Scenario: You’re a twenty- or thirty-something professional with your whole life ahead of you. Chances are you’re either still looking for Mr. or Ms. Right or in a fairly young relationship. You’ve taken care of your teeth your whole life, but stuff happens and now one (or two!) of your teeth are badly decayed or damaged. You can choose between getting:
- a root canal followed by a crown,
- extraction followed by a bridge or a partial denture, or
- a dental implant to replace the missing teeth with permanent artificial ones.
If you want the gold standard, and let’s face it, who wouldn’t, your only real option should be a dental implant. Here are six reasons our dental clinic in Surrey recommends choosing implants over the alternatives.
1. More Natural
Implants feel, fit and function like natural teeth, and can be used on both your upper and lower jaw. Bridges and partial dentures can interfere with the way you speak or chew, and cause discomfort that could bother you for as long as you wear them. One advantage of dental implants is that they behave exactly like your natural teeth, which means you won’t even be aware of their existence.
2. One-Time Cost
Dental implants incur a one-time cost for the insertion of the metal post into your jawbone. The artificial tooth is then cemented onto the post, and unless you have an accident or injury that causes damage, it can last a lifetime. Crowns, bridges and partial dentures all typically need to be replaced after around 5 or 10 years, depending on the option you choose. This means you have to be prepared to budget for dental expenses in the future.
3. Better Fit
Partial dentures are particularly notorious for being uncomfortable. No matter how good your dentist or denturist is, putting a loose prosthesis into your mouth can never work as well as a permanent, natural tooth. A dental implant, on the other hand, imitates your natural teeth so well you won’t even be aware of its existence. This will give you more confidence to smile and speak without concern that it will move, fall out or cause you pain.
4.Prevents Bone Loss
The loss of bone density and strength usually follows the extraction of a tooth. Bone is a living tissue, which needs continual stimulation to remain healthy and to keep rebuilding itself. Even if you lose just one tooth, the bone that supported it starts to resort, or “melt” away, causing changes to your appearance and leaving the jaw vulnerable to damage. The dental implants procedure ensures the posts fuse themselves to the bone, which stabilizes it and prevents it from losing mass. None of the other tooth replacement options deliver this benefit.
5. Safer for Other Teeth
Some of the methods of tooth replacement can have an adverse effect on the adjacent natural teeth. Bridges, for example, are supported by the teeth on either side of the gap, which can put a strain on them and cause the teeth to become loose. Partial dentures can rub on the back of natural teeth, with the same result. Dental implants have no effect on your natural teeth, which means you can go on with your life without worrying.
6.Easy After-Care
Dental implants aftercare is exactly the same as caring for your natural teeth. There’s no requirement to remove them or to clean the implants with any special products. They’ll never need filling or root canals, never decay or need replacement unless they sustain damage as a result of an accident. The only dental issue that could compromise your implants is gum disease, but this can be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene, having regular dental exams and professional teeth cleanings.
Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime, and with reasonable, basic care they can do so even better than natural teeth do.
For more information about dental implants or to book an appointment with our dental clinic in Surrey, BC, please contact 604-593-7866 today.
