Whether you have lost one teeth or many, you may be in the process of considering what avenue to pursue for restoration. You may feel overwhelmed with the decision, but understanding your options will help you ask the right questions of your dentist to make a confident decision for your oral health.
Dental implants have become increasingly popular as patient understanding of their benefits has improved. Once a speciality service, many general dentists now have the same skills and training and are able to more broadly serve the public. While dental implants are changing the way we think about our tooth and jaw health as we age, it is true that they are not the most optimal solution for every patient. Consider these pros and cons when speaking to your dentist about whether implants are right for you.
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Once your implant is successfully installed, you can expect to have it to last a long time with good care and appropriate use. As dentistry gathers further data over time, this number may even increase.
What if we told you that dental implants can actually help maintain the appearance of the lower third of your face? That’s because dental implants do what dentures can’t: they stimulate the jawbone directly. That makes the difference between a jawbone that maintains its form and structure with time and use and one that erodes with time due to lack of stimulation. This can result in a sunken appearance as the jaw shrinks in its dimensions. The ratio of stimulation between implants and dentures is roughly 8:1.
Dental implants can be installed in various configurations including singular, multiple or all-on-four implant-mounted dentures. One implant may support the jaw for its neighbours as well, which is the principle applied in all-on-four. Each quadrant of the dental arch is fitted with one implant for a total of eight, which support a full set of dentures.
Because implants ‘behave’ like teeth, they will respond to the task of chewing in a much more natural way than would an appliance whose false teeth are all connected. While other solutions require restrictions in diet, your implant can be put to work just like a natural tooth as soon as it is comfortable to do so.
based on factors like how many implants are being installed, materials required and any procedures that must be completed in preparation, such as a bone graft.
Other factors, like lifestyle, may make other alternatives more attractive to some patients. For some, their age means that they will likely fail to extract the full benefit of the implant, so they may also prefer alternatives.
The success of your dental implant is dependent upon having at adequate amount of bone to support the implant properly. If you have experienced some bone loss in that area, your dentist may recommend a bone graft. Bone grafts require approximately 4 months of healing to be considered stable enough to have the implant installed. This procedure takes healthy bone tissue from another source and positions it where the bone loss has occurred. There are four types of bone grafts in dentistry:
Despite our best efforts, there are times when a bone graft cannot be performed, or it may not bond successfully. These are considerations that must be taken into account when planning a series of procedures. It is important to have a back-up plan discussed with your dentist in the event that your graft is unsuccessful.
If you are not a candidate for dental implants, ask your doctor how either a bridge or dentures could serve as alternatives.
If you have questions about this or other services offered by our general dentist, contact our clinic today.
