Implants have złhis press for a very simple reason: most people know them from stories. From friends, from forums, from comments under videos. And there, it's easy to get shortcuts like: implants are for the young, they hurt more than an extraction, and if something goes wrong, it's over. Meanwhile, implantology today is a well-described, predictable field, you just have to separate the facts from the myths. We've collected the beliefs that patients repeat most often - and disarm them one by one.
Where do the myths about implants come from?
Mostly from three places: from past experience (when diagnosis and planning were more modest), from „someone familiar” stories without context, and from confusing the implant with the entire prosthetic restoration. An implant is one thing, a crown on an implant is another, hygiene and checks are a third. When you mix these elements, chaos is created. And from chaos, fear is born.
Here are the most popular myths about dental implants that we hear at the practice - and what's wrong with them.
Myth 1: „Placing an implant always hurts more than pulling a tooth”.”
This is one of the hardest myths. In fact, the implant procedure is performed under local anaesthetic, so it should not hurt during the procedure. The patient feels the pressure, the touch, the work of the instruments, but the pain is a signal to react - and the doctor reacts.
What about pain after the procedure? Most often there is tenderness and swelling for 2-3 days. With a single implant it can be really calm. With a larger scope (several implants, additional procedures) the discomfort can be worse, but is still manageable according to the instructions.
The problem is that patients compare the „ideal” extraction to the „worst” implant story. And this is an unfair comparison.
Myth 2: „Implants are for the young, seniors are not worth it”.”
Age in itself is rarely a contraindication. The general condition, healing, bone quality, hygiene and oral conditions mainly determine whether an implant makes sense. You can be 35 and have terrible conditions for implants, and you can be 70+ and have very good conditions.
We also often hear: why do I need an implant if I don't care about my appearance any more. Except that implants are not just about aesthetics. They are also:
- more stable biting,
- convenience compared to removable dentures,
- better bite control,
- easier day-to-day functioning.
The decision should always be based on an examination and treatment plan, not on metrics.
Myth 3: „The implant is rejected because the body does not accept the metal”.”
Dental implants are designed to integrate into the bone (osteointegration). Is it always successful? The risk of failure exists in every medical procedure, but very often the causes are specific and mitigable: inflammation, smoking, insufficient hygiene, occlusal overload, unregulated general diseases.
Do allergies happen? They can, but are rare and require individual diagnosis. In practice, „implant rejection” in the common understanding is more often the result of an infection or overload than a mysterious bodily reaction.
Myth 4: „I have no bone, so implants are a no-go”.”
This is a phrase that falls in the office surprisingly often. And sometimes it is true ... for today. But „for today” does not mean „forever”.
If there are not enough bones, the doctor may consider:
- substrate preparation,
- staged treatment,
- a different setting for the prosthetic plan,
- solutions based on several implants in strategic locations.
The condition is one: it has to be assessed in diagnostic imaging and planned. In the ODENT Medical Center the patient has access to a digital X-ray room, which facilitates qualification and selection of a reasonable pathway. No guesswork.
Myth 5: „The implant is for life, so I don't have to do anything after the procedure”.”
This is the myth that spoils most good results. An implant doesn't have decay, sure. But the tissues around the implant can become diseased. If bacterial plaque and tartar build up in the area, inflammation of the gums and, in extreme cases, more serious problems with implant retention occur.
This is why routine matters after implantation:
- thorough domestic hygiene,
- regular hygiene in the surgery,
- Checks at which the gums and bite are checked.
Myth 6: „An implant can always be done immediately after a tooth extraction”.”
Sometimes you can. Sometimes you shouldn't. Immediate implantation depends on many factors: inflammation, quality of bone, stabilisation achievable, gingival conditions, prosthetic plan.
Patients like the phrase „immediately” because it sounds like an acronym. And implantology doesn't always like shortcuts. Predictability is what counts here. If a doctor offers to postpone an implant, it's not because it can't be done, it's because he wants to give it better conditions and a better chance of success.
Myth 7: „You can't do MRI with an implant”.”
This is a myth that comes back like a boomerang, especially before a scheduled MRI. Standard dental implants made of titanium do not act as a large magnet and are usually not a contraindication to the examination. Which doesn't change the fact that any situation is worth reporting to the diagnostic lab staff and having information about your implants.
Patients are concerned about safety. Rightly so. Only the answer is more calm than the internet suggests.
Myth 8: „When an implant starts to hurt, it means it's removable”.”
Pain in the implant area can have various causes. Sometimes it's a soft tissue issue, sometimes it's an overload in the bite, sometimes it's a hygiene problem, sometimes it's something completely next door (such as a neighbouring tooth). This is why an implant is not diagnosed „by feel”. It is diagnosed in the office: examination, bite control and diagnostic imaging.
The conclusion? Pain does not automatically mean disaster. It means you need to check what is happening.
Myth 9: „A crown on an implant will look artificial and everyone will notice”.”
A well-planned prosthetic restoration is supposed to look like a tooth. And this is the standard, not a luxury. Of course, there are more difficult situations (high aesthetic requirements, thin gums, large gaps), but this is why treatment is planned.
At ODENT implantology and prosthetics are part of a single, coherent care. This allows you to match the result to the patient's smile, not just the X-ray.
Myth 10: „A bridge is always better because it doesn't require surgery”.”
This is a myth from the „safer sounds” category. A bridge can be a great solution, but it comes at a price: it often requires grinding of the pillar teeth. If these teeth are healthy, an implant can be more conservative for the rest of your teeth, as it does not interfere with your neighbours.
There is no single answer. There are indications. That's what a consultation and treatment plan is for: to match the method to the conditions, not the fear of the word „treatment”.
How do we at ODENT approach a patient's fear of implants?
More often than not, a patient needs two things: reliable information and a feeling that the treatment has a sensible sequence. At the ODENT Medical Centre in Warsaw (85 Grzybowska Street), implantology is part of comprehensive care. There is a digital X-ray laboratory, fourteen modern surgeries and a team of specialists, including surgeons and implantologists.
If you have any of the above myths in your head, that's fine. Really. It means you want to understand and not act blindly. A consultation allows you to translate these fears into concrete: oral conditions, a plan and real risks.
FAQ
Are dental implants safe?
Implantology is a procedure that has been well described and used for years. Safety depends on the qualification, diagnosis, treatment plan and hygiene after the procedure.
Are implants for people with chronic diseases?
Often yes, but the decision depends on the type of disease, its control and overall health. Qualification is very important here.
Do implants require special hygiene?
They require regular and thorough hygiene, similar to that of your own teeth, plus in-office checks and hygiene. The most important thing is healthy gums around the implant.
Does the implant interfere with the MRI?
Usually not, but it is always necessary to inform the diagnostic laboratory staff of your implants and follow their procedure.
Can an implant „fall out”?
An integrated implant should not „fall out”. If problems do occur, they usually have a cause that needs to be diagnosed in the surgery.
Does a crown on an implant look natural?
It can look very natural as long as the treatment is well planned and the prosthetic restoration is matched to the patient's smile and bite.
