• Dental Implants
• August 25, 2023
• by lotus

Tooth implants offer a permanent way for patients to replace lost teeth, but getting dental implants requires considerable investment for people who choose this tooth replacement. Let’s take a look at tooth implant pros and cons so you can make the most informed decision for your long term dental health.

Tooth Implant Pros And Cons

The Pros Of Dental Implants

A Dental Implant Is Permanent

This means that patients do not have to worry about the inconvenience of a denture slipping around when eating or speaking. You also can avoid the irritations and mouth sores that may present when a denture loses shape or needs repairing.

Tooth Implants Do Not Compromise Your Other Teeth

If you are having a dental bridge, your dentist needs to prepare the teeth on either side of the gap in your mouth. This means they need to be filed down in order to make space for the dental bridge, which weakens them.

A dental implant does not affect any of the other teeth in your mouth and does not require any support other than from your jaw bone.

Avoid Tooth Loss

If you do not replace a missing tooth and wait for too long, the other teeth start to drift in order to fill up the space left behind. This causes them to loosen and over time, can lead to further tooth loss.

Avoid Bone Loss

If you have been missing a tooth for a long time before your dental implant surgery is performed, it may be necessary for you to have a bone graft in order to stimulate the growth of new bone material.

Get A Strong And Stable Bite

The value of a permanent tooth replacement is the fact that you can bite and chew with the same force as your natural teeth. Once your dental implant has been embedded in your jaw the bone will grow around it in a process called osseointegration. This means the dental implant is integrated with your jaw, making it very strong and durable.

This is an important comparison to dentures, which may only last for eight years before they need to be replaced.

Smile With Confidence

Once your dental implant has integrated with your body, the abutment has been inserted and your gums have healed, your dentist will finish the implant off with a dental crown. The dental crown will complete your smile and be matched to the size and shape of your natural teeth so it will blend right in.

The Cons Of Dental Implants

It’s Not A Quick Fix

Getting dental implants takes time to complete. Your gums need adequate time for healing between each procedure you undergo, and the exact procedures to be completed will depend on your personal circumstances. It could take three to six months for a bone graft, and a further three to six months for healing after the implant and abutment are inserted. If you want a tooth replacement done quickly, then dental implants might not be the best solution for you.

You May Require Additional Procedures

As mentioned above, some patients may need bone grafts surgery prior to getting dental implants. In some cases, patients only need minor grafts and can have them done just before the implant is placed. If a more considerable bone graft is required, it may need to be a separate procedure that you need to heal from before your implant can be embedded.

The Complexity Is Reflected In The Cost

Because there are so many procedures to be done over a protracted period of time, it might seem as though getting dental implants is expensive. However, it’s important to compare the cost with lifespan because, even though you might only need one dental implant for the rest of your life, you might need three or four replacement dentures over the same time period.

Complications Are Possible

Even though dental implants have a 95% success rate, it is possible for things to go wrong. Infection at the site is possible, and more likely if you do not follow your dentist’s care instructions. Rejection of the implant is also possible although risk management usually limits the likelihood of this occurring. 

To find out more about tooth implant pros and cons please speak to a professional: (03) 8737 9359.