Dental Implants: More Than Just Cosmetic, They Can be Life Changing

There will come a time in everyone’s life when the subject of dental health will become a topic to be dealt with. Like every other part of the human body, teeth age and with the passage of years. bones and teeth begin to wear down and deteriorate. Dentures, dental bridges and dental implants are all options to be weighed, considered and investigated before a decision is made for the correct procedure for the individual patient.

Genetics, age, trauma, poor diet, smoking, drug use – there are numerous reasons a person would need to consider the use of dental implants. A chipped or broken tooth due to an accident, a cracked or lost tooth caused by decay -- life happens. The important issue at hand is that the tooth needs to be replaced, and not simply for cosmetic reasons: if a tooth is left out, the jaw bone will begin to deteriorate, causing a shift and change in the overall facial structure and creating additional health issues for the patient.

Dental implants are made of titanium and are inserted directly into the jaw bone (root), a crown based on an impression of the patient’s upper/lower jaw is created and the abutment and crown are installed. While this is a surgical procedure, there are many benefits to implants vs. dentures or dental bridges.

Dentures or a dental bridge are an option to consider, but both are merely temporary fixes and both require the surrounding teeth to be altered or removed for a proper fit to be accomplished. The dentures or bridge will not offer support to the jaw bone, which will eventually begin to deteriorate. Also, restrictions to diet are necessary, and some patients report a change in their speech pattern, an annoying “clicking” sound and discomfort. Dentures and a dental bridge cost less than dental implants initially, but both will need to be replaced several times over the years as the facial structure shifts and changes, so overall the cost may be equal or more than the implants.

Implants are a permanent solution to tooth replacement, whether one tooth or several teeth need to be replaced. Several surgeons are offering an “all in one day” procedure, as they are operating as a unit with the surgeon, lab and restorative dentist all working under the same roof. Not every patient will qualify for the one day procedure, as some cases may be more complex and will require to be spread out over several weeks or months before completion of the process. Follow-up examinations are critical to the overall health of the patient.

Choosing the dental implant route is a permanent solution to tooth loss and allows the patient to live a “normal” life without diet restrictions and speech pattern changes. It also alleviates the concern of facial/jaw bone loss. If the jaw bone deteriorates, it can cause premature aging, a shift in appearance and further damage to the remaining teeth. Implants can protect against these health issues. So while there are multiple solutions to tooth loss, an evaluation by an oral surgeon should be the first step a patient takes before deciding what direction is best for them; but in the end dental implants offer the most benefits toward a full and healthy life.

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