Dental implants are becoming a more popular and preferred procedure among patients who want more durable, permanently-looking teeth. From 1983 to 2008, dental implant procedures performed in the United States increased 10-fold putting to $150 million the dental implants produced in 2008 compared to only $10 million in 1988. To date, about 3 million Americans have availed of dental implants and that number is growing by 500,000 per year, according to data from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry website.
In the Philippines, implant dentistry is yet to attain such popularity but the possibility is imminent with the growing number of Filipinos demanding better quality of life. Studies also showed that as life span of humans increases, the need for some type of permanent dental replacement system becomes very important to overall health.
Oral or dental implants are replacement tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth, which are made to match natural teeth. They provide a cutting-edge treatment for people with missing teeth, complementing standard treatment options like bridges and dentures.
A tooth or teeth can be lost prematurely for many reasons – cavities, gum diseases, or accidents. An implant crown restores the missing tooth, thereby boosting total health and wellbeing.
“Our teeth are more important that we think they are. They provide better chewing function as well as helping maintain an aesthetically pleasing facial profile. With dental implants, you can achieve a whole set of teeth can function as optimally as they should,” explained Dr. Hermogenes Villareal, oral surgeon and implantologist and chairman of the Department of Dentistry of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.
Traditional treatments such as crown and bridge, and full or partial dentures only address short-term cosmetic problems. They are loose and unstable, and cannot stop bone loss, particularly in the areas of the missing teeth.
With a dental implant, a person can lead a normal life, as though he or she never suffered from a missing tooth or teeth. The implant crown lasts longer and requires fewer follow-up visits to the dentist. It also reduces the amount of bone loss in the area of the missing tooth, which when left untreated, can deform facial contours. More importantly, the implant looks and feels and even functions like natural teeth, so the person would be able to chew food well, speak naturally, and socialize confidently.
Realizing the importance of implant dentistry in the practice of dental medicine, the Asian Hospital and Medical Center recently conducted a Multiple Live Surgery on Intraosseus Dental Implants attended by dental practitioners, dental specialists and oral implantologists as well as dental students.
The event featured three live surgeries: Immediate Implant Placement; Multiple Implant Placement; and Sinus Lift with Bone Grafting Procedure and Implant Placement, conducted by Asian Hospital’s top dental implantologists using state-of-the-art dental apparatus, implant systems and medical facilities.
“The live surgery is a legacy for Asian Hospital being the very first in the Philippines to have such live demonstration on dental implants. Dental practitioners, particularly incoming implantologists, got to see for themselves the advanced techniques currently available that they can adopt in their future practice,” said Dr. Villareal.
Information from: malaya.com
Tags: Cavities, Dental Implant Procedure, Dental Implants, Dental Medicine, Dental Practitioners, Dental Specialists, Dental Students, Gum Disease, Implant Crowns, Implant DentistryCrown and Bride, Missing Teeth Overall Health, Oral Implantologists, Oral Implants, Partial Dentures, Permanent Dental Replacement, Replacement Teeth
