With the theme “What’s your reason to smile?,” the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) is sponsoring Dental Implant Awareness Month in September. The celebration focuses on all the ways dental implants can improve lives.
By sharing information, the Academy hopes to help candidates for implants make informed, healthy decisions.
Why Dental Implants Are Right For Many People
Here at Wilmington Oral Surgery, we have been solving dental challenges with implants for over a decade. Not only do implants restore smiles, they allow patients to eat and chew normally again, which helps with weight maintenance, digestive health, and whole body health.
Implants also help preserve bone and tooth health when compared to other solutions for missing teeth. They preserve the jawbone and facial structure–which dentures do not. They feel and work like real teeth, fit securely, don’t require creams or adhesives, are long lasting, and are as easy to care for as natural teeth.
Once the implant site has healed, most of our patients forget they even have implants!
Dental Implant Process Improvements
With recent technological advances, there has never been a better time to consider implants. The process has gotten easier and easier; in fact, we can now complete the process of preparation and implantation in a single treatment visit in many cases.
As implant technologies have become more sophisticated, the pain involved has been greatly reduced. Today, computer-assisted planning results in more efficient implant placement, less patient discomfort, a reduced or eliminated need for bone grafting, and an easier recovery. With proper sedation and adherence to home instructions, many patients return to work and regular activities the next day.
Are You A Candidate For Dental Implants?
You may be a good candidate for dental implants if:
- Your jawline has stopped growing.
- You have good bone density. Through bone grafts, even people with bone loss can get implants, but the process is more complex.
- You practice good oral hygiene and have good gum health. Patients with active periodontal disease cannot get implants until the disease is completely gone.
- You are willing to commit to after-surgery recommendations. The implant process is usually straightforward, but you must be willing to commit to excellent oral hygiene for several months during healing, and not smoke or drink alcohol, both of which can interfere with healing.
Wish a Smile: Implants for those who can’t afford them
In honor of Dental Implant Awareness Month, the AAID Foundation is seeking donations for its Wish A Smile Program. Through Wish A Smile, AAID-dentists credentialed by AAID serve people with congenital defects who need implants but can’t afford them.
One beneficiary was Andrew, 24, an artist/poet with Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. Andrew’s two top teeth never grew in, making chewing and speech difficult. His family couldn’t afford implants, so Andrew’s general dentist recommended him for Wish a Smile. After his surgery, Andrew sent artwork and poetry to the foundation in gratitude. He wrote, “Your interest in helping me brought a smile to my face.”
To volunteer or donate to Wish A Smile, visit: https://www.aaid.com/foundation/Wish—a—Smile.html
The AAID and AAID Foundation
Founded in 1951, the AAID is the leading organization of dentists offering dental implants. The AAID’s implant credentialing program is the only such program in the U.S. recognized by state and federal courts.
The AAID Foundation was started in 1982 to further the science of dental implants, and to help provide implants to financially disadvantaged individuals. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by AAID members and corporate sponsors. For more information contact the foundation at foundation@aaid.com or call 312.335.1550. Their website is at www.aaid.com/foundation.