If you have a missing tooth, you know how embarrassing smiling or talking can be, so instead of hiding your smile, maybe you should consider tooth-replacement options. While you have many to choose from, many patients love dental implants for their great durability and beauty. If you are interested in dental implants, check out five important facts you should know first.
Dental Implants Are Durable and Long-Lasting
Your teeth withstand a lot of pressure when you eat or grind your teeth at night, but healthy teeth are
durable enough to withstand daily wear and tear because the jawbone supports them and ligaments secure them.
Dental implants are the only tooth-replacement option that also uses the jawbone for support.
Treatment begins by inserting a titanium artificial root into the jawbone, and as the area heals, the jawbone actually fuses to the titanium root, mimicking ligaments. Therefore, with proper care, your dental implant will be incredibly durable and long-lasting.
Dental Implants Can Protect Your Jawbone
Healthy teeth play a huge role in the overall health of your jawbone: they stimulate it. This keeps your jawbone strong enough to support teeth and dental implants.
However, when you lose teeth or develop advanced gum disease, your jawbone can shrink, increasing the risk of tooth loss. The more teeth you are missing, the more the jawbone changes shape, which could alter the entire structure of the lower portion of your face. Like healthy teeth, dental implants stimulate the jawbone so it stays strong.
Dental Implants Replace One or More Missing Teeth
Dental implants are a great choice if you are missing one tooth, but they can also replace all your teeth. For a single missing tooth, a single dental implant is the best choice, but if you are missing multiple teeth, multiple single dental implants are no longer cost-effective.
Instead, implant-supported dentures or an implant-supported bridge might be best. Like single implants, they use titanium roots to support the prosthetic, but they use fewer roots, saving you money.
Dental Implant Treatment May Take Months
If you want a fast solution, dental implants may not be the best choice because treatment can take months, and if you need additional procedures, such as a bone graft to strengthen your jawbone, the process takes even longer.
The entire procedure must go in stages, and the area must heal between stages. First, the dentist prepares the area, which may include extraction and/or bone graft. Next, after the dentist inserts the implant and after it heals, the dentist places the crown to complete the procedure.
Dental Implants Are Expensive
The biggest reason patients may shy away from dental implants is the high price. Because they are so durable and long-lasting, a single dental implant may cost you at least $2,400, but that doesn’t include any additional procedures, such as the bone graft you may need. With all the procedures, the total cost may be as high as $10,000, and dental insurance does not usually cover any of the cost.
On the other hand, with proper care, your implant can last a long time, but dental bridges and dentures usually need to be replaced more often.
Many Americans have missing teeth from poor oral hygiene, genetics, or trauma, but that does not mean you have to accept your missing teeth. Dental implants are a great option to replace missing teeth because of their extreme durability.
Dental implants are like an investment in your smile. If you are ready to start treatment, contact us today at Dr. Jerry F Maymi and Asso