I’m a stuntman. While it is not unusual to knock out a tooth in my profession, I’ve lost three so far this year and it’s only February. I need to replace them. Would dental implants be a good option? Do they hold up well?
Kevin
Dear Kevin,
Dental implants are a fantastic tooth replacement option. As you can see from the illustration above, they are implanted into your jawbone as a substitute for your natural teeth roots. Once the bone has integrated with them, you will have a dental crown placed on top to replace the tooth itself.
They are strong and hold up as well as teeth. In your case, that’s not saying much. You will want to find out why you are losing so many teeth suddenly. Is it just a spate of bad luck or is something more serious going on?
Dental Implants and Gum Disease
One possibility is that you have developed gum disease. In its most advanced stages, it can cause your teeth to just fall out. It will certainly make them looser and easier to get knocked out.
I’d like you to see a periodontist. If all is well with your gums then you may go ahead with the dental implants. However, if you do have gum disease, you’ll need to get that treated first.
Once your gums are under control, then you can revisit getting dental implants.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.