Dental Implants

An implant is a screw-shaped, metallic fixture that is inserted within the jawbone to serve as the replacement root of an artificial tooth. The implant becomes firmly anchored within the bone and provides a solid foundation for the attachment of an artificial tooth. Dental implants offer a lifelong and durable alternative to removable dentures or fixed bridges that don’t fit well and often fail to provide acceptable facial aesthetics.

Your dentist can use dental implants for replacing a single, multiple, or all missing teeth in a jaw the goal being to restore dental function and facial esthetics.

No doubt, conventional removable dentures are considerably less expensive than dental bridges or implants but are the least desirable owing to their inconvenience of use and poor esthetics. Furthermore, dentures also do not provide optimal chewing efficiency and even affect one’s taste perception and sensory experience with food.

Before dental implants became famous, dental bridges were more commonly used for tooth replacement. Unlike the removable dentures, a bridge remains fixed as it gains its support from the healthy natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth gap. As a result, they offer superior esthetics and chewing efficiency than removable dentures. However, the main disadvantage of bridgework is the dependence on existing natural teeth for support. Implants, on the other hand, are directly supported by the bone only and do not affect adjacent natural teeth.

Over the years, excessive bone loss, either as a result of age change, trauma, or tooth loss, can cause the collapse of the lower third of your face. This problem is aggravated when bone loss is accelerated due to the loss of natural teeth. Excessive bone loss in the facial region can result in excessive wrinkles, sagging skin, and thinning of lips – creating an overall sunken-in facial appearance. This can considerably age a person’s appearance. Implants prevent bone loss. Dental implants tend to promote bone formation around them and ensure optimal bone volume and density in the facial region. Making you look much younger and healthier.

Another problem associated with the conventional dentures is the clicking sound produced by the artificial teeth whenever you eat or speak. The artificial teeth for Implant-supported dentures are made from high-quality ceramics. Hence, there’s no annoying clicking sound with implants.

Dental bridges derive their support and retention and support from the adjacent natural teeth. Your dentist will remove a thin layer of the enamel from the supporting teeth to create room for the attachment of crowns that hold the bridge in place. Dental implants eliminate this problem, as they are embedded directly within the jawbone and do not require support from the adjacent teeth.

Dental bridges tend to have a short life, lasting anywhere between five to ten years. Dental implants, on the other hand, are prepared from high-quality titanium alloys – making them highly durable. Dental implants can last for a lifetime if they are looked after properly.

So, while a bridge may seem to be an economical option, the dental implants prove to be more cost-effective in the long run.
Dental implants look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth. If you are fed up with your unaesthetic and uncomfortable removable dentures, then dental implants offer an aesthetically pleasant and long-lasting alternative.