If you are one of the Australians with an average of 4.5 missing teeth, there is a good chance you are considering dental implants to restore your smile. While they have revolutionised the field of replacement teeth, you still need to know the facts and the pros and cons of dental implants before undergoing surgery.
What are the Pros and Cons of Dental Implants?
When you lose a tooth, smiling, eating and talking can feel uncomfortable. Tooth loss can affect your self-esteem and lead to poor oral and overall health; it is, therefore, essential to treat tooth loss as soon as possible to restore your unique smile.
Research shows that dental implants are an excellent long-term teeth replacement option. However, just like any other surgery, you need to weigh the pros and cons of dental implants before undergoing treatment.
Dental implant pros
Before replacing your missing teeth, you need to consider which treatment option is the best for your smile. Dental implants offer a host of fantastic benefits, such as:
- Lasting a lifetime: The titanium post can last a lifetime if you look after your dental implants. However, the dental crown, bridge, or denture restoration may need to be replaced periodically due to wear and tear. To ensure your dental implant lasts the rest of your life, avoid smoking, limit sugary treats and soft drinks, and book regular check-ups with your dentist.
- Looking, feeling and functioning like natural teeth: Once your dental implant has been placed, you won’t be able to tell the difference between your restoration and your natural teeth. The dental implant mimics a natural tooth root, restoring your chewing and biting ability, so you don’t have to modify your diet like with dentures or a dental bridge.
- Easy to take care of: You take care of dental implants like your natural teeth with a healthy diet, daily brushing and flossing, and routine check-ups.
- Preventing jawbone loss: Your dental implant is anchored into your jawbone, so you are preventing bone tissue resorption every time you chew.
Resorption occurs due to a lack of stimulation, and the bone is absorbed back into the body and distributed elsewhere. Resorption causes your facial bone structure to change and your other teeth to shift and become loose.
Dental Implant Cons
While the advantages of dental implants far outweigh the disadvantages, they might not be the right option for your smile. Your current oral health, overall health and lifestyle choices can impact your candidacy.
- You need to be a suitable candidate for dental implant surgery: To undergo dental implant surgery, you must meet specific criteria, including sufficient jawbone density and healthy gum tissue. Most people are candidates, but some may have to undergo additional procedures like a bone graft before getting dental implant surgery.
- Dental implant surgery is a long process: Dental implant surgery can take several months to complete, especially if it involves a bone graft or sinus lift procedure first. Once a dental implant has been placed, it can take up to six months to fuse with the jawbone. Then an abutment is placed, and the site takes another two weeks to heal before the restoration can be fitted.
- Dental implant surgery can be cost prohibitive: Dental implants cost more upfront than other tooth replacement options. However, they cost less over your lifetime because they don’t need to be replaced or require special cleaning tools and adhesives. This makes dental implants a worthwhile investment in your oral health. At Available Dental Care, we believe everyone deserves a beautiful and healthy smile. That is why we offer a range of dental financing options, like DentiCare and Zip Pay, for all your oral health care treatments, including dental implant surgery.
- Dental implant surgery can fail: Although dental implant surgery has a high success rate, 5-10% of patients experience dental implant failure. This can be caused by insufficient bone density, gum disease, poor dental hygiene, or a medical condition like rheumatoid arthritis. At Available Dental Care, we limit your risk of dental implant failure by conducting a thorough oral and medical evaluation at your initial consultation.
The Verdict on Dental Implants
If you are a suitable candidate for dental implants, they are an excellent tooth-replacement solution for restoring your smile. Their longevity means you can enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles.
If you want to discuss the pros and cons of dental implants in more detail, contact our practice at (02) 4062 8763 today to arrange your dental implant consultation.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
How many teeth do you have? How many will you keep for life?
https://www.ada.org.au/News-Media/News-and-Release/Media-Releases/How-many-teeth-do-you-have-How-many-will-you-keep
Dental implant as an option for tooth replacement: The awareness of patients at a tertiary hospital in a developing country
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4147803/#:~
What to Know About Dental Implant Complications and Failure
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-implant-problems