Basically, dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. It’s considered as one of the procedures of cosmetic dentistry. You can say a dental implant is like a surgical fixture placed into the jawbone and left to adjust with it over the next few months. A person might need dental implants to support a bridge or a replacement tooth. These days, only a dental implant can closely mimic the authenticity of a real tooth because it stands like a real tooth without any support and doesn’t affect other teeth.
The process of fusing a dental implant into the jawbone is known as osseointegration. The most common kind of dental implants is made of titanium. Titanium allows the implant to integrate with the jawbone without singling it out as a foreign object. With rapid advancements in dental science, the outcome of placing a dental implant has improved over the years. Today, the success rate for placing dental implants is almost 98%.
Why Does One Need Dental Implants?
These days, dental implants are recommended to replace one tooth, several teeth, or even all of your teeth. The purpose of replacing teeth in dentistry is twofold – restoring the basic function of your teeth and aesthetics.
Why Is Dental Implant the Best Option?
When it comes to replacing a tooth, there are three common options for you to consider. The first option is the removable dental appliance, like a partial or complete denture. The second option is a fixed dental bridge. And the third option is a dental implant. Although dentures are the most affordable options, they’re the least desirable one, owing to the inconvenience involved with removing and inserting an appliance in the mouth. Another reason why dentures are not very popular is that they compromise a person’s taste and sensory experience when eating food.
A few years back, dental bridgework used to be the most popular option to replace a tooth. But the problem with dental bridgework is that it needs the support of the existing and natural teeth. That’s why dental implants have become a more preferred choice for people seeking tooth replacements today. The only support a dental implant needs is of the bone only and it doesn’t affect the surrounding teeth as well.
Factors on Which the Choice Depends
When you have to replace a tooth, you have to choose between the three common options available. Deciding on which option to go with depends on the following factors.
- The location of a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth
- The quality and quantity of your jawbone where the implant has to be placed
- The overall health of the patient
- The cost and affordability
- The preference of the patient
Although dental implants are the best option for tooth replacement because they are stable and look like natural teeth, a dentist still needs to examine the area where the dental implant is to be placed and assess whether or not a person is fit for an implant. If you want to know which tooth replacement method will be the best for you, contact The Gentle Dentist and seek a professional advice without further delay. Please visit our website at www.TheGentleDentist.com or call us at 586-247-3500