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Implants - Why an Implant?

Recently Dental implants are gaining in popularity as people become more aware of the cosmetic benefits of this alternative to traditional dental prosthetics like dentures or bridges. Several considerations come into play when deciding on whether or not to utilize dental implants, including overall dental health , cost, and dental insurance coverage . Other factors include improvement to dental health and cosmetic concerns.

Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Getting a dental implant is a serious commitment to your dental health . Implants can be cosmetically more appealing than dentures or bridges, but they can also be more costly. In many cases, implants are not covered by dental insurance, so the cost of getting a dental implant may be a factor in deciding whether or not to get this form of prosthetic dental device.

However, if cost is not a factor, other questions must be addressed. You need to have a jaw that is strong enough and has enough bone density to maintain the implant posts or you need to be able to have bone grafts. Also, you need to have healthy gums and oral tissues. Finally, you need to be healthy enough so that other health conditions will not hinder healing from the implantation procedure. If you have uncontrolled diabetes or other serious health conditions, you may not be a candidate for implants.

Benefits of Dental Implants

One of the primary benefits of dental implants is simply that a missing tooth is replaced. Missing teeth can make us appear older than we are and be cosmetically unappealing.

Missing teeth can be detrimental and damaging to overall dental health. A missing tooth exposes gums and creates the increased possibility of infection and abscess in the gums.

Additionally, the longer a tooth is missing, the more likelihood that the bone of the jaw will be damaged. Once a tooth is removed, regardless of the cause, the bone where that tooth was located begins to dissolve and soften. This is a natural occurrence, but it also affects the surrounding teeth, which may begin to tilt or shift as the surrounding bone changes, potentially leading to further tooth loss.

Another benefit of dental implants is improved diet. Approximately 30% of people with dentures eat primarily soft foods and almost half of denture wearers avoid specific foods that are challenging to chew or bite into. Dental implants, because they are permanently attached to the jaw, alleviate these problems, allowing users to eat healthier diets with a wide variety of food choices.

Summary

Dental implants can definitely improve a smile and improve overall health. When a tooth is lost, bone where that tooth was located begins to deteriorate, affecting the surrounding teeth and potentially resulting in additional tooth loss. Following a thorough evaluation from your dentist , you may choose dental implants as an alternative to dentures or bridges to replace lost or missing teeth. While dental implants can be expensive, their benefits - both cosmetic and in terms of health - can make them well worth the cost.