rates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants

What is the failure rate of dental implants?

Dental implant success rates are generally over 90 percent. You can influence whether your implants succeed by taking excellent care of your teeth and gums after surgery and avoiding tobacco use.

How long does dental implant surgery take?

Implant surgery typically takes one to two hours for each tooth to be replaced.

Call Braasch OMS

If you need implants, our Bedford, NH, office is close and convenient. You can receive excellent quality care without traveling far from home. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Braasch, please call our office at 603-657-1984.

While dental implants are one of today's best options for tooth replacement, many people have misconceptions about them. These misconceptions circulate in the community and become exaggerated over time. Patients need accurate information about dental implants to make treatment decisions grounded in fact. 

 

Countering the Myths About Dental Implants

Myth #1: Others Will Notice Dental Implants

Fact: Many patients believe that the metal base of a dental implant will show when they smile. They may think of a porcelain-over-metal crown with a small amount of metal at the base. Today's dental implants are almost undetectable in a patient's smile. Most people will not notice them unless the patient tells them they have a new implant.

Myth #2: Older People Can't Get Dental Implants

Fact: Older individuals can receive dental implants if they are healthy enough for surgery and do not have certain medical conditions like uncontrolled diabetes and bleeding disorders. Patients with healthy gums and sufficient bone mass are generally good candidates.

Myth #3: Dental Implants Are High-Maintenance

Fact: This myth is one of the most far-fetched. Dental implants require no more care than healthy natural teeth. Patients should brush or floss as recommended and make regular dental visits.

Myth #4: Dental Implant Surgery is Painful

Today's implant surgery procedures are comfortable, thanks to advances in local anesthesia. Patients anxious about the procedure can opt for sedation or general anesthesia.

Myth #5: Dental Implants Commonly Fail

Fact: Dental implant failure is rare. According to medical studies, 90 to 95 percent of dental implants succeed. Failure may occur when placing an implant in an area with insufficient bone or when the patient does not take good care of the implant.

Myth #6: Dental Implants Are Expensive

Fact: Dental implants should be considered an investment in a patient's oral health. They last much longer than bridges and conventional partial dentures, which are prone to breakage and may be uncomfortable to wear.

Myth #7: Patients Can't Eat Their Favorite Foods With Implants

Fact: This myth arose from the fact that patients must eat a soft diet during the initial healing process. Once the implant site heals, patients can eat almost anything, even crunchy and chewy foods.

Myth #8: Dental Implants Make People Sick

Fact: False information has spread about the titanium in dental implants giving patients severe headaches. If patients experience headaches after receiving implants, a surgical complication may be at fault.

Myth #9: It Takes Years to Get Dental Implants

Fact: Some patients need bone graft surgery and time for the grafts to heal before dental implant placement, making the process longer. However, most patients can receive implants in a few months from start to finish.

Myth #10: Implants Are Uncomfortable

Fact: Once implants have healed, patients report feeling like they have natural teeth. They do not have the same level of sensitivity as natural teeth since they do not contain nerve tissue.

Myth #11: Patients Can't Receive Implants if Their Tooth Has Been Missing for Years

Fact: Missing teeth cause the jawbone to break down around the socket due to insufficient chewing stimulation. However, patients can regain enough bone mass to place an implant by undergoing a bone graft procedure. Bone grafting places a ground bone medium inside the jawbone, allowing it to grow and create new bone tissue.

Myth #12: Implants Only Last for Ten Years

Fact: A dental implant post generally lasts at least 15 years but can last a lifetime with proper care. The crown on top may need occasional replacement due to normal wear and tear.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants replace both the crown and root of a damaged or missing tooth. The oral surgeon places a titanium anchor in the jaw and allows it to heal. The anchor receives a stainless steel abutment or cap and a lifelike dental crown.

Are dental implants safe?

Dental implants contain safe, biocompatible materials. They succeed in up to 95 percent of installations. They do not cause discomfort or patient illness.

Call Braasch OMS

Knowing the facts about dental implants can help you make an educated decision. If you have questions about these myths or any aspect of receiving dental implants, please call our Bedford, NH, office at 603-657-1984.

 

Many patients choose to have wisdom teeth removed to help guard against future problems like discomfort, crowding, and infection. However, not every dental professional recommends removing wisdom teeth as a matter of course, and it can be confusing to know whether you need the surgery.

 

What are Wisdom Teeth?

Wisdom teeth are the third molars. Not everyone has wisdom teeth. They are a relic of human history, useful when people had larger jaws and needed another set of molars to chew food.

Reasons to Remove Wisdom Teeth

If you need to remove your wisdom teeth, you may or may not have noticeable symptoms. For patients with wisdom teeth, these teeth typically do not have enough room to erupt properly through the gums. 

Some of the problems wisdom teeth can bring about include:

• Impaction: When a tooth becomes impacted, it cannot fully erupt through the gum. Wisdom teeth frequently become impacted due to lack of space and incorrect positioning.
• Discomfort: When wisdom teeth become caught in the jawbone, they pressure their neighbors. This problem could damage the second molars as well as other teeth.
• Tooth Misalignment: The pressure from impacted wisdom teeth can cause tooth crowding in other mouth areas.
• Infection: Wisdom teeth may partially erupt and become infected. Abscesses can develop in the gums and bony areas.

Reasons to Leave Wisdom Teeth Alone

• Not Causing Problems: If your oral surgeon thoroughly examines your teeth and determines your wisdom teeth are not causing any problems, they may leave them alone.
• Surgical Procedure: While wisdom teeth surgery is generally well-tolerated with a brief recovery period, not every patient is healthy enough for surgery.

How Does the Oral Surgeon Determine Whether I Need Wisdom Teeth Surgery?

Referral From Your General Dentist

General dentists often recommend wisdom teeth removal based on digital X-ray results. We work with trusted local general dentists to provide this service.

Cone Beam CT Scanner

The oral surgeon will use an advanced X-ray machine called the Cone Beam CT Scanner to fully examine the anatomy of your head, neck, teeth, and oral structures. A 3-D digital model of your anatomy helps the oral surgeon diagnose issues precisely.

Predicting Future Problems

Even if your wisdom teeth have not yet caused trouble, Dr. Braasch can assess whether they will likely create problems in the future.

The Wisdom Teeth Removal Procedure

Wisdom teeth surgery can be intimidating, but oral surgeons want to make it as comfortable as possible. Today, most wisdom teeth surgeries happen under sedation. The patient can choose the sedation method based on personal preference.

 

To remove the teeth, the oral surgeon makes a small incision in the gum and opens the bone to remove the tooth. The tooth may need sectioning into pieces to remove it from the jaw. You may receive dissolving stitches in the area where the surgeon removed your wisdom teeth.

 

After you recover from sedation, a trusted adult must drive you home. You should rest quietly for at least a few days. Follow our post-operative instructions carefully for the best results.

The Best Time to Remove Wisdom Teeth

Many oral surgeons believe that the best time to remove wisdom teeth is in a patient's late teens to early twenties. The permanent adult dentition is complete at this age, and the patient has mostly stopped growing.

 

Patients at this age have an easier time recovering from surgery than patients in their thirties, forties, and beyond. Minor complications like dry sockets are less common in younger patients.

Is it Better to Remove Wisdom Teeth or Leave Them Alone?

Dr. Braasch believes wisdom teeth should only be removed if they risk causing oral health problems. However, removing wisdom teeth earlier is easier than doing the procedure in later life. With Dr. Braasch and your general dentist, you can make an informed decision for yourself or your child.

Call Braasch OMS

If you have questions about the wisdom teeth removal process and whether you are a good candidate, please call our Bedford, NH, office at 603-657-1984. We will schedule a consultation with Dr. Braasch to evaluate your oral health and whether he believes you would be better off removing your wisdom teeth.