Dental implants replace teeth that have become irreversibly damaged. Because of the many advantages over other options, there are a number of reasons you might pick them over the other choices available to you.
Dental Implants Stay in Place
Other teeth replacement options, such as dentures, are meant to be removed at certain times. To reduce the risk of swallowing your dentures, you’re meant to remove them before you go to bed each night. You should also remove them for proper cleaning, too. The fact that dentures can be taken out means there’s a risk they will come loose in your mouth and potentially be swallowed. In fact, fish bones, followed by other types of bones, followed by dentures, are what most often end up in adults’ digestive tracts, according to a new review, from Düsseldorf University Hospital, of adults accidentally swallowing things. There’s also a risk that you’ll lose them, if you misplace the dentures or forget to put them back in.
Since dental implants are secured to your jawbone by a titanium post, you don’t need to remove them when sleeping, eating or for cleaning.
Dental Implants Are Almost Like the Real Thing
Dental implants look like real teeth. In fact, once your crown is placed, your dentist will match the color of your crown to the color of your natural teeth. Plus, implants don’t just look like natural teeth, they also feel like your natural teeth. Since they are securely bonded and attached to the bone in your jaw, you’ll be able to chew like you did when you had all of your natural teeth. When you have implants, you’re able to eat all the foods you previously enjoyed without worried that the implant will come loose or be damaged.
Dental Implants Protect the Rest of Your Teeth
Why even bother to get a replacement tooth if you lose a natural tooth, particularly if the lost tooth is in the back of your mouth? Replacing lost or missing teeth does more than preserve or improve the appearance of your smile. When a tooth is missing, the jawbone around it begins to deteriorate, becoming unable to support the remaining teeth. As a result, the teeth start to shift and the shape of a person’s bite can change. In more severe cases, or if there is a significant amount of bone loss, the face can start to sink in, making a person look older.
There’s No Adjustment Period
There’s a learning curve when people get dentures. They typically need to re-learn how to chew certain foods and might avoid some foods because of chewing difficulties. Plus, dentures can occasionally make it difficult to speak or can make a person’s speech sound muffled. That doesn’t happen with implants.
Implants Don’t Damage Neighboring Teeth
A dental bridge is often an option when people need to replace multiple teeth. A major problem with a dental bridge is that it affects the teeth on either side of it. To place a bridge, the dentist often needs to grind down the neighboring teeth, before attaching the replacement tooth or teeth to them. Since dental implants are secured using posts placed into the gums and jawbone, there is no need to touch the teeth on either side.
Implants Don’t Decay
Implants are typically made of a porcelain, which unlike tooth enamel, doesn’t decay. That means your dental implants won’t develop cavities.
What it doesn’t mean is that it’s OK for your to neglect the care of your teeth. You still want to brush twice a day and floss everyday, to protect the teeth around your implants and to protect your gums from periodontal disease. Plus, brushing your teeth and keeping up a good oral hygiene routine will keep your natural teeth and your implants looking great for years to come.
Dental Implants Last a Long Time
One last reason to consider getting dental implants over other options: they last a long time. If you’re lucky, dental bridges last for a about a decade before they need to be replaced. Dentures can last for about 10 years, sometimes less, if you take good care of them.
Implants, on the other hand, can be lifetime devices. As long as you keep up a good oral hygiene routine, see your dentist regularly, and take great care of your teeth, you can expect your implants to be with you for the rest of your life.
Are you ready to learn more about dental implants? Dr. John Paul Gallardo and Dr. William Lamas, specialize in periodontics and implant dentistry in Miami, Florida. If you’re missing a tooth or several teeth, and want to learn more about your options for replacement, call 305-447-1447 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gallardo and Dr. Lamas today.
