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!
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How Is The Surgical Installation Of Dental Implants Beneficial?
Isobel Berry
There are several reasons why a large number of patients often prefer removable dentures and dental bridges over dental implants for the replacement of lost teeth. Top on the list of these reasons is that the installation of implants is done through surgery (and is therefore more expensive) while that of dentures and dental bridges is non-surgical.
However, the cost of installation shouldn't be the major factor that determines whether a patient should get implants, dentures or dental bridges. This article provides reasons why the surgical installation of dentures might be a necessary expense.
The Perfect Fit: Removable Dentures
A dental implant is likely to have a better fit than a removable denture. This is especially true if the dentures were not purchased from a denturist (e.g. dentures purchased online). Implants might fit better because they are surgically-installed into the patient's jaw at the exact location of the empty space left by the missing tooth. In contrast, removable dentures are installed on the gum line. Thus, dentures will "cover" the empty space left by a lost tooth as opposed to filling this space.
Patients who choose removable dentures over dental implants for their tooth replacement are often more likely to have problems with the fit of the prosthetic dental device. An ill-fitting removable denture will often produce a clicking sound when the patient is eating. Ill-fitting dentures can also slip out of the patient's mouth when he or she is talking.
Denture adhesives can be used to correct an ill-fit, albeit temporarily. Choosing implants over removable dentures is choosing not to deal with the potential problems associated with an ill-fitting tooth replacement.
It's also worth noting that dental implants are often less conspicuous than removable dentures when installed in a patient's mouth. If the main reason for replacing a missing tooth is to restore a (previously) perfect smile, a dental implant is less likely to interfere with the "natural" appearance of that perfect smile.
The Fate Of Healthy Adjacent Teeth: Dental Bridges
The surgical installation of implants is also advantageous over the non-surgical installation of dental bridges because it preserves the structural integrity of the teeth adjacent to the empty space left by a missing tooth.
The non-surgical installation of dental bridges requires a dental health practitioner to grind away portions of healthy teeth that are adjacent to the space left by a missing tooth. This is done so that the bridge can be attached to the adjacent teeth for support. Implant surgery may be expensive, but the process doesn't interfere with the structural integrity of healthy teeth.
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