Dental implants have become an increasingly popular choice for people who want to replace missing teeth, and for good reason! They offer a range of benefits that can improve your oral health and overall quality of life.
In this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the benefits of dental implants, so you can make an informed decision about whether they are the right choice for you.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant refers to the insertion of an artificial “root” into the jawbone to support a crown, bridge or denture, essentially mimicking a natural tooth’s structure.
The material itself is made of biocompatible materials to facilitate osseointegration, which is the process in which the implant naturally fuses with the jawbone, providing stability and support for the prosthetic tooth.
Dental implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth, and provide a long-lasting solution that is virtually identical to a real tooth.
Dental implants have a high success rate when placed properly, and can last a lifetime with proper care.
Types of Dental Implants
Single implant Crown
Once the process of osseointegration is completed, the single implant is ready to support an implant crown.
An implant crown is the tooth component that can withstand chewing forces. They are typically cemented onto an abutment, which is screwed down to the implant component.
Implant bridges
While implant crowns use a single implant, implant bridges can be used to replace multiple missing teeth.
Implant bridges are used to create a bridge of crowns that are supported by two or more implants.
Overdentures
Dentures rely on suction and rely on your gum tissue to rest on, making them tissue supported, which means that they’ll inevitably become looser as time goes on.
An alternative solution is an overdenture, which is composed of the same material as dentures, but has an additional housing component embedded into the denture.
This allows them to click into implants, similar to a button on a raincoat, for a better retention. Overdentures keep your dentures in place while you speak and laugh, as well as help with chewing.
Zirconia Hybrid
Zirconia Hybrids refers to a full mouth restoration that is permanently mounted to 4-8 implants within your mouth to provide the most convenient and functional prosthesis available today.
Compared to acrylic hybrid dentures, zirconia hybrids are made of zirconia. Zirconia is not porous and prevents fungus, residue or bacteria clinging to it as acrylic dentures do.
Zirconia is a much more resilient material, and allows for a much greater amount of chewing force, so you can enjoy the foods you did when you had a full set of teeth.
The Candidates for Dental Implants
Candidates for dental implants include those with :
- One or more missing teeth
- Broken teeth
- Teeth that have decayed beyond repair
- Ideally, sufficient bone to enable osseointegration, although there are now solutions such as bone reconstruction that enable most patients to receive implants.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth
Since dental implants are anchored in the jawbone, dental implants look and feel like natural teeth, and are as stable and secure as natural teeth.
Since they come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, your dentist can perfectly match the dental implant to the color and shape of your surrounding teeth.
Aside from superior aesthetics, the most impressive benefit of a dental implant is its functionality.
A dental implant restores full chewing power, and can be brushed and flossed normally without giving it a second thought. There is no need for cleansing tablets or special flosses.
Dental implants enable you to once again eat, talk and smile with confidence!
Can last a lifetime
Since dental implants are made from incredibly durable, biocompatible and non-toxic materials like titanium and zirconia, they can last a lifetime.
With proper care, dental implants end up being the more economical option compared to other tooth replacement methods, such as dental bridges, which only last around 10 years.
Prevent bone loss and maintain the shape of the face
Among the many important uses of teeth (chewing, speaking, smiling..) is maintaining the structure of the jaw.
Teeth essentially serve as scaffolding for the jaw, and if a part or parts of said scaffolding are missing, bone loss is inevitable due to a lack of stimulation, which leads to facial sagging, wrinkles around the mouth, thinning lips and a more pointed chin.
In fact, if an implant is not placed within the first year of losing a tooth, that area loses roughly 25% of its volume, which only continues as time goes on.
Since dental implants replace the tooth and the root, the necessary stimulation for natural bone growth and maintenance is restored.
Maintain the stability of the adjacent teeth
A gap from a missing tooth can create an unwanted domino effect in the adjacent teeth, which naturally shift towards the gap.
This shifting of the adjacent teeth can impact the bite, chewing ability, and overall appearance.
These changes can also eventually interfere with tooth replacement down the line, and a poor bite can lead to problems with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which is linked to jaw pain and headaches.
Can keep gum disease at bay and improve overall oral health
A missing tooth gap acts as a trap for food and bacteria and can lead to gum disease, gum recession and even more tooth loss.
Since dental implants don’t rely on adjacent teeth for support, your natural teeth are not subjected to unnatural wear and tear.
Dental implants are multifaceted
Dental implants can replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even all of your teeth. They’re the modern standard for tooth replacement!
Can improve your overall quality of life
Since dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth, they can improve your quality of life in several ways :
- Eat your favorite foods
- Speak clearly
- Smile with confidence, boosting self-esteem and overall-well being
Modern Day Dental | Dental Implants Jacksonville, Florida
Whether you need a routine dental check-up, cosmetic work, teeth whitening, veneers, dental implants, or any other dental service, you can trust Dr. Kulynych and his team at Modern Day Dental to provide you with personalized, high-quality care.
Dr. K has placed hundreds of dental implants, and will happily spend the time to explain the details of the procedure and answer your questions. We routinely use dental implants to replace single and multiple missing teeth.
To make an appointment, call 904-506-0097 or click here to request an appointment online.