Dental Implants
What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
A dental implant acts just like a real tooth root, maintain complete stability of the attached tooth or teeth and stimulating the surrounding bone so that the bone maintains its volume. When properly placed, and with proper care, teeth implants can last a lifetime. Dental implants are often the most conservative option, and can be a better solution than complex dental work to try to save a tooth, where the tooth is already compromised.
Do I Need a Dental Implant or a Dental Bridge?
A dental bridge is used to replace one or two missing teeth. With a bridge, a false tooth or teeth are supported by the two adjacent teeth, which need to be cut down and capped as a part of the procedure. Grinding down these teeth compromises their integrity, opening them up for decay and possible failure as supporting teeth. The average lifespan of a bridge, per a study published by the American Dental Association, is only 10.1 years. A dental implant is almost always the more ideal replacement option for a single missing tooth.
Dental Implants vs Dentures
"Dentures have many drawbacks," says Dr. Strange. "They are also unstable that the denture-wearers have a hard time eating foods that they like and keep them healthy. They also accelerate bone loss, eventually causing a 'sunken' look in the lower face."Implant-supported dentures can stabilize by having them snap onto implants, although the most viable and healthy option is a fixed-in tooth replacement using dental implants.
What Are the Disadvantages of Dentures?
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Dentures provide only a maximum of 25 percent of natural chewing power, which means a restricted diet for most people. "Most dentures have a lot less chewing power than 25 percent." says Dr. Strange, "as they are hard to keep well-fitted due to the progressive bone loss under the denture, making them slip and slide easily"
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Bone loss occurs when teeth are missing, and dentures accelerate this bone loss process, causing the eventual collapse of facial muscles. This causes the chin to move toward the nose, lips to become thinner, and the cheeks to sink inwards, causing deep wrinkles and folds.
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This continuous loss of bone causes the dentures to constantly lose their fit, causing sores and making chewing painful and further discourages a healthy diet.
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Who Can Get a Dental Implant?
With modern technology and procedures already used by Easley Dental Center, most patients are now candidates for dental implants. People of almost every walk of life can take advantage of the benefits of dental implants.
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Who is Not a Good Candidate for a Dental Implant?
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Children without a fully developed jaw; this occurs around age 17 for boys and ages 14 to 16 for girls.
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People who take certain medications that can suppress the immune system.
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People with certain habits pertaining to their mouth such as teeth clenching or grinding which may put too much stress on a dental implant.
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Too Little Bone
In the past, too little bone was an impediment to having implants placed. Now, with our dental clinic's Planmeca Promax 2D 3D Imaging System and the precise nature of tooth implant placement, most patients can receive dental implants.
Health Conditions Previously, people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, or unhealthy habits, such as smoking, were considered too high of a risk for teeth implants. Now, people with these conditions can usually receive implants, although these conditions can reduce the success rate of the procedure due to these patients' lessened healing capabilities. The doctor assesses a patient's medical and oral condition carefully to evaluate whether they are in fact a candidate for teeth implants, or to determine what measures to take to ensure successful treatment.
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