Implant dentistry is the most advanced therapy available for replacing missing teeth. Dental implant restorations generally look, feel, and act like natural teeth. A dental bridge is a fixed (non-removable) appliance designed to replace missing teeth.

Patients who have been treated with implants are able to chew all the foods they desire. They can also correct gaps in their smile and are an alternative to appliances such as dentures or bridges.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the best alternative to natural teeth, because they replace both the root and the body of the tooth. An implant consists of two parts: a titanium steel screw that is surgically implanted into the bone, and a porcelain crown which sits on top of the screw and effectively replaces the tooth. If you are missing multiple teeth, you don’t necessarily have to get one screw implanted for every tooth. Instead, you can replace multiple teeth with just a couple of screws using implant-supported partial or complete dentures.

Dental implants have been used successful for more than 30 years. The development stage of dental implantology ended more than two decades ago, and research studies have clearly established the safety and effectiveness of dental implants.

Why Dental Implants Are Superior to Bridges

Dental implants are superior to bridges for several reasons. Besides the fact that a bridge can’t address bone loss, a bridge may also lead to problems with surrounding teeth. In a situation where a tooth is lost and the adjacent teeth are shaved down for a conventional bridge, the teeth that have been shaved down now have to take more force because the false tooth has no supporting root. Over time, this extra stress can cause problems in the abutment teeth. In a study done on the average longevity of three-tooth bridges, it was found that one out of every four bridges were lost after 15 years. The failure rate increases with four-tooth bridges. Typically, when a bridge fails, one or both of the abutment teeth are also lost. Of course, had the missing teeth been replaced with an implant, the neighboring teeth would not have been adversely affected.

Why Choose Dental Implants?

Dental Implants offer numerous benefits over other treatments for replacing missing teeth.

First of all, dental implants are the only treatment that actually arrest bone loss in the jaw. When a tooth’s root is lost, a process of bone resorption starts to occur immediately because the bone in the area no longer has any stimulation. When we place a dental implant, the bone actually bonds with the titanium through the process of osseointegration. Once this happens, there is no more danger of bone loss or deformation.

Dental implants are also more comfortable than most other treatments for missing teeth. They are definitely more comfortable than dentures, which may slip, click, cause sores, or even fall out if patients aren’t careful. Dentures get more uncomfortable as patients age, because changes in the underlying bone make the dentures stop fitting properly and patients must either get a new set or live with the discomfort. Dental implants, on the other hand, truly are a permanent solution that will always deliver superior comfort and performance.

Reasons for Dental Implants

• Replace missing teeth

• Eliminate the need for dentures or support existing dentures

• Prevent bone loss that occurs after a tooth is lost

• Prevent the shaving down of healthy teeth for a bridge

• Provide patients with the confidence of real teeth

• Allow patients to eat all the foods they enjoy

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

You might be a candidate for dental implants if all of the following apply to you:

• You are in good general health.

• You have healthy gums.

• You are not suffering from excessive bone loss.

• You are over 15 years old.

• You have a missing tooth or teeth and you want to eat, speak, and chew normally.

Some people think that dental implants are out of their price range, this is not necessarily the case. Visit CareCredit to discuss financing options available and determine if dental implants are right for you.