What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a permanent, fixed, tooth replacement option that can restore a single tooth, multiple consecutive teeth, or a full arch of missing teeth. As you can see, dental implants are extremely versatile in their ability to replace teeth, and they have tremendous health benefits!

Dental implants replace both the crown and the root of the tooth, something that dentures and traditional dental bridges do not do. Made up of three parts which include a titanium post, abutment, and the dental crown, dental implants are designed to be the most comparable to a natural tooth. By replacing the root of the tooth, your jaw bone is stimulated and encouraged to maintain healthy bone levels, helping you to avoid bone loss in your jaw.

There are multiple tooth restoration options available, one of which is a set of dentures. When comparing dental implants vs dentures, there are some key differences to take note of. While both are effective methods of restoring tooth functionality, there are some drawbacks to dentures that make them less ideal than dental implants. Dentures are made in full or partial sets and are most commonly used to replace several or all teeth. An adhesive is required to keep dentures in place and is easily removable. However, this tends to lead to complications such as the denture slipping and falling out unexpectedly and commonly causes pain and discomfort if not fitted properly.

Dental implants avoid such complications by being permanently fixed to the jaw bone. The greatest advantage of dental implants is that they do not move or come loose on their own. Because of this, you’re able to go about talking, chewing, and laughing with no worries that your teeth might come loose. Dental implants are also much more comfortable and natural-looking than dentures.

Another available tooth restoration option is in the form of a dental bridge. Comparing dental implants vs bridges can help you make the best choice in regards to your oral health, so let’s dive in. Dental bridges are false teeth that are held in place by other surrounding teeth. They’re able to cover one or more teeth and can be applied for a low upfront cost. However, dental bridges do increase the risk of damage to teeth surrounding the missing tooth. Complications may include cavities and tooth decay potentially resulting in more tooth loss.

Dental implants are a great alternative to bridges that won’t cause damage to your surrounding healthy teeth. Because the titanium post is used to fix the tooth directly to the jaw structure, any surrounding teeth won’t be affected. Dental implants are also more likely to last longer than bridges and are made to look completely natural.