Tooth replacement has been a very important part of dental treatment for quite some time. Believe it or not, “dentures” or at least some form of replacement teeth have been used for thousands of years. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that actual dental implants were invented. So, what makes dental implants so popular when compared to something like traditional dentures, fixed bridges, or other forms of tooth replacement? Keep reading to find out and contact Same Day Implants if you’re ready to schedule an appointment with us.
What Is A Dental Implant?
Dental implants are designed to be the most true-to-life replication of a natural tooth. What this means is that they mimic their look, feel, and durability, while helping to preserve your oral health. Dental implants are developing alongside things like prosthetic limbs that are designed to restore functionality to a hand or a leg for handicap patients. Many people don’t realize how difficult it can be to function and live a normal life after they’ve lost one or more teeth and dental implants have proven to be the answer to this unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable issue.
They’re Effective
The main reason that dental implants are so popular nowadays is that they’re effective and do exactly what people say they do. Many people have a hard time believing that they will ever have a true-to-life replication of their natural teeth until they hear of a friend or acquaintance who had a tooth replaced with a dental implant.
The bottom line is that dental implants function exactly like your natural teeth. They afford you the same biting force, aesthetic, feel, and overall durability. Oftentimes, people who got one or more dental implants forget that they ever had the procedure done and friends and family members can’t even tell the difference between their natural teeth and their implants. All of these things have contributed to the increase in popularity of dental implants.
Success Rate
Another undeniable benefit of dental implants is their high success rate. Many people fear going to the dentist or periodontist and committing to any major procedure because they believe there is a high chance of failure.
Although some medical procedures have low success rates, dental implants are not one of those. According to a study done by the Journal of Dental Research, dental implants have about a 98 percent success rate. And this is including all dental specialists who perform implants including dentists, periodontists, and endodontists. Although many dental specialists can provide dental implants, if you want the highest success rate, you should go to a board-certified periodontist and dental implant specialist.
Long-Term Results
One of the biggest frustrations about traditional dentures and fixed bridges is that they aren’t a long-term solution to dental issues by any means. In reality, they’re more of a temporary fix and can even cause more problems than they solve in many cases. First and foremost, these options do not provide you with optimal chewing functionality meaning you have to give up a lot of the foods that you know and love. Second, they do not preserve bone tissue in the jaw meaning that the jaw and the face as a whole will start to change shape. Although this can be restored, the longer it’s delayed, the harder it will be. Finally, you won’t have to worry about your smile anymore. Although dentures can look real, there’s a lot of anxiety that comes along with knowing that they aren’t fixed and they can be taken out at any time.
They’re Adaptable
Let’s face it, everyone who goes to visit a periodontist is facing a different situation. Some people lost multiple teeth due to periodontal disease while others lost a tooth due to an injury but have otherwise healthy teeth and gums. It may seem like it would be impossible to guarantee functioning teeth to all these people who are experiencing different issues. However, the dental implant procedure has been refined and improved so much that nearly every person who walks in the door qualifies for dental implants, and sometimes even a same-day dental implant procedure. But this doesn’t mean that the procedure will be exactly the same for everyone. If someone has lost a significant amount of bone tissue in the jaw either due to losing multiple teeth or due to periodontal disease, it will most likely have to be restored through a bone grafting process before dental implants can be applied.
They’re Replaceable
Although replacing the dental implant itself would require an extraction, you’ll be happy to know that the crown of the dental implant is easily replaceable. With most dental implants, the porcelain crown is either screwed on or cemented on. If you ever crack the crown or it splits, you can easily have it replaced with another one without having to go through another surgical procedure. This is in contrast to if you split one of your natural teeth which is oftentimes a medical emergency and can result in a loss of the tooth.
They Improve Appearance
Not only do dental implants restore your appearance, but they can also actually improve it! If you’ve had missing teeth for some time, you’ve probably gotten used to having an uneven or droopy-looking jawline and having to avoid smiling for pictures. What happens when you lose a tooth is the jawbone is no longer stimulated by chewing and biting, so the bone begins to resorb. This is what causes the loss in facial structure. Since this process can happen slowly, you may not notice how bad it’s gotten. Dental implants act as a real tooth by stimulating that area and causing the bone to grow back.
Schedule An Appointment With Us
Our dental implant specialists are always ready to speak with you about your oral health and well-being. In your first appointment, we will speak with you and analyze your oral health to determine if dental implants are right for you. Give us a call today to learn more.
