Dental Implant Case Acceptance ? It Takes A Village!
By: George A. Nail, M.D., D.D.S.

By now, I think we all realize that patients are far more likely to accept treatment that resonates with them as being valuable or in their best interest. At this time, dental implants are no longer simply an option; dental implants are now the standard of care. Patients need to be educated by every member of the dental and surgical team as many times as possible that the loss of a tooth equals the loss of more teeth which equals compromised health and quality of life. They need to understand that while a bridge was a workhorse restoration for many years, it is now no longer the optimal treatment. The average lifespan of a bridge is 6.1 years, and it has been statistically shown to shorten the lifespan of the abutment teeth, and it is less hygienic than an implant option, thus collecting bacteria that have been shown to promote heart disease and premature and low-birth-weight infants, among other issues. Finally, a dental bridge leads to bone loss and bone atrophy at the pontic areas. Removable partial dentures are even less optimal and may be viewed as a nice, slow way to extract additional teeth. Partial and full dentures not only exhibit a greatly reduced chewing force, but also accelerate the loss of alveolar bone. In my career, I have never known anyone who was completely happy with their denture.

The only solution that actually replaces a tooth is a dental implant. It is the only solution that restores 100% of a tooth and its functions, It is the only solution that maintains hard and soft tissue volume. A dental implant never undergoes decay, and they are remarkably resistant to periodontal disease. In that dental implants may last a lifetime, they are to be viewed as a likely permanent solution to an age-old problem, that of missing teeth.

While patients may object on many grounds, these objections can be easily analyzed and overcome. For example, patients may note that insurance doesn't cover dental implant treatment. That doesn't mean that implant treatment is not necessary. Our own health plan that we provide for my office and my staff does not cover screening mammograms. Does this mean that they are not necessary? No, it simply means insurance isn't going to pay for them. In fact, statistics show that even though insurance does partly cover a bridge, the implant will become cheaper after seven years of function due to the likely failure of the bridge at 6.1 years.

Patients may note that they can't afford to undergo dental implant treatment. We are obligated as clinicians to not to consider the pocketbook, but rather to offer for our patients what is best for them. While I understand that financial hardships abound, I also understand that people likely have paid more for their cars, their televisions, and various other conveniences than they would for most dental implant treatments. It's a a matter of priorities.

And that's where the dental team and surgical team step in. It is our responsibility, the dentist, the surgeon, and,just as importantly, the auxiliary members of the dental team. to promote the value of dental implants in improving and maintaining a patient's overall  health. In order to do this, team members must truly understand the reality of these substantial health benefits and must be passionate about presenting them to patients. In short "you got to believe!" When the patient hears in several enthusiastic presentations of the value of dental implants in their lives delivered from assistants, hygienists, dentists, the surgeon, and the members of the surgical team, they are more likely to be receptive to, to understand and remember, and to accept the benefits of dental implant treatment. And, after all, that's what it's all about, isn't it - getting patients motivated to undergo treatment that is in their best interest and leads to the promotion of their health.

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