Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations
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Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations

Dental implants can make a smile look fabulous – I know I have them. However, if you are just thinking about getting them, you may have a lot of questions. You may be wondering how smoking affects implants, whether or not wine will stain them, if they can be whitened or other concerns. I also know from experience that it can be intimidating to ask some of these questions to your dentist. In my dental implant blog, I am going to answer the questions that can be hard to ask. I hope you find the info you need in this blog and that it guides you to the right decision about dental implants. Thanks for reading!

Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations

The Pros and Cons of Dental Implants

Isobel Berry

In days gone by, missing teeth were usually replaced by removable dentures.  However, in recent years, dental implants have become a popular alternative offered by dentists to their patients.  If you're considering having dental implants, you may be wondering what the pros and cons are; read on to find out more. 

What are dental implants?

When a tooth is lost due to decay, to trauma, or following root canal work, a gap is left behind.  A dental implant is a titanium screw, or a framework of screws, that is placed into a patient's jawbone in order to support a replacement, artificial tooth or teeth.

What are the pros of dental implants?

  • Dentures are inclined to move, and their continual removal and reinsertion means that your remaining, natural teeth could be damaged.  Dental implants, on the other hand, remain in situ and are permanently fixed, meaning that they are not reliant on your neighbouring natural teeth for support making damage much less unlikely.  
  • Dental implants not only look much more natural than dentures, they also function just like real teeth.  Dentures can cause difficulties with speaking or chewing and sometimes make an embarrassing 'clicking' sound that gives them away.   
  • Just like real teeth, you won't have to remove your implants in order to clean them as you would do with dentures, simply brush and floss as normal.  
  • Dental implants are designed to be permanent so you won't have the hassle of having them refitted periodically like you do with old-fashioned dentures.

What are the cons of dental implants?

  • Because fitting dental implants is an invasive procedure, there are inherent risks of infection and bleeding, although your dentist will take care to manage these potential issues.  
  • The fitting of dental implants will require a number of visits to your dentist before you can enjoy the finished result.  There's also a six month wait for the implant to fuse with your jawbone during which time you'll wear a temporary denture to cover the implant site.  
  • Although dental implants won't be affected by decay as your natural teeth can be, infections may still occur.  You can prevent this problem by cleaning your teeth thoroughly, by flossing, and by using antiseptic mouth wash twice a day to get rid of bacteria.  
  • Dental implants are typically more expensive than dentures, although once you've had them fitted, they won't need replacement.  Generally, dental insurance policies will not pay for cosmetic dental treatment, including implants.

In conclusion

Dental implants provide a great solution to the problem of missing teeth.  If you're prepared to wait for the end result, you can enjoy many years of natural-looking, low-maintenance dental work without the hassle of removable dentures.


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