Why Should I Consider Dental Implants?
Implants are a superior alternative for tooth replacement for
a number of reasons. Implants preserve both the underlying bone
and the structure of your face. They also look, feel and function
like natural teeth and can improve both your nutrition and your
digestion. They restore your mouth as closely as possible to
its natural state, and you don’t have to worry about them
coming loose or falling out. The comfort and natural appearance
of dental implants can enhance your self-esteem and self-confidence.
One of the most important reasons to consider dental implants
is that they provide a strong foundation for your teeth. In addition
to replacing the crown of a tooth—the part that is visible
in your mouth—dental implants also replace natural tooth
roots where teeth are missing.
It is important to replace the tooth root as well as the visible
part of the tooth (the crown) because natural tooth roots are
embedded in bone, providing the stable foundation necessary
to bite and chew. In essence, the bone holds the tooth roots
in place.
While the bone holds tooth roots in place, the roots preserve
the bone. When teeth are missing, the bone that supported those
teeth melts away or deteriorates. Dentists call this process
tooth resorption.
By replacing missing teeth with dental implants, the bone is
preserved. Since the bone forms a strong bond to the implants,
they serve the same function as natural tooth roots—a strong
foundation for biting and chewing and stimulation for the bone
to hold it in place.
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How Can I Benefit from Implants?
Here’s a more thorough explanation of how dental implants
can benefit your life.
Integrity of facial structure. Missing teeth can result in dramatic
changes in your appearance, such as increased wrinkles around
the mouth and lips that cave in and lose their natural shape.
This is particularly important when all of the teeth are missing,
as the lower one-third of the face collapses if implants are
not placed to preserve the bone.
Implants prevent the bone deterioration that normally occurs
with tooth loss, so facial structure remains intact. Your teeth
and upper and lower jaws provide the structural support for your
facial contours. Changes in these underlying structures impact
your facial features.
Enhanced quality of life. You can enhance the quality of your
life with implant-supported replacement teeth because they look,
feel and function like natural teeth. You’ll find them
more comfortable, and will have more confidence when smiling,
speaking and eating. If you replace your dentures or partials
with implants, the change in quality of life is even more significant.
You’ll be able to eat all types of food, eliminate messy
adhesives and improve speech, comfort and appearance.
Increased stability and security. If you wear dentures, you
may worry that they will fall out when you laugh, sneeze or eat.
Because an implant bonds to the bone, replacement teeth are securely
attached and you no longer have to worry that they will fall
out.
Improved appearance. Because implants prevent bone deterioration,
facial structure is preserved and appearance improved. Complete
tooth loss causes collapse of the lower one-third of the face
and wrinkles around the mouth, which can be eliminated with implant-supported
replacement teeth. You’ll look and feel better, and your
smile is enhanced when replacement teeth look more like natural
teeth. Even when only one tooth is missing, long-term aesthetics
is usually much better with an implant-supported tooth than with
a traditional bridge. This is especially important in the front
of your mouth, where preventing a visible bone defect is critical
for natural appearance.
Renewed self-esteem and self-confidence. With implants, you
can eat, talk and laugh normally, without fear that your partial
or dentures will come loose or fall out. People with implants
often report that their self-esteem and self-confidence improve
as a result of changes in their appearance, function, comfort
and health.
Better-tasting food. An upper denture covers the roof of your
mouth, which impairs your ability to taste and enjoy food. Implant-supported
replacement teeth do not require the roof of your mouth to be
covered, enabling you to enjoy the taste of food.
Restoration of the mouth as closely as
possible to its natural state. By replacing the entire tooth, including the root, it
is possible to replicate the function of natural teeth with a
strong, stable foundation that allows comfortable biting and
chewing. In addition, your smile won’t look or feel artificial.
Better health, improved nutrition and proper
digestion. People
with dentures often have problems eating certain foods, such
as fresh fruits and vegetables, which can compromise nutrition.
Since it’s often difficult to chew effectively with dentures,
digestion can also be compromised. Implant-supported replacement
teeth not only look and feel more natural, they function better,
meaning your nutrition and digestion may improve.
No damage to adjacent teeth. When dentists replace missing teeth
with traditional bridges, adjacent teeth must be ground down
so the bridge can be attached to them. Once teeth are ground
down, that tooth structure can never be replaced. Partial dentures
hook onto adjacent teeth, putting pressure on them as the partial
rocks back and forth. Eventually these teeth can loosen and come
out as a result of this pressure. Replacing missing teeth with
implant-supported crowns and bridges does not involve adjacent
teeth, so they are not damaged or compromised.
Improved hygiene and convenience. Implant-supported crowns can
be cleaned like normal teeth, so they are much easier to clean
than tooth-supported bridges, which require threader floss, or
a removable partial.
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Are You a Candidate for Dental Implants?
Nearly everyone who is missing one or more teeth and is in good
general health is a candidate for dental implant treatment. A
few medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes, can undermine
the success of dental implant treatment, but there are very few
conditions that would prevent you from being a candidate for
dental implants.
Usually, the quality and quantity of available bone is a more
important factor in dental implant treatment. Even with significant
bone loss, new procedures that add bone or create new bone allow
many people who would not have been candidates for dental implants
to have successful implant treatment.
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Is Dental Implant Treatment Painful?
Most implant patients say that the implant procedure is similar
to having a tooth extracted. While everyone tolerates pain differently,
most patients are comfortable simply taking Tylenol after the
procedure.
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Does Each Missing Tooth Require an Implant?
Each patient is different and should be evaluated by a dentist
to determine the number of implants required to support the replacement
teeth that will best fit the patient’s functional and aesthetic
needs. It is usually possible, however, to replace all of the
lower teeth with an overdenture supported by 2-4 implants. Because
your molars take most of the brunt of chewing, some dentists
prefer to replace missing posterior teeth with individual implants.
Your dentist can assess your situation and recommend a course
of treatment that’s right for you.
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Is Age a Factor in Implant Treatment?
Implants were developed in the 1950s specifically as a solution
for older patients who were missing teeth. Overall health and
a desire to improve your quality of life are more important than
your age. In fact, many patients well into their 90s have dental
implant treatment without any problems.
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Since Implants Preserve Bone, Why Would a Dentist Recommend
a Tooth-Supported Bridge?
Until the late 1980s, traditional tooth-supported bridges were
considered the best option for replacing missing teeth. Advancements
in technology since then have given dentists more options to
offer to their patients. Some of these advancements resulted
in better aesthetics for the replacement of front teeth.
Teeth that already have large fillings sometimes benefit from
the protection of crowns attached to traditional bridges. In
these cases, particularly in the back of the mouth where bone
melts away much more slowly when there are adjacent natural teeth,
dentists may recommend a traditional bridge rather than implant
treatment.
But because most dentists abhor the idea of grinding down perfect
teeth to place a bridge, most dentists will recommend implant
treatment for their patients when possible.
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Would a Dentist Ever Recommend Extracting a Tooth and Replacing
it with an Implant?
Sometimes natural teeth are failing or are about to fail. This
can be caused by severe gum disease that has eroded the bone
that supports the teeth. In these cases, it’s sometimes
preferable to remove the tooth to eliminate the disease and infection
and replace it with an implant.
Also, teeth that have had root canals are brittle and susceptible
to fracture. In these cases, where the tooth needs to be retreated
and the prognosis is not favorable, it may be preferable to extract
the tooth and replace it with an implant-supported crown. Also,
teeth that are severely fractured are usually extracted and are
excellent candidates for dental implant treatment.
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What do Implants Cost?
An investment in implants is an investment in health, appearance
and quality of life. It involves preserving the integrity of
your facial structure as well as replacing missing teeth.
The cost of implant treatment is based on a number of factors,
such as the number of teeth being replaced, the type of implants,
and whether additional procedures are necessary to achieve the
proper result.
Fees are calculated based on the amount of time your dentist
will spend completing your treatment. This includes implant placement,
other surgical procedures that may be necessary, and the fabrication
of the replacement teeth. Because your situation is unique, the
only way to obtain an accurate cost for the implant treatment
that’s right for you is to have an examination and a consultation
with your dentist.
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Are Implants Covered by Dental Insurance?
Whether your insurance covers implants depends on your policy,
but it is rare to receive any substantial coverage. There are
major limitations on most dental insurance plans, and they often
are designed to cover only routine maintenance, emergencies and
basic care.
Though most companies will not cover dental implants, many of
them will pay the same amount they would pay for the lowest cost
alternative option, such as partials and dentures, and some of
the diagnostic procedures. Even when a policy covers implants,
the amount of coverage is still limited to the annual maximum
allowable, which is $1,000-1,500 on most plans.
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Are Implants Covered by Medical Insurance?
There are a few cases where medical insurance covers implants
for people who are missing all of their teeth and are having
medical complications. Other than these situations, medical coverage
for dental implants is very rare.
Work-related injuries and other types of accidents are sometimes
covered by medical insurance, but for the most part it’s
best to assume that medical insurance coverage is unavailable.
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How Does the Cost of Implants Compare to Alternatives?
Though many people assume that implants are more expensive than
traditional treatment, in many cases it is more cost efficient
in the long run.
For instance, if a single missing tooth is replaced, the two
most common options are the tooth-supported bridge and an implant-supported
crown. The bridge may cost less initially, but it may need to
be replaced five to 10 years later. A bridge also requires grinding
down adjacent teeth to cement it into place, permanently compromising
the long-term health of those teeth. Most importantly, a bridge
does not prevent bone resorption.
With a traditional bridge, additional procedures, such as replacing
the initial bridge, treating the teeth that were ground down,
or repairing a defect in the bone, are future possibilities.
This could increase the cost of treatment to more than $6,000
in a 10 to 15 year period. An implant, however, costs $2,500-4,000
depending on geographic location.
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How Long do Implants Last?
Clinical research indicates that implant-supported replacement
teeth have lasted as long as 30 years. By comparison, typical
tooth-supported bridges last five to 10 years, and partials and
dentures are functional for only about five years.
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Do Implants Ever Fail?
Dental implant treatment is one of the most successful procedures
in the field of dentistry, with documented success rates of more
than 95 percent.
One of the reasons the success rate is so high is because implants
are made of a safe biocompatible material called titanium, which
also is used for hip and knee replacements.
Why do Dentists Prefer not to Grind Down Perfectly Good Teeth
to Replace a Missing Tooth with a Bridge?
Until dental implants were developed, tooth-supported bridges
were the preferred treatment for tooth replacement. Bridges are
far superior to removable partial dentures, which accelerate
bone resorption and weaken the adjacent tooth they hook onto,
but there are still problems with bridges.
Basically a bridge consists of two or more crowns or one or
more false teeth fused together. The crowns on either end of
the bridge are cemented onto teeth that serve as bridge abutments.
The false tooth or teeth between these crowns replaces the tooth
or teeth that are missing.
In order to cement the bridge into place, the teeth that support
the abutment crowns must be ground down to pegs so that the crowns
fit over them and are the same size as the original teeth. In
other words, a good deal of natural tooth structure has to be
removed to allow the bridge to fit properly.
In cases where the teeth that will support the abutment crowns
are weakened due to previous decay and fillings, most dentists
are not concerned about grinding them down. In fact, crowns can
provide some protection for weakened teeth.
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What are the Problems with Removing Healthy Tooth Structure?
If the teeth that will support the crown are perfectly healthy
without fillings, most dentists will not recommend a bridge,
since it requires destroying healthy tooth structure that can
never be replaced.
The tooth structure that is removed to support an abutment crown
is enamel, the hard protective surface of the tooth. Enamel is
far more resistant to decay than the layer beneath it, a softer,
spongy material that decays more rapidly. When teeth are ground
down to place a bridge, the tooth structure under the crown is
more susceptible to decay, particularly since the cement that
holds the bridge washes out over time and bacteria can leak under
the crown.
Though most teeth under crowns and bridges do not decay, a significant
number do. These teeth then require root canal therapy. Some
dentists who specialize in root canals report that as many as
25 to 30 percent of the procedures they perform are on teeth
under crowns and bridges.
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A Closer Look at Bone Resorption and
the Impact Missing Teeth Have on the Integrity of Your Facial
Structure
Many people are not aware of the relationship between the teeth
and the bone that supports them and the impact tooth loss has
on the appearance of your face. Your teeth and upper and lower
jaws provide structural support for your facial contours. Any
changes in the underlying structures impact your facial features.
When a tooth or teeth are missing, the bone that previously
supported these teeth begins to resorb, or deteriorate. This
bone resorption is similar to muscle atrophy from lack of use.
Missing teeth can result in dramatic changes in your appearance,
such as increased wrinkles around the mouth and lips that cave
in and lose their shape. Complete tooth loss eventually results
in total collapse of the facial structures. When all of the teeth
are missing, the jaws deteriorate rapidly. As the bone melts
away, the muscles pull back from their original position. Wrinkles
increase dramatically as the facial structures collapse and the
appearance of the cheeks becomes distorted.
Severe bone deterioration results in the “witch’s
beak” appearance, where the nose points downward and the
chin points upward as a result of lost jaw height. The lips cave
in as they lose their support, giving the mouth a flattened look
and further accentuating the premature aging that occurs as the
bone continues to melt away.
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How Do Dentures and Partials Accelerate
the Deterioration of Facial Structures?
A denture is prosthesis, and like any other prosthesis, it is
designed to replace missing body parts. Because the jaws deteriorate
and the face collapses when all of the teeth are missing, dentures
are designed to replace missing teeth and the facial
structures that have deteriorated. To do this, they must be thick
enough to compensate for the bone that has melted away. As the
facial structures continue to collapse over time, dentures must
be made thicker to compensate for additional bone loss.
Dentures accelerate loss of bone because they press down on
the gums and underlying bone when you eat, compressing the gums
and bone. Unfortunately, if you wear a denture your bone will
melt away faster and your facial structure will collapse more
quickly than if you don’t wear a denture.
A partial denture is also a prosthesis, but it is designed to
replace facial structures when only some teeth are missing. A
partial has metal clasps that hook onto the adjacent teeth to
hold it in place. A partial also accelerates bone loss as it
presses down on the gums and underlying bone when you eat. The
hooks also put pressure on adjacent teeth as the partial rocks
back and forth, so the teeth the partial is hooked to can eventually
loosen and come out. New false teeth must then be added to the
partial and the pressure from the hooks shifts to different teeth,
which now become compromised. This process continues as long
as the partial is worn.
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Does the Loss of Only One Tooth
or Just a Few Teeth Compromise Facial Structures?
The bone in the front of your mouth is very thin, so if you
lose a front tooth the bone usually melts away rather quickly.
This can look like the bone and gums are caving in and can be
visible when smiling, which makes many people self conscious
about their appearance.
When a front tooth is replaced by a tooth-supported bridge,
the teeth on either side look natural. Over time the gums and
bone above the false tooth collapse, leaving the false tooth
hanging and looking fake.
This problem is more obvious if a few teeth are lost in the
front of the mouth, since the bony defect is much larger. As
the bone deteriorates above the bridge, there is often a visible
gap between the gums and the bridge.
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How Dental Implants Preserve Bone
Dental implants serve as substitute tooth roots, providing the
same function as natural tooth roots, which includes stimulating
the bone and preserving it. Since the jawbone forms a bond with
the implant, it provides a stable foundation for replacement
teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth.
Because bone deterioration is prevented with implants, the facial
structures remain intact and do not collapse. Replacing missing
teeth with implants also prevents other problems associated with
tooth loss, such as other teeth shifting into the spaces created
by missing teeth and functional problems with the bite and jaw
joints.
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What Do I Do if Bone Already Has
Deteriorated?
If you already have dentures or a partial, you may be concerned
that your bone has deteriorated and it’s too late to consider
implants. Fortunately, new technology makes it possible to grow
new bone or to add bone to areas where the bone has melted away,
allowing the placement of implants.
Bone grafting procedures make it possible to repair defects
in the anterior bone and place implants to preserve the bone
and improve appearance. Bone grafting makes it possible for people
with significant bone loss to have implants that restore function
and the integrity of their facial structures.
Sometimes it’s possible to graft bone and place implants
at the same time. Each person’s situation is unique, and
not everyone is a candidate for bone grafting. Even if you wear
dentures or a partial, you owe it to yourself to talk to a qualified,
experienced dentist to determine whether you qualify for bone
grafting and implant treatment. These simple procedures can make
you eat, look and feel better.
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