By now, you have probably heard of dental implants. They have gained popularity as a method of replacing one or more missing teeth in the mouth. The feature that sets dental implants apart from other tooth replacement options is their anchorage into the jawbone instead of onto other teeth.
As with any treatment option, there are pros and cons to dental implants, which we will cover in this blog.
Multiple Applications of Dental Implants
It is important to understand that dental implants can function in a variety of ways. For the purposes of this article, we will be explaining the pros and cons of replacing a single missing tooth with a dental implant. We want you to know about the other ways they can function, too.
Dental implants can replace multiple missing teeth in the form of cemented bridges (a few consecutive missing teeth), removable dentures (connecting to locator attachments on implants), or screwed-in dental prosthetics (removed once a year by your dentist for maintenance). These treatment options are slightly less prevalent than the use of a single dental implant to replace a single missing tooth.
Pros of Replacing a Missing Tooth with a Dental Implant
Dental implants have many advantages over other single tooth replacement options. Here are the most important benefits of single tooth implant restorations.
Best Chewing Function
A dental implant’s anchorage into the jawbone replicates a natural tooth most closely because it is the only tooth replacement option that replaces the tooth’s root. This root replacement restores the tooth’s chewing force because its support comes from the surrounding bone. It does not, like other replacement options, put additional chewing burden on adjacent teeth. All of the pressure of chewing translates into the jawbone, like a natural tooth.
Preservation of Natural Teeth
Because a dental implant anchors into the jawbone, and only the jawbone, it preserves the remaining natural teeth. A dental bridge requires removing enamel from the adjacent teeth for covering crowns that connect to one another. A removable partial uses clasps to wrap around other teeth, putting additional stresses onto them and shortening their lifespan. Only a dental implant causes zero damage to the rest of the natural teeth in the arch.
Natural Appearance
A dental implant is the only tooth replacement option to replace the root, so that means that it is also the only tooth replacement option that enables the “new” tooth to emerge from the gums. This natural emergence from the gums differs from other options, which have a fake tooth resting atop the gums.
Normal Oral Hygiene
There is no connection between a dental implant crown and the neighboring teeth. That means that you can brush and floss normally to keep the teeth clean. Cemented bridges have connections between the teeth that prevent normal flossing and require additional tools and techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Cons of Replacing a Missing Tooth with a Dental Implant
No treatment option is without its disadvantages, and implants are no exception. While we believe dental implants are the best treatment option in most cases, we know that they may not work for every patient. Here are the cons that you need to know about dental implants.
High Cost
Dental implants are relatively expensive, compared to other tooth replacement options. On average, the cost to replace a single missing tooth with an implant is just over $4,000. That fee includes the root replacement, the attachment for the dental crown (called an abutment), and the crown to restore the missing tooth.
Surgical Phase
Placing the dental implant into the jawbone requires surgery. Implant placement is not an aggressive or invasive surgery, but it is surgery. Some people may not be candidates for any type of surgery due to a variety of health conditions. Others may have poor healing ability, which makes implants less predictable. Your surgeon knows the conditions that will affect implant success and will alert you if you may be at risk.
Lengthy Treatment Period
Implants require time to heal after placement. This healing phase may be an additional waiting period after you have already waited on bone healing from the tooth’s extraction. The healing times differ by individual, by tooth site, and by health conditions. For some, it can take up to a year to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant.
More Questions about Dental Implants?
Call Rockland Dental Specialists and schedule an implant consultation with one of our implant experts. We can answer every question you have about dental implants and help you decide if an implant is the best treatment option for your unique situation. Call us at (845) 259-2500 or complete our online contact form today!