Back in the days of your parents, reaching age 50 was seen as the doorstep to retirement. Today, hitting the "big five-o" is like a passport to freedom. Your kids are becoming more independent, and your finances have stabilized. You also may be fortunate, all things considered, to be in pretty good health.
That's the good news. However, the downside of "50 is the new 40" is that according to the Centers for Disease Control, by age 50 most people have lost an average of 12 of their 32 original teeth. Then there's this alarming statistic: By age 65, a full 26 percent are on the downhill track to losing all their teeth.
So, if you suffer from bad dental health from causes that range from tooth decay to gum disease, your suffering could be compounded by uncomfortable and inconvenient dentures. Perhaps your periodontal problems are only kept under control by quarterly painful plaque-scraping sessions. Your dentist may have also told you there are indicators that you are a good candidate for costly root canal procedures.
At North Shore Smile Surgery, we would prefer to help you save your natural teeth, but we realize that tooth loss can be a cumulative problem caused by procrastination, poor dental hygiene, or just plain fear of going to the dentist (odontophobia).
Your stop-gap efforts in denture wearing may have progressed from a partial to full upper or lower (or both) prosthesis. Your digestive system could be out of whack because eating healthy isn't always compatible with rocking or loose dentures.
You could be a candidate for all-on-4 dental implants.
The "all" refers to all the upper or lower teeth attached to a single prosthesis. "On-4" means the number of implants the patient receives as the implanted anchors for the full set. The implants fuse with the patient's jaw as healing occurs after the implant surgery. It's called osseointegration.
The implant surgery, while radical, is painless. Following strong sedation, you will awaken, and your implants are ready for the attachment of your new prosthetics. Most patients experience only mild discomfort. Post-operative swelling is easily controlled with over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol. In some cases, the dentist will prescribe a stronger pain medication.
Implant surgery, according to the American Dental Association "has a 98 percent success rate if the placement is proper and the proper oral hygiene regimens are followed."
So, if you're a healthy 50-year-old, and you're ready for a brighter smile, you could be a great candidate for all-on-4 dental implants.
So, to summarize, your life will improve with your new all-on-4 implants because:
Finally, there are two extra-added benefits to all-on-4 dental implants:
If you are missing teeth and want to begin enjoying life and be proud of your natural good looks again, all-on-4 implants can change your life for the better. We understand that sometimes our patients become overwhelmed by life's circumstances and put off a life-changing decision that means a new commitment to health and self-improvement.
That commitment should be accompanied by a complete understanding North Shore Smile Surgery's all-on-4 implant treatment. We employ a procedure called ReVita Smile®, which is a proven, minimally invasive solution. It is a permanent, minimally invasive solution for you if you are suffering from missing or multiple problematic teeth—after just one visit.
Want to find out more information? Contact us and make and schedule an appointment.