September 2014 - Desert Maxillofacial Center

Dental Implants have become commonplace, with over 3 million people worldwide hosting some sort of implant. Unfortunately, their rising popularity has been accompanied by an increasing number of misconceptions about what they can and can’t do.
Let us help you to understand which of these common messages are true and which are fabricated.

Message #1: Dental implants are more expensive than traditional restorative methods.

Verdict: True and False. While the initial implant installation is more costly than other dental restorative procedures, over time, maintaining dental implants is much easier and cheaper. Other procedures require eventual replacement. For example, dentures require replacement after 5-10 years while dental bridges must be replaced every 7-10 years. So in the long run, dental implants can be less expensive than these alternative procedures.

Message #2: Dental implants are exceedingly painful.

Verdict: False. Like most forms of oral surgery, dental implant installation does involve some discomfort. However, patient accounts reveal that the pain is not worse than any typical tooth extraction as doctors use local anesthesia to address and minimize any discomfort during the procedure.

Message #3: Dental implant placement often fails.

Verdict: False. While dental implants do have the possibility of falling out, it is very rare for this to happen. In fact, reports show that 98% of dental implant surgeries are successful.

Message #4: Only young people should get dental implants.

Verdict: False. There is no reason healthy, elderly patients cannot receive implants. In fact, there are many cases of patients 90 and older undergoing dental implant placement surgery with great success!

Don’t let these common misconceptions get in the way of your decision to get dental implants. Give us a call…we’d be happy to discuss your concerns about dental implants with you to give you a better idea of what this procedure can do for you.

Who doesn’t know someone who has had BOTOX® injections? What is BOTOX®? What are the side effects? Will it give me botulism? Rest assured, these are all questions we are used to hearing in our practice. So in response to overwhelming interest in and mounting requests for information, we are offering answers to some of the most popular questions first-time (and veteran) BOTOX®-users bring to us on a daily basis.

What is BOTOX®? We’re glad you asked! BOTOX® is a temporary treatment for the inevitable signs of aging that show up in our faces over the years. Many people are uncomfortable with the worry, laugh and frown lines, crow’s feet and other facial wrinkles that accumulate over time. BOTOX® treats this problem by relaxing the exact muscles that are causing the wrinkles.

How soon will I see results? After about 5 days you will see the effects of BOTOX® injections on your selected target areas.

How long does the treatment last? Usually about 3-4 months. After that you will need additional treatments if you want to maintain that younger look.

BOTOX® side effects: You may notice some minor discomfort such as swelling, stinging or throbbing in the treatment area. Occasionally some bruising and swelling can remain for a few weeks. Redness should dissipate within 24 hours. Note: In rare cases, it can cause temporary weakness of the surrounding muscles in the target area that could cause a drooping eyelid or asymmetrical expression in the face.

Still wondering about the botulism question? While BOTOX® is technically the botulinum toxin, which is the same thing that causes the kind of botulism that makes you very sick, it is extremely rare for this to happen, and when it has, it was because the medicine was used incorrectly in one way or another. Rest assured, we are fully trained and qualified to safely administer your BOTOX® injections.

Did we answer all of your questions here? Contact us for more information and to schedule a consultation!

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