If you’re considering restoration options for missing teeth, dental implants are one of the best replacements you can get. These sturdy artificial teeth consist of a post that’s surgically placed in your jawbone with a dental crown attached to the end. Once healed, you’ll have a permanent replacement for your missing tooth—no bridges or dentures needed! Here’s how dental implants can restore your beautiful smile.
Dental Implants Are Secure and Permanent
Although dental implants can take a few weeks to properly heal, once they are healed, they last for life. With the right care, your dental implant should never have to be replaced, although the dental crown on the end will need to be replaced every so often.
Dental implants are extremely secure and sturdy. Unlike dentures, they aren’t removable and so don’t slide or feel loose in your mouth. Another big benefit of dental implants is that they don’t get cavities, so you won’t have to worry about tooth decay on your replaced tooth [1]!
Dental Implants Are Versatile
If you have several missing teeth, you have a few options for using dental implants to replace them. Although a single dental implant can be an excellent choice for a single missing tooth, it’s often not cost-effective or realistic to replace every missing tooth with a separate dental implant.
In cases such as these, you may have the option for an implant-supported bridge, in which one or two dental implants are placed to support a dental bridge [2]. You may also be able to have what are called all-on-four dental implants, in which four or six implants are placed while a permanent restoration that looks just like your natural teeth is bonded to the implants. Either way, you can still get all the benefits of dental implants with a shorter healing time and a lower cost with these flexible options!
Dental Implants Can Restore More Than Your Smile
In order to qualify for dental implants, patients need to have enough jawbone to support the restoration. However, even if you’re lacking adequate jawbone, you may qualify for a bone graft, which can help properly support the implant. Although this procedure adds an extra step onto your dental implant process, it’s well worth it for patients to have a permanent tooth restoration! Whether or not you receive a bone graft, dental implants help preserve the bone in your jaw.
When you’re missing a tooth, your body naturally reabsorbs some of the jawbone left behind, as it’s no longer needed to support the tooth. This means dental implants can not only restore your teeth, but your facial structure as well, giving you more confidence along with your beautiful new smile [3]!
Ask Your Dentist About Your Dental Implant Options
Are you missing any of your natural teeth? You don’t have to hide your smile or settle for dentures—ask your dentist about your dental implant options to see if you could qualify for a permanent tooth restoration with big benefits!
Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4028797/
2. https://www.perio.org/consumer/full-mouth-implants
3. https://aiceducation.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-dental-bone-regeneration/
