You may have recently lost a tooth, or even been without a tooth for several years. You know that the best thing to do is to replace the missing tooth, but nevertheless, you put off your treatment for a while.
Although it may seem to you that it is never a good time to begin the treatment that will restore your lost tooth to your smile, the truth is that postponing the decision works against your oral health.
This is mainly because the longer you go without all your teeth, the more likely you are to develop problems that compromise your entire mouth.
Missing teeth cause an obvious inconvenience that you may have already noticed: difficulty eating.
But it also causes other, less obvious problems:
- Displacement of the remaining teeth into the empty spaces.
- Aesthetic deterioration
- Wear and tear of the teeth that have to bear the load of the missing teeth.
- Loss of maxillary bone
All these complications caused by not starting treatment on time result in the fact that when you finally decide to do it, you find that your treatment is longer, more complex and more expensive than it would have been at the beginning.
Dental implants offer greater comfort, durability and naturalness than bridges or dentures.
I am missing teeth and I need to replace them, what alternatives do I have?
Although the most recommended option for replacing missing teeth is always the placement of a dental implant with a crown, there are also other alternatives.
These possibilities include, fundamentally, the placement of a bridge or a removable prosthesis -commonly called dentures-.
Placing a tooth without an implant
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DENTAL BRIDGE
Among the different alternatives that exist, the professionals at DrAW Dental Clinic opt, almost in all cases, for the implant.
This is because, of the options mentioned, implant treatment is the one that makes it possible to replace the natural tooth while respecting its functionality and esthetics to a greater extent.
7 advantages of dental implants
If we carefully compare the treatment with implants that we carry out in our clinic with bridges or removable dentures, we will realize that the former have greater advantages:
1. They are permanent and durable
One of the main reasons why the vast majority of people choose implants is because they are a fixed solution to tooth loss.
That is, once in place, they require the same care as natural teeth, do not interfere with daily routine and do not need to be removed to sleep, as dentures do.
This, together with the resistance and durability they provide, makes implant treatment a long-term solution.
2. They are very natural
The naturalness offered by implants has two advantages.
On the one hand, the crowns that are placed on the implant are very esthetic and allow an infinite number of shades to be achieved, so they resemble the color of natural teeth. In this way, they do not differ from the rest of the teeth in the mouth.
On the other hand, implants allow the patient to have the same sensations when chewing, speaking or smiling as they had with their natural teeth.
This, for example, does not occur with classic removable prostheses. In addition to being less natural, they are uncomfortable because they must be removed every night and do not fit completely in the patient’s mouth.
As they do not fit tightly, they move, causing friction and discomfort to the gums.
Recovering a tooth
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DENTAL IMPLANT
3. They are safe
The placement of implants is a minor surgery, which has a good postoperative period. In fact, 85% of patients who undergo this procedure can go to work the following day.
Moreover, it is estimated that, nowadays, the success rate of dental implants is 98%.
Despite these data, there are many people who feel fear and anxiety about having to undergo this type of treatment. To provide greater relaxation to these patients, in our clinic we have a sedation service.
In this way, the person will be semi-conscious during the whole time the surgery lasts. In addition, the patient can rest assured that the procedure will be supervised by an anesthesiologist.
4. They do not cause damage to the rest of the teeth
When we place an implant, the rest of the healthy teeth in your mouth remain intact.
However, when a bridge is placed, the condition of the adjacent teeth is compromised, since it is necessary to grind them.
This grinding is irreversible and involves reducing their size.
In addition to this, it is important to emphasize that the replacement of the lost tooth also avoids undesired movements in the rest of the teeth in the mouth.
To do this, we start from the assumption that teeth have a natural tendency to move and seek contact with each other.
That is to say, if there is an unoccupied space, the rest of the teeth will tend to lean and move, losing their proper position within the dental arch.
5. They help to conserve bone
Over time, the loss of a tooth eventually leads to the resorption of the bone that supported that tooth. This is due to the absence of the tooth root and to the fact that the bone does not receive the stimulation of chewing.
The progressive loss of bone causes, in addition to functional deterioration, esthetic damage. Due to bone reduction, the lips begin to retract and the appearance becomes older.
On the other hand, the placement of implants preserves the bone, since the screw inserted in the jawbone replaces the root of the natural tooth, performing its function.
6. They allow good hygiene
The hygiene carried out by a person who has all his natural teeth is the same as that practiced by someone with dental implants.
Since they are the closest alternative to our own teeth, brushing should be the same. The daily hygiene routine should also include flossing and rinsing.
And unlike traditional dentures, implants are fixed and do not have to be removed for cleaning.
7. They are very cost-effective for the patient
It is true that of the aforementioned options – dental bridge and dentures – implants are, a priori, the least economical alternative.
However, in the long run, they are very profitable. Of course, this is because they are designed to last for many years.
Considering that they are a long-term solution, our recommendation is to make a greater initial effort.
If the patient follows proper hygienic care, the implants require little maintenance. However, they do offer a durability, comfort and naturalness that no other treatment is able to offer.
