Nearly 120 million people in the U.S. are missing one or more teeth. This is an extraordinary 25% of the population potentially affected by missing teeth. Missing teeth can impact your self-confidence as well as your physical health. While you have many different options when it comes to replacing one or more missing teeth, dental implants come with a host of benefits that make them worth the time and money to consider. Here are nine benefits of dental implants for your beautiful smile.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are a type of dental restoration that uses titanium posts and screws to attach one or more dental crowns as replacement teeth. These titanium posts attach to the jawbone itself, providing more stability and support to each dental crown.
The dental implants procedure requires at least two visits. Your dentist will first surgically set the post in the jawbone and cast a mold for the crown of the implant.
After a period of healing, during which time the implant and bone will bond, you will return to the dentist to have the crown portion of the implant set into the post. Your dentist will check for fit, bite, and comfort and follow up with you several weeks later to make sure the implant is still comfortable and performing well.
Types of dental implants
There are a few different types of implants. The one you choose depends largely on how many teeth need to be replaced. It also depends on where in the mouth they are located.
The major types of dental implants include:
- Mini dental implants: Smaller and used often to replace a single tooth
- All-on-4 implants: Implants that replace a full mouth of teeth but only use four implants to do so
- Full mouth implants: Traditional implants that replace an entire set of teeth (instead of utilizing dentures)
How can dental implants help my smile?
Dental implants do more than just fill in the gap created by missing teeth. There are many dental implant benefits that are well worth the time and money it takes to replace teeth in this way. Here are nine major benefits.
1. Dental implants last a long time
Dental implants may not last forever, but they certainly come close as one of the sturdiest dental restorations out there.
How long do dental implants last? Five clinical research studies show that when cared for properly, dental implants have an average lifespan of 20 years. Some patients report dental implants lasting for 50 years or more!
2. They improve bone density
While it’s true that patients need a certain amount of healthy bone to receive a dental implant, once they have an implant in place, bone health usually improves.
The action of chewing with the dental implant in the jawbone stimulates bone growth.
3. They maintain the health of your other teeth
If you lose one or more teeth and do not replace them, your other teeth will shift and move to fill in the space.
This means that your bite will become misaligned, which can lead to more dental issues down the road. Dental implants preserve healthy tooth alignment.
4. Dental implants look great
When done by a highly-trained ceramicist, dental implants constructed from ceramic or porcelain provide the most natural look and are almost identical to existing teeth.
This makes the visual transition from natural teeth to dental implants seamless.
5. Can improve your self-confidence
Missing teeth can be a major source of embarrassment or discomfort.
Natural-looking dental implants can restore your confidence in your smile by replacing missing teeth that may have been holding you back.
6. Dental implants are sturdy
Especially when replacing an entire mouth full of teeth, dental implants are sturdy and will not slip around when you talk, eat, or are active.
Dentures-wearing patients can sometimes live in fear of dentures popping out, especially as they become worn or ill-fitting over time. Since dental implants are actually attached to the jaw, they function exactly as normal teeth do, with no worry about shifting or popping out.
7. Dental implants always fit
For other full-mouth restorations like dentures, there is always the possibility that changes in your mouth over time will eventually cause the restoration to become obsolete.
That is, your dentures may become too large or too worn, or they may crack and not function as well as they should. Dental implants do not come with this concern.
8. After placement, they’re incredibly comfortable
We won’t sugarcoat it: the procedure for receiving dental implants is involved and can be accompanied by (manageable) discomfort. That said, once the implants are in place and completely healed, they are incredibly comfortable.
Think of how your healthy natural teeth feel. That’s what implants will feel like – nothing different or strange, just natural.
9. Treatment is predictable
When it comes to dental restorations, being predictable is a good thing. Dental implants behave the same way in nearly every patient’s mouth, with a straightforward healing process. Since the process is rather involved, it’s nice to know as a patient exactly what to expect!
The many benefits of dental implants make them a popular choice to restore your beautiful smile.
Are there any disadvantages of dental implants?
There are some disadvantages of dental implants that you might want to consider. Dental implants are among the most costly of dental restorations for missing teeth, and many insurance companies will not cover their costs (or will cover significantly less than other procedures). Additionally, dental implants do involve oral surgery and a considerable period of healing that can be uncomfortable.
When you consider that dental implants can potentially last a lifetime, these disadvantages may not seem so important. If you are looking for dental implants, it’s important to take your time to find a qualified, compassionate dentist to help restore your smile.
For dental implants in the greater Phoenix area, AZ Dentist can help. Give us a call today to explore all of your options!
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