If you're missing one or multiple teeth, there are several options for filling the gaps. Traditional dentures and bridges may suffice, but they are not suitable for everybody. You may require a specific dental restoration option considering the discomfort, poor oral structure, soreness, or other factors. Using dental implants is an ideal option for restoring missing teeth since they do not damage the adjacent teeth as regular bridges do.
Traditional bridges require grinding down the teeth close to the gap to implant the artificial tooth. Dental implants could be the best option for restoring lost teeth instead of dentures and bridges, or when regular bridges and dentures fail. Implants also help to protect the jawbone, which dentures and bridges cannot. This blog goes into detail about why dental implants are such a popular tooth replacement option.
The Implants Will Not Develop Cavities
Artificial teeth require maintenance to keep away bacteria from accumulating in the mouth and causing illnesses, even though the material used to make dental implants cannot decay. You will never have to be worried about cavities and infections affecting your dental implant.
It Offers Long-Term and Consistent Benefits
A dental implant is designed to last for a long time with proper care, unlike some alternative tooth replacement options that require replacement as frequently as every five to ten years. However, selecting an incompetent dentist to perform your dental implants could result in tooth damage or gum infection.
Therefore, it is usually recommended to consult with a dentist for dental implants. A qualified dentist would be able to provide you with the necessary care and attention. Therefore, dental implants can last for decades as the restoration process for replacing your missing teeth.
Easy to Maintain
Implant teeth require the same care as natural teeth. You need to brush and floss them daily. However, unlike with dentures, you won't need to use adhesives and special creams or soak them in a glass of water overnight. In addition, they will not require a root canal or filling, unlike the natural teeth anchoring the bridgework.
While implants do not decay, gum disease can affect them. Maintaining proper oral hygiene and frequent visits to the dentist for expert cleaning and examinations are the best ways to prevent dental problems and guarantee that your dental implant lasts for long, as it is intended to.
It has a Natural Appearance and Fits Comfortably
When searching for tooth replacement options, most people often raise concerns about whether the procedure would match their natural look. Dental implants have risen in popularity over the years because they have offered dental patients the confidence to talk, laugh, and smile in public without fear of being ridiculed for their teeth' appearance.
Dental implants are designed to look, operate, and feel exactly like natural teeth. Therefore you can speak and laugh freely in public without stressing about how your dentures look or if they'll fall out. Nobody will be able to notice that you have a dental implant once they have healed. Also, you should take care of them as you would with your natural teeth.
Allows for Natural Speech
Several tooth replacement alternatives, such as dentures, can impair your ability to properly pronounce words. Missing teeth could also affect your speech. Dental implants allow you to speak freely and naturally since they feel and operate exactly like real teeth.
Reasonable Prices
Some dentists offer overpriced dental implant plans that are out of reach for the average person. However, a qualified dentist can provide dental implant packages within your budget range, allowing you to obtain the implant without hesitation. The success rate of dental implants increases as technology develops. Healthy individuals are more likely to have successful implants.
On the other hand, dental implants offer long-term benefits. Due to this, most individuals prefer dental implants over other alternative options for tooth replacement.
No Slippage of the Implant
Individuals with dentures may feel uncomfortable laughing, eating, or speaking in public since dentures can easily slip out or shift within your mouth. A dental implant is securely attached to your teeth and would never cause you embarrassment.
It Enhances Your Bone Structure and Facial Appearance
Dental implants protect natural tooth tissue. Traditional bridgework doesn't require the reduction of adjacent teeth. It also promotes bone preservation and significantly reduces bone resorption. Due to this, the loss in jaw bone height substantially deteriorates. Additionally, it helps to improve the overall condition of the jaw bone's structure. Dental implants can help maintain the natural tooth tissue by alleviating pressure on the surrounding bone structure. It helps to reduce bone resorption.
High Rate of Success
Dental implants that are well-planned and managed have survival rates that are equivalent to or more than other tooth replacement alternatives. Additionally, the success rate of implants would increase as dental implant technology and processes improve.
Enhances Chewing Ability
When empty gaps in the mouth remain after tooth loss, the underlying jaw bone structure might degenerate, jeopardizing the stability of the adjacent teeth. A dental implant is the only tooth replacement option that encourages new bone formation and prevents further bone loss. Dental implants can be attached to the jaw bone with the assistance of a qualified dentist and can resemble natural teeth in appearance. Within several days, dental implants would help protect the jaw bone structure while also substantially reducing bone loss.
Once your misaligned teeth are replaced, you'll be able to bite, eat, and talk more confidently, especially in public. You'll also be able to smile and laugh more freely. Eating becomes more pleasant and natural due to the natural feeling of dental implants.
Supports Neighboring Teeth
Gaps in your mouth from missing teeth can force adjacent teeth on each side of the gaps to shift, resulting in misalignment. A dental implant does not have any impact on the well-being of neighboring natural teeth. In contrast, alternative tooth replacement options risk weakening neighboring teeth.
For instance, when a dental bridge is used, the teeth on each side of the space created by the lost tooth have to support it. This could put stress on those nearby teeth, making them more vulnerable to deterioration.
Similarly, partial dentures rely on adjacent teeth for support, which could cause the teeth to become loose. Dental implants are independent tooth replacements that are not held in place by the natural teeth next to them.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dental Implants
The following are among the most common questions that patients have about dental implants:
How Do Dental Implants Function?
If you do have enough jawbone mass to hold up a dental implant, then your dental practitioner can complete the operation in 4 steps. These steps consist of:
- Implant or implants placement
- Osseointegration, also known as bone development and healing (could take a few months)
- Abutment placement (where the dental crown attaches)
- The placement of the new tooth
What Advantages Do Dental Implants Have Over Other Treatment Alternatives?
Dental implants provide several advantages, including:
- Predictable and great results with an improved appearance, chewing abilities, speech, and overall dental health
- Most importantly, implants provide patients the self-assurance to eat, smile, and interact with others in public without being self-conscious or worried that their false teeth will fall out
- The healthy bone left behind is preserved following extraction
- Preservation of surrounding teeth and enamel since they don't require treatment to fill a gap created by missing teeth (for example dental bridges)
- Cavity resistance because implants don't deteriorate as our teeth do
- There is a chance for a permanent restoration compared to removable prostheses
- Assists in keeping a detachable prosthesis in place
What Is the Procedure for Getting Dental Implants?
- First Step. A Comprehensive Examination
The first stage is a comprehensive analysis and preparation of a treatment regimen
- Second Step. Dental Implant Placement
After a physical evaluation, several steps are involved in implant placement and the final restoration:
- After being surgically implanted into the jawbone, a titanium post that is shaped like a screw screw-shaped is left there to heal
- The implant is put in place, and a prosthetic abutment is then secured in place, for a single-stage surgery
- In a two-stage method, the implant is placed, then the gum tissues are placed over it and left to recover
As it heals, the dental implant will fuse, or "osseointegrate," with the jawbone to create a solid, long-lasting base for the prosthesis. This could happen in a matter of weeks or months. A makeshift prosthesis can sometimes be utilized to reconstruct the region while the dental implant heals.
- Third Step: Securing the Abutment
Abutments are fastened onto implants once they have integrated and gone through the gum tissue. After that, the completed prosthesis—which could be a single tooth, a dental bridge, or dentures with several teeth—is fastened to the dental abutment.
In a single-stage process, the permanent (or final) dental abutment is put in place, and an imprint (or a 3D ultrasound scan) is obtained to use in creating a crown that will look just like your teeth.
In a two-stage process, an additional operation is carried out to expose the implant so that the abutment can be attached to it.
- Fourth Step. Fitting and Re-Evaluation
Once the crown is complete, it is joined to the dental abutment. To guarantee a satisfactory fit, appearance, and functionality, one or even more follow-up appointments are usually made after.
The final step is to continue at-home maintenance and schedule routine dental appointments (as advised by your dental professional) to keep your implants healthy.
How Soon will I Receive My Implants?
The length of implant treatment differs for each patient and is influenced by a variety of factors. It involves planning and evaluation, surgical implant placement, recovery, and placement of final restorations over the dental implants. The complete course of treatment can take anywhere from inserting implants and restorations right away after your tooth is extracted to a few months or an entire year afterward.
Usually, more complicated therapies take longer. It is advisable to speak with a dental care professional, as they can assess your medical and dental histories as well as your current health to identify the best course of action.
Are There Risks Associated With Getting Dental Implants?
The majority of dental implant treatments are secure, and safe, and include a comparatively comfortable process. Before receiving dental implant treatments, you may need to speak with your doctor about any major health conditions you may have, including uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart problems.
Receiving dental implants shouldn't be a problem when you've had teeth removed without any issues. Your dentist will go through any risks related to your implant care requirements.
What is the Cost of Getting Dental Implants?
Depending on how much work needs to be done, dental implant treatment prices can vary. With implants, you could replace one tooth, a few teeth, or every one of your teeth.
The cost of implants is comparable to other more traditional replacement methods when only one tooth needs to be replaced (for example, dental bridges, and partials). Implants typically cost more than standard tooth-replacement options like removable dentures when numerous teeth need to be replaced or the restoration is more complicated.
Your final out-of-pocket expense for getting dental implants might vary from several hundred to a few thousand dollars based on several factors:
- The number of teeth that need to be replaced
- Required preliminary therapy, like tissue or tissue grafting
- Your preferred type of tooth replacement: permanent or detachable
- The condition of your gums and jawbone
- Choosing to pay out of pocket rather than using insurance coverage
To give you a precise price estimate, your dental practitioner will first carry out a thorough assessment and consider your oral needs and present condition. This is so that dental implants can be made specifically for you. The course of therapy will then be outlined in writing together with an estimation of the time required and related costs.
Find a Professional Los Angeles Dentist Near Me
If missing teeth have impacted your overall health, dental implants could be an excellent choice for tooth repair. Our team at Washington Dental can evaluate your specific concerns and help you determine whether implant-supported repairs may be beneficial to your dental health. Our professionals can also assist you in restoring and maintaining proper oral health. Visit our offices in Carson, Los Angeles, Lomita, or Torrance to begin your journey toward living a healthier life.
