Don’t Let Dental Anxiety Prevent You From Getting Implants

Dental anxiety troubles many patients — both children and adults — and often, the more serious the procedure, the higher the anxiety. That’s why we often encounter a lot of patient anxiety around the prospect of getting dental implants. However, having more information about the procedure helps assuage patient fears and concerns. 

One important thing for patients to know is that dental implant surgery is the most advanced treatment for replacing missing or lost teeth, and it also has the best track record of any tooth replacement procedure. Implants have a very high success rate when compared to less current methods of tooth replacement, such as dentures or bridgework. This is due to their stability and endurance, thanks to being rooted in the patient’s own jawbone. Monterey Peninsula Dental Group dentists perform many such implants each year and will be happy to talk with you about possible treatment.

Dental Implant Anxiety

Now, let’s address some of the common worries affecting dental implant patients. Appearance can be a big concern, as the process of getting permanent dental implants takes a few months. However, your MPDG dentist can place temporary replacement teeth, or a temporary denture if you’re missing several teeth, to fill in the gaps. Today’s temporary tooth replacements are very aesthetically advanced and look just like your natural teeth, and can even allow you to eat and chew with them. 

Pain is another frequent source of anxiety for patients. Know that we always make sure patients are comfortable and pain-free during every procedure, and any post-operative discomfort or pain can be handled with medication after surgery. Our implant dentists are well-trained in both implantation and pain management, and will ensure your dental implant experience is not a negative one. If the fear of pain is what’s stopping you, we also offer sedation dentistry for patients whose anxiety makes it difficult to relax and follow directions in the dentist’s chair. 

Sometimes we discover that would-be implant patients are embarrassed about the condition of their teeth, which has led to the need for implants. But your MPDG dentist won’t judge you — we’re here to help get you on a better dental path and improve your oral health, while taking care of your teeth well. The best way to address embarrassing dental issues is to come in and consult with your dentist on a plan to get them fixed. With dental implants, you’ll be able to replace missing or broken teeth with beautiful new ones, and overcome that problem. 

How Successful Are Implants?

That’s a frequent question from patients, and understandably so. Getting dental implants can be a long and costly process; anyone would want to be able to expect a good outcome. We can confidently answer, however, that implants are almost always very successful, with one of the highest success rates of any dental procedure, at over 95%. Patients who don’t see good success with implants usually are those who have significant other complicating health conditions affecting their body’s healing and implant acceptance. Your dentist will talk with you about whether any of your medical history might preclude you from having dental implants, but those cases are very rare. 

Regarding the cost of implants, it’s true that they can be expensive, especially if you need several. We understand that oral surgery can be difficult to handle financially, especially without dental insurance. We make every effort to work with our patients’ dental insurance plans when they exist, and when they don’t, MPDG offers an option called Care Credit. It’s based on your budget and the service will work with you to find an installment payment plan that fits for you.

Communicate with Your Dentist

If you have other concerns or worries about a procedure, whether it’s dental implants or another treatment, please don’t hesitate to talk with your dentist. If he or she knows about your anxieties, they can be addressed beforehand. You may also be a patient with generalized anxiety or specific fears related to the dentist; we want to know that too, so we can best help you get the good dental care you need, and provide solutions while caring for you. Sedation dentistry often benefits these patients too, along with other accommodations that may be helpful. 

This post appeared originally on the LifeSmiles Blog of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Click here to read the full original post by Dr. Ryan Lehr.