IMPROVED APPEARANCE

• The single biggest benefit for most people who get dental implants is that they improve their appearance.
• Many people who have a need for dental implants have had to have their natural teeth pulled due to "injury, infection or decay," leaving gaps in their smiles.
• Dental implants can give patients the "confidence to smile, eat, and engage in social activities without worrying about how they look or if their dentures will fall out."
• Confidence has been scientifically linked to overall wellness, which is why improving the appearance of a person who has lost teeth is a primary benefit of dental implants.

IMPROVED ABILITY TO CHEW

• Many people who have dentures or missing teeth find it difficult to eat their favorite foods, and even if they can eat them, they often experience pain when chewing.
• Dental implants become a part of the jaw and as such, allow people to chew whatever foods they want without pain and without worrying that they will fall out.
• This aspect of dental implants positively impacts a person's overall health in that they have increased confidence while eating and no longer experience pain.
• Moreover, the ability to chew better means that food will be properly broken up before swallowing, thereby reducing the risk of choking.

JAW BONE PROTECTION

• When a tooth is lost, whether it is knocked out or pulled, it causes bone loss in the jaw and the longer the gap is there, the more bone is lost.
• Bone is lost because when there is no tooth with a root there, the body does not need to send blood and nutrients to the area anymore, which means the jaw bone deteriorates.
• If an implant is not placed within a year of a lost tooth, the area where the tooth is missing can suffer 25% bone loss, which will continue to get worse as time goes on.
• Getting a dental implant in place of a missing tooth right away can prevent this loss and actually even make bone grow.
• The prevention of jaw bone loss is important to overall health because if left untreated, it can cause even more teeth to fall out, which can then lead to the collapse of facial features.
•  Other issues that can result from the loss of jaw bone include headaches, jaw pain, and poor nutrition from the inability to eat all kinds of foods.
• Getting dental implants can prevent jaw bone loss from occurring and thus, the potential problems related to untreated bone loss can be avoided.

NO NEED FOR ANCHOR TEETH

• Some treatment options for missing teeth like bridges require dentists to anchor the hardware to other teeth. However, if a person has too many missing teeth due to neglect or injury, such a device may not be possible.
• Even if a bridge is a potential solution, the dentist has to alter the anchor teeth by making them smaller so that the bridge can be attached by crowns on either side of the hardware.
• Dental implants do not require alterations to other teeth because they are self-supported.
• This means that "more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health."
• In addition, implants make it easier to clean between teeth than other options like bridges, which also improves dental hygiene and ultimately, overall health.

NO ADHESIVES REQUIRED

• Dentures are one type of treatment for missing teeth, but they often require adhesives to keep them from falling out of the mouth, especially as dentures become looser with bone loss.
• Adhesives are meant to be temporary solutions to ill-fitting dentures, but in cases where patients cannot afford new dentures, they may be forced to use adhesives for a longer amount of time.
• Denture adhesives contain zinc, and while zinc is "an essential ingredient for good health," too much zinc "can lead to health problems such as nerve damage, especially in the hands and feet."
• Since the damage occurs slowly over period of time, a person may not even know their adhesives are causing health problems until it is too late.
• The Federal Drug Administration has issued a warning about denture adhesives that contain zinc, saying "overuse of zinc-containing denture adhesives, especially when combined with dietary supplements that contain zinc and other sources of zinc, can contribute to an excess of zinc in your body."
• Dental implants do not require adhesives because they are essentially screwed into the jaw.
• This lack of exposure to excessive amounts of zinc will reduce the risk of nerve damage and other problems that can negatively impact a person's overall health.

IMPLANTS LAST LONGER

• Dental implants can last much longer than other options and for many people will not need to be replaced over the course of a lifetime.
• Bridges typically last about 10 years and dentures have to be replaced every five to eight years.
• The titanium screws used to secure implants in place are nontoxic and will not be rejected by the body, so the person with the implant can simply take care of them as they would their normal teeth: by brushing, flossing, and seeing a dentist regularly.
• The regular replacement of bridges and dentures requires more visits to the dentist and more procedures to undergo, which can negatively impact a person's health, especially if anesthesia or other drugs have to be involved. This is even more of a health risk for elderly people.
• Moreover, while dental implants cost more than bridges and dentures to begin with, over time, the replacement hardware can really add up.
• Seniors who are on fixed incomes may find the one-time costs of dental implants better for their financial well-being than the unpredictable costs of replacing dentures or bridges.

LOWER RISK OF GUM DISEASE

• Missing teeth can trap food and bacteria, which can then lead to gum disease, especially if proper dental hygiene is neglected.
• A dental implant removes that gap and therefore, removes the possibility for food and bacteria to become in that space.
• Gum disease can result in numerous serious health problems like heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and rheumatoid arthritis. In younger women, it can cause premature birth.
• Experts are not sure how gum disease is linked to these health issues, but many believe "that oral bacteria can escape into the bloodstream and injure major organs."
• Therefore, dental implants can be a way to lower the risk of gum disease and the potential resulting health conditions.

RESEARCH STRATEGY

KREATIV DENTAL CLINIC UK-PATIENT REVIEW

•  Christine had gotten to the point she was losing teeth and her mouth was quickly getting worse. She couldn't bite and enjoy the foods she liked, like salads and apples.
• She had partial dentures for a long time but had a lot of pain, to the point she had to take them out to eat. Because of where she lived, partial dentures from their national provider were her only option.
• Christine's treatment consisted of dental implants, crowns, and bridges, which gave her a great smile and the ability to bite and chew without pain.
• She is no longer afraid to smile and says her implants and other dental work feel like her normal teeth.
• Christine says she can now eat what she wants without pain or worry.

PATIENTS IN NANJING, CHINA ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR IMPLANTS

•  373 patients that had their implants done between 2016 and 2018 at a hospital in Nanjing, China were asked about their happiness with their implants and service.
•  162 or 43% of patients participating did not have college degrees.
• About half of the patients had been missing teeth for 1 to 2 years. About a third had been missing teeth for over 2 years, and 20% had been missing teeth for less than 1 year.
• All the patients participating had only had one implant. The teeth that were implanted most often were part of the upper and lower back teeth.
• Patients that participated ranged from 18 years old to over 45 years old, and there was no difference in how happy they were based on their age.
• On a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being not happy and 5 being the happiest, the patients were very happy with the chewing ability of their implant. The score was 4.68. They were also very comfortable with their implant with a score of 4.69. The patients also felt that their implant was the right color, scoring 4.54 and had little issue with keeping their teeth clean, at a score of 4.60.
• Other points of satisfaction for the patients were with cost and pain. On the same 1 to 5 scale, the patients felt that the costs were worth it, scoring 4.56. Patients also felt that the level of pain they had during and after the surgery was fine, with scores of 4.64 and 4.52.
• The main points of unhappiness were with patients that had to have extra bone put in to support the implant.

PATIENTS IN SOUTH KOREA ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR IMPLANTS

•  26 people with complete tooth loss were evaluated at the University of Wonkwang in South Korea. The total number of implants done on those 26 patients totaled 370 teeth.
• When a person loses all their teeth, this affects the ability to chew well and the way they look. Dentists are using implants more and more to treat patients with no teeth.
• Patients were treated with complete upper and lower implants and dentures, based on the health of the mouth.
• Patients for this study were from different age ranges; 50 years old and under, 50-60 years old, and seniors over 60 years of age.
• Overall, all the patients that participated were happy with their implants, including all age ranges.
•  All patients below age 60 were very happy with chewing with their implants, and two-thirds of patients over 60 years old were very happy. One-third of patients over the age of 60 were happy but not very happy.
• Also, almost all the patients from all age groups were either happy or very happy with how their implants look. Only 1 patient was less than happy. Two-thirds of the patients over the age of 60 were very happy and one third were happy, but not very happy.

Research Strategy

Lisa Weller Get a Job Promotion After Undergoing and Oral Surgery

• Lisa Weller had dental problems for over two decades but she did not have enough money to see a dentist.
• During that period, she lost almost all of her teeth.
• Fortunately, Weller won a contest for a free oral surgery.
• After she received dental implants, she became more confident in herself and was able to secure a job promotion.

John Landis Secures a Job After Receiving Dental Impants

• John Landis was homeless at the age of 61 and out of job due to an injury.
• He had numerous missing teeth that needed to be replaced by implants.
•  The Brighter Way Dental Center, a non-profit that focused on providing dental services to the homeless, paid for John to undergo a dental surgery.
• After he received dental implants, he gained self-confidence and was able to secure a job.

New Jersey Patient's Life Changes After Receiving a Dental Implant

• A 73-year-old patient in New Jersey was suffering from a tooth loss had complications from root canal infection.
• Part of the treatment included receiving a single tooth implant.
• Years past the procedure, the patient expressed his utmost satisfaction with the implant.
• He reports improvement in his chewing ability.

Research Strategy: