You would think that in places where people lose a lot of teeth there’s a lot of demand for dental implants. But the truth is that it’s the exact opposite.
If we consider the top ten states where people are searching for dental implants, only Kentucky is in the top ten for tooth loss. The top state for dental implant searches is Nevada, which ranks 45th in terms of tooth loss. California is tenth for dental implant searches, but 48th for tooth loss. And within California, Orange County has one of the lowest rates of tooth loss, while the area ranks among the highest for dental implant searches.
So what’s going on here? What accounts for this contradictory pattern?
Class Plays an Important Role
Class plays an important role in tooth loss, and in dental implant demand. We know that your class impacts your risk of tooth loss. People in a better financial situation can get preventive care and minor restorations that can save their teeth. And these are exactly the people who can afford dental implants.
People who are more likely to miss dental care and therefore more likely to lose their natural teeth are also less likely to be able to afford dental implants. They’re more likely to be searching cheap dentures.
Social Expectations Matter
We also have to take into account whether tooth loss is considered “normal” in your community. This leads to people being very open and accepting of dentures.
If all your friends have dentures, then it’s no big deal that your dentures may make it hard to eat certain foods. Everyone is going to pick a place to eat where dentures aren’t a problem. And nobody’s going to make a fuss about dentures falling out if it happens to everyone–and if you have traditional dentures, it will happen to you at some point. Everyone knows and accepts the limitations of dentures.
But if most people around you have healthy teeth, relying on a denture is much harder. You are more likely to find yourself in a place where there are few if any options on the menu for you to eat. You also feel self-conscious that other people will see your dentures.
Another key factor is how “normal” tooth loss is considered. In areas where a lot of people lose their teeth and dentures are common, people don’t worry about many of the effects of denture wear.
You’re also more likely to see the limitations of dentures as exactly that: limitations. And you don’t want to be limited in what you eat, where you go, or how you enjoy yourself with friends. You want a tooth replacement option that is fully function, very attractive, and won’t give itself away.
Dental Implants Are Right for Orange County
As we mentioned before, Orange County has one of the lowest rates of tooth loss in the country. Just 6.4% of people over the age of 65 have lost all their teeth, and the partial tooth loss rates for younger people are comparably low.
Orange County has a young, dynamic population. Most of us have a sense that we’re going somewhere, and we don’t want to slow down in getting there. We also don’t want to be the only one at the table whose dentures cause a scene when we’re out.
Dental implants are the perfect solution for this, whether you’re looking to replace all your teeth or just one. As the most natural, functional, and durable tooth replacement option, they are the perfect solution for us here. If you want to learn more about how dental implants will fit in your life, please call (949) 551-5902 today for an appointment with an implant dentist at Rice Dentistry in Irvine.
