MEDIA RELEASE
7 June 2006
For immediate release
RESEARCH REVEALS DENTAL IMPLANTS IMPROVES SEX LIFE
Revolutionary Mini Dental Implant System now available in New Zealand
Being fitted with dental implants can have a positive effect on the sex lives of denture wearers, compared to those
without an implant-retained denture, by reducing the uneasiness felt during kissing, intimacy and sexual activity,
according to recent research.
In their 2005 research report, Heydecke et al[1], compared the impact of social and sexual activities by 102 adults
between the ages of 35-65 years, before and after being fitted with dental implants, against people fitted with
conventional dentures only.
The research revealed that the subjects fitted with implant-retained dentures experienced a greater increase in comfort
felt during kissing and sexual activity over a two month compared to those with normal dentures.
Patients reported that conventional dentures often became loose during activities such as kissing, eating and speaking,
resulting in both embarrassment and discomfort. Of those participants who experienced loose dentures when kissing, more
than 80% felt uneasy when kissing, and 70% felt uneasy when engaged in sexual relations.
In New Zealand, it is estimated that over 400,000 people are edentulous (missing teeth) and around 90% of this group
report issues related to their experiences while wearing dentures.
Dr Dave Blom, Dentist at Thackeray Dental in Hamilton, says implants such as the revolutionary IMTEC Mini Dental Implant
(MDI®) system, which is now available in New Zealand, can result in significant improvements in the quality of life for
denture wearers.
Dr Blom has installed the Mini-Dental Implant system in a number of patients and says the feedback has been very
positive.
“With the IMTEC Mini Dental Implant system patients experience greater stability in their dentures, improved eating,
social and health status.”
“In addition, the IMTEC Mini Dental Implant system is considerably less expensive and less invasive than conventional
dental implants,” Dave said.
The Mini-Dental Implant system is the latest development in dental implants available in New Zealand, and can be
inserted by a trained general dentist under a local anaesthetic.
The implants consist of four titanium alloy implants that are screwed into the patient’s lower jaw for the denture to
snap into.
“The result is a stable denture that can be easily removed for cleaning,” Dave said.
To find out more about IMTEC Mini Dental Implants visit www.nzdental.co.nz/mdi
[1] The impact of conventional and implant supported protheses on social and sexual activities in edentulous adults.
Guido Heydecke, Mark Thomason, James P Lund, Jocelyne S Feine; Journal of Dentistry 7 January 2005
ENDS