Tooth loss may be an inevitable process of life but nonetheless can interfere greatly with one’s lifestyle and comfort. However, with the advancements in the dental industry, you will no longer have to engage in the discomfort of dentures and the short-lived flimsiness of dental bridgeworks. Dental implants are incredible dental fabrications that allow individuals to receive comfort and function much like natural teeth. Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically inserted on to your jaw bone with a crown attached above the gum line to make it look natural. They replace missing teeth in such a way that the metal post acts as the root of the tooth and an abutment fitted on it acts as the crown.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Unlike many of its predecessors (dentures and dental bridges), dental implants offer a multitude of benefits that make it superior and commendable. Your dentist makes sure your dental implants check these boxes:

• Aesthetics

Dental implants are aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking. They feel like your natural teeth and can give you your smile and self-esteem back.

• Functionality

Not only do they look like real teeth but they also function like real teeth. Since they fuse to the jaw bone and are created to be custom-fit to your jaw, they are comfortable additions to your mouth and make it easier to eat and talk, increasing the quality of life.

Unlike conventional dentures, they also do not slip and slide or cause bone damage.

• Durability

With dental implants, there is no fear of loosening over time which could be one of the many drawbacks of dentures or bridgeworks.

Unlike its predecessors (the dentures or bridges), it is a long-lasting and permanent solution to tooth loss and cannot be unscrewed or removed by the patient. This allows for its high success rate.

• Convenience

They require minimum maintenance as they eliminate the pains of constant cleaning and cleansing of normal dentures.

They can benefit oral health as they are not anchored to other teeth, unlike bridges. Adjacent teeth do not need to be ground down to support these.

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

Cost: They can be slightly on the pricier end of the spectrum and may not be covered by your dental insurance.

Surgery: Since dental implants are surgical procedures, they can cause bleeding, bruising and swelling at the site of implantation. Often times, additional procedures like bone grafting for patients with inadequate bone support and sinus lifts for people with sinuses too close to the jaw bone may be required. This adds to the already long surgery and recovery timeline.

Complications: Sometimes, such a complex surgical procedure can cause nerve damage or infections but it is quite rare.

Issues to be resolved before dental implants

Tooth loss or injury that compromises its function is a cry for replacement- the most sophisticated and reliable of which is the Dental Implant. In order for dental implants to successfully thrive in your mouth, a few considerations need to be in place:

●       Smoking: Cigarettes or even non-tobacco products like vapes lower the production of saliva. Since the saliva is a natural Roomba for your mouth and cleanses food debris left behind, lower saliva production can jump-start the development of tartar and can erode the bones to cause tooth loss. Avoid smoking!

●       Gum disease: Your teeth could have been subjected to gum disease due to improper oral hygiene that eats away at neighboring tissues and bones causing the teeth to loosen and ultimately fall out. Seek treatment for such ailments before dental implantation procedures.

●       Improper hygiene: Diabetes or any other immunity compromising disorder, coupled with smoking and poor oral health is a sure recipe for tooth damage. Proper oral prophylaxis is a must!

Can anyone get dental implants?

Most of the time, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery is eligible to get a dental implant. Patients are required to have healthy gums and adequate bone to hold the implant.

Smokers are usually not considered as valuable candidates for dental implants as smoking can negatively impact the success of dental implants. The patients should also be committed to proper oral prophylaxis and free of any bad consumption habits like cigarettes.

People suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders such as diabetes or heart disease or patients who have had radiation therapy to the head and neck region in the recent past need to be evaluated by a doctor prior to getting a dental implant.

How much do they cost?

First thing’s first, not all dental implants cost the same. But generally speaking, you can see yourself paying anywhere from $1000 to $3000 for just one implant. If you want to avoid dentures, a full set of implants can easily cost you $30000 or more. You might spend around $2,000 for having one implant installed, plus another $400 for the abutment, and another $2,000 for the crown, bringing your total cost to $4,400. But if you need x-rays, extractions, bone grafts, and other extras, you should expect to cover additional costs for those procedures as well.

With about 98% success rate advocating for the reliability of this innovative procedure, dentists all over the world make certain to recommend dental implants to the masses as a clear-cut solution to tooth loss. Owing to its incredible functionality and unbeatable aesthetics, the dental implant is your best bet at getting a stunning, Insta-ready smile. This is your time to shine with unwavering confidence and beautiful pearly whites! Dental implants work to fit perfectly in your mouth and make sure your functional abilities stay intact. Find your dentist and get your Dental Implant done today and say goodbye to tooth loss forever!