Experts estimate that as much as 92% of adults in the United States aged 20 to 64 years of age have had dental caries, or tooth decay, in their permanent teeth. Similarly, almost 100% of adults have decayed teeth around the world. This problem can typically be prevented or discouraged by proper oral hygiene and good eating habits, but once formed, it can cause a significant amount of damage to teeth if untreated. In some cases, the teeth may even need to be removed, as the tooth is seriously compromised and could cause serious problems to the other teeth.

Tooth loss is fairly common in the United States, due to the prevalence of tooth decay and other problems, including periodontal diseases and physical trauma. Currently, medical research estimates that 178 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, while more than 35 million Americans have no remaining natural teeth. While this problem is typically more cosmetic than medical in nature, many people turn to cosmetic dentistry to restore their smiles. Traditionally, this involved dentures, crowns and bridges, three non-permanent but serviceable methods of replacing teeth. However, thanks to the advances of dental technology in cosmetic dentistry procedures, there is now a better and permanent way to replace missing teeth: dental implants.

When people think of cosmetic dentistry procedures, most people may think of professional teeth whitening or other common treatments. And while cosmetic and family dentistry practices can offer typically offer several types of teeth whitening procedures to their patients, no cosmetic dental procedure is increasing in popularity in the same way as the cosmetic dental implant procedure: currently, the U.S. dental implant market is projected to reach $5 billion by 2018.

The dental implant procedure is becoming so popular because of a number of advantages the surgery offers over traditional tooth replacement methods: unlike dentures, dental implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth, and require little care beyond basic oral hygiene. Additionally, dental implant procedures have an estimated 98% success rate, making them a wise choice for many patients. And while only around 10% of dentists in the United States currently offer this surgery, this makes it easier than ever to find top cosmetic dentists that specialize in your chosen cosmetic dentistry procedures, such as dental implantation. Contact a family cosmetic dentistry practice in your area today to learn how they may be able to help improve your smile.

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