Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants are titanium posts that are placed into your jaw to act as replacement tooth roots. They are then topped by dental restorations such as crowns, bridges or dentures to form fully functional replacement teeth. Dental implants are the most durable, lifelike and long-lasting form of tooth replacement, and Dr. Malin recommends them for all eligible candidates.

Dental implants have a large number of benefits and advantages over all other forms of tooth replacement.

Major Benefits of Dental Implants

• Dental-implant-supported teeth have nearly the full chewing power of natural teeth.
• Implant-supported teeth do not require the grinding down and weakening of adjacent teeth, as is necessary when placing a dental bridge.
• Dental implants and the restorations they support look and function just like natural teeth. Patients can’t usually tell the difference between a natural tooth and a tooth supported by a dental implant.
• Dental implants prevent bone loss that normally occurs underneath missing teeth. By preserving bone, the stability of adjacent, natural teeth is maintained and so is the size and shape of your jaw.
• Implant-supported crowns fill the gap left by your missing tooth and prevent bacterial accumulation that could lead to infection and gum disease.
• Implant-supported teeth keep adjacent teeth stable and prevent them from shifting position and compromising the alignment of your bite.
• Dental-implant-supported dentures remain firmly in place, need no adhesives, and provide enhanced chewing power

Dental Implant Advantages Compared to Traditional Dental Bridges

Dental bridges have been used for many decades to replace missing teeth, but they have certain drawbacks. In order for a bridge to be placed, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth have to be ground down so the bridge can be cemented onto them. This weakens those teeth and can lead to fracture, decay and other complications over time. Additionally, dental bridges usually only last about 10 years.

Dental implants, on the other hand, do not require the grinding down of adjacent teeth. They also provide your jawbone with the biting and chewing stimulation needed to maintain the bone volume around your teeth, something which traditional bridges don’t do.

The Disadvantages of Traditional Dentures as Replacement Teeth

Traditional dentures were the only solution for replacing all your teeth before dental implants became available. Even though traditional dentures have greatly improved over time, they still provide minimal chewing power, need adhesives to be secured in your mouth, and easily slip out of place or make clicking noises while you eat or talk. Traditional dentures accelerate bone loss in the jaw and have many other problems which generally make them our patients’ least favored option for replacing a full arch of teeth.