Implants can achieve something that just about every dental professional and dental patient wants—a solution to dental issues that most closely replicates natural teeth. They’re a solid alternative to what we have colloquially referred to as false teeth. Over the years, as implants have improved, patients have increasingly chosen them to maximize the look and health of their teeth, when they might have previously been reluctant to go with dentures, given their fitting and maintenance issues.
In our previous blog on braces, we talked about the search for dental solutions in ancient times. The same is true with implants. There is evidence that Chinese practitioners 4,000 years ago used bamboo to replace missing teeth. Furthermore, from copper pegs discovered in ancient Egyptian remains to 2,000-year-old false teeth found in an ancient Celtic grave in France, the evidence shows that some form of implant dentistry was attempted for centuries. However, these ancient attempts, and those more recent, ran into the same problem. Our bodies tend to reject anything foreign in the system, such as metal. And for a successful dental implant, the restoration used should fuse with the bone—a process known as osseointegration. It wasn’t until 1952 when things got sorted out. That was the year an orthopedic surgeon named Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that titanium did fuse with human bone. He successfully was able to replace a missing tooth of one of his patients using titanium, and his published medical papers that followed heralded the beginning of the modern approach to implants.
At Hitomi Dental Office we see every day how dental implants have positively changed the lives of our patients. Our patients don’t just get their smiles back—they get their self-confidence back, knowing they don’t have to be ashamed because of missing or broken teeth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Our English-speaking dentists are proud to offer our patients the highest level of service and that also shows itself in the products and the technologies we use. In the case of dental implants, we partner with the best: Straumann. Why? There are many reasons, but primarily they meet the needs that are most important to our patients. They look great—or as Straumann explains on their website, they are “providing high-end esthetics for a premium outcome.” Straumann dental implants are durable and have a 97 to 100 percent success rate after 10 years. They are also affordable, whether you need one or several teeth replaced.
We find that the cosmetic benefit of dental implants is what attracts our patients to them in the first place, but they find this solution even more attractive when they learn the other benefits that implants provide. These are just a few:
- Restoring your facial appearance
- Enhancing eating, chewing, and speaking
- Preventing bone loss by stimulating the jawbone
Our English-speaking dental staff at Hitomi Dental Office’s two Tokyo locations know that your decision to get dental implants is a big one, and we do our best to make sure we make your treatment as comfortable as possible. That starts with our initial consultation with you. We will describe in detail what we need to do, what the actual procedure entails and how you can expect to feel after it is done. Although the risks of dental implants are very low, there are risks with any type of surgery and we will make you fully aware of what they are.
The Hitomi Dental Office Difference
Look, we know no one likes to go to the dentist, and that’s why, along with providing excellent dental care, we want to make sure that during any procedure our patients have a comfortable and painless experience. Every patient is different, so that’s why we offer a range of sedation protocols. We will explain what you can expect and how each one differs during your initial consultation.
Our passion for top-notch dental care does not end after your implant surgery. We will lay out a schedule of follow-up visits to check how your new teeth are doing and make any adjustments as necessary. We will also provide you with a specific hygiene program for you to follow, to ensure that the investment you have made in your smile lasts a lifetime.
Ready to make an appointment? Get started here: https://www.hitomidental.com/appointment/