Solving Tooth Loss with Dental Implant Technology

Tooth loss is a problem millions of Americans face. Severe tooth loss impacts a quarter of adults over the age of 65, leaving them with eight or fewer teeth. Although tooth loss in adults has been improving over the past two decades due to heightened awareness of oral health, it remains an issue for many.

Dentures, both complete and partial, have long been the go-to full-mouth restoration option for adults with moderate to complete tooth loss. The technology behind dentures has improved, enhancing their designs, making them more structurally sound, and, overall, feel more comfortable. However, dentures have inherent disadvantages that were seen as an unavoidable part of full-mouth restoration—until dental implants made their way onto the scene.

Dental implant technology is rapidly growing in demand as not only an individual tooth replacement but also as an alternative to dentures.

Here are 5 reasons why.

1. Dental implants are a state-of-the-art alternative.

Dentistry technology is constantly evolving and advancing, and dental implants are a fantastic example of this.

The use of surgical implants placed in bone has been around for decades, but dental implants didn’t become a thing until the 1980s. At that point they had a short lifespan and not a very impressive success rate, however, they did have promise. Thanks to continued efforts to improve dental implant surgery, our modern dental implants have an astounding success rate of well over 90% and the treatment process is far more comfortable.

We now have access to implant-supported dentures, which combine the best of dentures for full-mouth restorations with the benefits of dental implants. The treatment process is much more advanced than receiving dentures. With implant-supported dentures, your dentist will use the best in digital imaging, be able to take mess-free digital impressions, and ensure your implant is designed with the very best in modern materials.

2. Dental implants have very few disadvantages.

Dental implants and implant-supported dentures have very few disadvantages, especially in comparison to traditional dentures. Let’s compare a few.

Stability

Well-fitting dentures won’t feel unstable, but their stability simply can’t be compared to that of implant-supported dentures. Dental implants give the feeling of a natural tooth because that’s exactly what each implant post mimics. With implant-supported dentures, you’ll have ultimate stability, without fear of dentures slipping or falling while eating or talking.

Adhesives

Dentures require sticky adhesives or creams to keep them locked into place. Not only are these messy, but you’ll have to regularly buy them and it’s still possible for dentures to slip. Implant-supported dentures require absolutely nothing to secure them. With the denture or partial denture in place on your implants, you’re ready to go!

Care

Dentures need to be meticulously cleaned with special products to keep them free of food debris and bacteria. You’ll also need to keep your mouth and gums clean. On the other hand, with implant-supported dentures, your care routine will be nearly identical to when you had natural teeth. If you have individual dental implants along with natural teeth, you’ll care for them all the same when brushing and flossing.

3. Dental implants offer an impressive cost vs. value.

When it comes to cost, dental implants are going to be more expensive up front. Dentures are a much more affordable option, but consider long-term value first.

Dentures will need to be replaced every five to 10 years, and they’ll also need to be repaired if they experience any damage during that time. You’ll also need to have your dentures refitted over time as your gums change shape. Depending on your age, and factoring in refittings and repairs, you could spend more on multiple sets of dentures than you would have with dental implants.

In short, yes, dental implant procedures do cost more initially, but they also tend to save you money when looking at the big picture. This is especially true when considering your long-term oral health, bringing us to the next benefit of dental implants.

4. Dental implants protect long-term oral health.

What truly makes dental implants a highly valuable treatment option is how they protect and promote long-term oral health.

When tooth loss occurs, there’s more going on than a significant cosmetic change in how your smile looks. Under the surface of the gaps in your smile, your jaw is changing. Without the stimulation of healthy tooth roots supporting the jaw bone, your bone will gradually begin to shrink inwards and downwards. Even with dentures in place, this will still occur over time.

Dental implants are the only restorative procedure that visually and physically mimics natural teeth. Each implant post fuses with your jawbone, acting just like an artificial tooth root. This adds strength to the jaw and stops premature aging as well as bone loss experienced with dentures.

5. Dental implants provide a lifetime of support.

Dentures will need to be replaced periodically, but dental implants literally last for life. Each dental implant titanium post, once fully healed, becomes a new part of your jaw. It will never need to be replaced unless a facial impact somehow harms the tooth or an unrelated oral disease causes trouble. As long as you maintain a healthy mouth and see your dentist every six months for cleanings and checkups, your implant will remain equally healthy and happy.

Learn how dental implants can replace your dentures.

If you currently have dentures or you may need them in the future, right now is a great time to schedule a consultation to learn about dental implants as a valuable, beneficial alternative. Even if you’ve been wearing dentures for years, experienced dentists like the ones at Metro East Dental Care can find an implant solution that works.

You can schedule a consultation today by calling our Granite City, IL, office or requesting a visit online.