Have you lost your confidence and eating habits because of missing teeth or loose dentures? If so, worry no more, because dental implants have revolutionized restorative dentistry by surgically implanting artificial roots that anchor the restoration of your choice, offering solutions beyond conventional methods. Dental implants provide the strength and stability you need to stimulate the jawbone to prevent resorption, which alters your overall appearance, and replace your missing teeth to prevent the adverse effects of tooth loss. Here are the reasons implants are deemed a game-changer in restorative dentistry.
Understanding Dental Implants
Dental implants are tiny titanium screws or threaded posts surgically implanted in the jawbone to replace a missing or damaged tooth. These implants then fuse with the jawbone through osseointegration, creating a solid, stable foundation similar to that of a natural tooth root. With the artificial roots functioning like natural ones, the jawbone remains stimulated, preventing bone resorption. Additionally, the implants fill gaps in your mouth, improving your smile and your eating habits.
Dental implants have three main components. The first is the titanium post, which serves as the artificial tooth root. Another component is the connector or abutment, which is screwed into place above the titanium screws and extends above the gum margins to provide a foundation for the prosthetic or artificial tooth. The third component of an implant is the prosthetic, which could be a dental crown or implant-anchored denture.
Dental implants are considered a game-changer compared to the traditional restorative dentistry solutions, such as removable dentures and bridges. Conventional tooth-restoration techniques, like removable dentures, lack stability and slip easily. The slipping creates friction, making them uncomfortable. Also, they lower your confidence because they can slip when you are eating, laughing, or speaking in public. The evolution of implants has been a game-changer because they anchor your choice of restoration, even if it is a denture, eliminating the disadvantages of traditional restoration solutions.
Dental Implant Benefits
If you are considering dental implants, you might be wondering why implants are considered a revolutionary solution for dental restorations compared to traditional methods. Implants offer several benefits over other restorative dentistry alternatives, including:
High Durability
Dental implants stand out among dental restorations for their high durability. With proper care, these restorations can last up to 50 years, unlike alternatives such as dentures and bridges, which typically require replacement after a few years. Dentures can only serve you for seven years before requiring replacement, while dental crowns and bridges can last up to 15 years before requiring replacement. The durability of an implantation procedure hinges on several factors, including:
- Your oral hygiene practices
- Oral health conditions
- Implant quality
- Alcohol and cigarette use
Stability for Wobbly Dentures
If you have been using dentures to fill spaces or replace missing teeth in the mouth, but the wobbling has been causing you trouble, you can use dental implants to anchor the dentures for stability. Implant-supported dentures are stable and eliminate the disadvantages associated with traditional dentures.
Jawbone Preservation
Removable dental bridges and dentures are placed above the gum margins, meaning they do not provide any stimulation to the jawbone. With time, the gums and the jawbone begin to shrink due to a lack of stimulation. Bone resorption occurs because of a lack of stimulation. Chewing and biting stimulate the jawbone. So, when spaces are left in the jaw or the chewing pressure does not reach the jawbone because your restoration sits on the gums, the body perceives the area of the jawbone without teeth as serving no purpose. As a result, the body resorbs bone tissue, leading to shrinkage. Bone shrinkage causes a sunken appearance in the face, making you look older than your age and making it difficult to eat.
Dental implants are transformative, as they preserve your jawbone. The titanium screws are implanted in the jawbone and integrate, creating a firm foundation, like that of the natural teeth's roots. So, when you bite or chew, the implants exert pressure on the jawbone, creating stimulation that is required for the bone to retain its density. If the jawbone has already deteriorated, dental implants restore stimulation that triggers new bone growth. You will forget all the complications of the bone resorption once you undergo an implantation procedure.
Dental Implants are Comfortable and Give you a Natural Look
Discolored or ill-fitting dentures and bridges can be very uncomfortable. The wobbling can cause sores in the gums, which can be painful, while discoloration can impair your smile, making you uncomfortable with your restoration. Dental implants are comfortable because they integrate with and anchor deeply in the jawbone, providing stability.
Additionally, they give you a natural appearance that you do not enjoy with other restorative solutions. Tooth loss due to trauma or disease affects the appearance of the remaining natural teeth. So, when replacing these teeth, you need a solution that feels and resembles your natural teeth. Dental implants provide the foundation of natural teeth, and the material used for restoration usually mimics the natural teeth's enamel, giving you a natural appearance.
Implants are stand-alone Restorations
Dental implants' ability to stand alone without relying on adjacent teeth makes them revolutionary. Whether you are missing one or several teeth, a dentist can use implants without requiring healthy natural teeth to complete the treatment. This is unlike dentures and dental bridges, which cannot stand alone and require healthy adjacent natural teeth to anchor them. What is even more troubling is that the natural teeth to provide anchorage will require trimming or enamel removal to accommodate the restorations. Enamel removal compromises the integrity of a healthy, natural tooth and increases the risk of complications, such as fractures and tooth sensitivity.
High Success Rate
Dental implants have gained popularity over other tooth restorations because of their high success rate. Upon successful osseointegration, the risk of implant failure is minimal. However, with alternatives, such as dentures and bridges, the risk of treatment failure and complications is high, especially when the restorations are ill-fitting.
Dental Implant Placement and Recovery
The dental implant procedure involves several steps. These include:
- Consultation
Your oral surgeon or periodontist will start by conducting a thorough oral exam to determine your candidacy for the implants. They will examine your teeth and gums and check the bone density. This phase of the treatment entails the use of computer tomography (CT) scans and X-rays. If you have healthy teeth, gums, and jawbone, you will be scheduled for a treatment immediately. In caseS of oral conditions, such as gum disease, which could affect the success of your treatment, the dentist will first address the condition before the procedure.
Before conducting the actual surgery, your dentist will perform a virtual surgery using CT scans and 3-D imaging. The technology helps the dentist determine the density of your living bone and find the best angle for implanting the artificial tooth.
- Administering Anesthesia
Now that your dental expert has a treatment plan, the next step is to perform the actual procedure. First, they will numb the surgical site using a local anesthetic. The numbing makes the treatment virtually painless. So, if you were considering dentures or bridges because you are afraid of the pain associated with surgery, then you should fear no more. With a local anesthetic or sedation, you do not have to avoid a dental implant procedure because of surgery.
- Exposing the Jawbone and Drilling
The next step is to cut open the gums to expose the living jawbone. Once the bone is exposed, the dental professional will drill a pinhole in the open socket. The hole will guide the titanium posts to their suitable position in the jawbone. The use of CT scans during the implantation stage reduces the risk of nerve damage.
- Implant Placement
After drilling the pinhole, the oral surgeon gradually widens it to accommodate the artificial root. Once the post is placed, the dentist repositions the gums over the screw and closes the cut using sutures. You will then be given 6 weeks to 6 months to heal, a process called osseointegration. Once te bone fuses and integrates with the titanium screws or posts, you can return to the dentist for placement of the abutment and dental restoration of your choice.
Recovery after a dental implant procedure hinges on several factors. However, the key to quick recovery is maintaining proper oral hygiene and adhering to the dentist's instructions. If you do not maintain proper oral hygiene, you risk an infection that could delay osseointegration and increase the risk of implant failure.
If the dentist placed temporary restorations while you recover, you should care for them, just as you would natural teeth, to ensure smooth fusion. After healing, the dentist will cut open the gums to expose the posts. They will then screw in an abutment and close back the incision. You will have no more than two months for the gums to heal and then return for the final restoration.
You should expect a few complications after the initial surgery, such as minimal pain and swelling. Bleeding and bruising can also be observed on the surgical site. Your dental care provider will prescribe pain medication to manage discomfort. Stick to soft foods in the first five to ten days to avoid dislodging the wounds.
You will require follow-up appointments with your restorative dentistry service to check on the progress of the procedure.
Cost Comparison
Compared to restorative dentistry alternatives, for example, dentures and bridges, dental implants are highly affordable and highly effective in the long run. The initial cost of a dental implant procedure ranges from $3,000 to $4,500 per tooth. The total cost of treatment depends on the number of implants you need, complementary treatments, such as bone grafting required, implant type, and the location of the tooth you need to replace.
Whether your health insurance company covers the treatment will also affect the cost. So, check with your healthcare insurer to find out whether they will cover the treatment and the percentage of the cost they will cover. Check with your restorative dentistry provider to see whether they accept insurance. If you can pay for treatment through insurance, it will significantly reduce the cost.
Dental implants are a long-term investment. In the short term, they are more expensive. However, because they might last for a lifetime, they save you a lot of money in the future. Opting for dentures or bridges whose initial cost is low might seem like a wise investment in the short term. However, you will incur additional costs in the future to replace these appliances, increasing the cost of treatment.
Do not let the initial cost of dental implants discourage you from undergoing this game-changing restorative treatment. Consult with your dental care provider for a detailed quotation to understand the costs involved. You can then request quotations from other dental services and compare them to choose the service that offers uncompromised treatment at a reasonable price, based on your budget and oral needs.
Maintenance and Future Success
Many dental professionals recommend implants due to their longevity and high success rate. However, for the restorations to serve you for a lifetime, you must properly maintain them. Apart from lasting longer, dental implants are low-maintenance compared to removable dentures and dental bridges. The risk of restoration damage is minimal with implants because they are permanent and cannot be removed for cleaning or sleeping, which is when most removable restorations sustain damage.
Implant maintenance is easy because the restorations function and feel like natural teeth. You can brush and floss them like natural teeth, without modifying your oral hygiene routine. Easy maintenance helps maintain consistency in your dental care routine, improving the long-term success rate of implants.
Your dentist will provide post-surgery instructions to help care for the implants. These include:
- Brush your teeth twice daily using a brush with soft bristles
- Floss the teeth at least once a day to remove plaque and debris dislodged in the teeth
- Rinse the mouth using an antibacterial mouthwash
- Visit the dentist regularly
- Use a nightguard if you grind or clench your teeth to avoid damaging implants
- Avoid smoking
- Maintain a balanced diet
Find a Reputable Restorative Dentistry Service Near Me
Dental implants have transformed restorative dentistry, giving patients durable, stable, and natural-looking restorations that function like natural teeth. The treatment is a game-changer because it is affordable in the long run, easy to maintain, preserves your jawbone, and improves your eating habits and general health. However, the success of the treatment hinges on your choice of dental expert.
At Lasting Impressions Dental Spa, we have experienced dental experts ready to restore your smile and confidence using implants. Call us today at 818-751-5100 to schedule a no-obligation consultation in Encino, CA.
