If you’re tired of your missing teeth, you have several options to replace them. Dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures are all options. Dr. Ray Becker, an implant dentist in Columbia, MD, can help restore missing, damaged, or decayed teeth. Dental implants offer many advantages over traditional dental bridges and dentures. You can learn the benefits of dental implants in his Columbia, MD, office here.
The Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants are the premier restoration for one or more missing permanent teeth. The many advantages of treatment with dental implants in our office include:
Strong Restorations
Dental implants are the most durable tooth replacement option. The metal implant posts can last a lifetime if you take good care of them and maintain good oral health. Implant posts use titanium, a material also used for artificial joints.
Once the bone grows around the implant posts, the posts become a new artificial tooth root. While you must replace the dental restoration due to normal wear and tear, it will last much longer than traditional dentures and bridges.
Comfort
A dental implant-supported restoration is the most comfortable option for replacing missing teeth. Implant restorations mimic the feel and function of teeth.
Dentures may feel bulky, cause sores on the gums from rubbing, and can move around in your mouth. A dental bridge may cause unnecessary pressure on the abutment teeth. Your bite will feel natural once you’re used to your dental implant restoration.
Functional Bite
Out of all the missing teeth solutions, dental implants function the most like natural teeth. This dental restoration allows you to eat, speak, and smile confidently. They’re also the strongest option for biting and chewing.
Compared to other restorations, implant restorations improve the bite function by at least 80 percent. For example, removable dentures can easily slip around the mouth, which makes it hard to speak and eat properly. While removable restorations may be faster, you can lose quality by choosing the quicker option. Securing restorations with implants will result in a secure bite that lasts.
Fewer Food Restrictions
With dental implants, your bite function is closer to that of a person with natural teeth. Since the implants are firmly in place, they allow you to bite and chew your food with force.
If you wear traditional dentures, you must avoid hard and crunchy foods. Many fruits and vegetables fall under this category. Avoiding these foods can lead to nutritional problems. If you do not get enough vitamins and minerals from softer foods, you deprive yourself of essential nutrients.
Bone Health
Dental implants are the only missing teeth solution to preserve the bone in the jaw. After you lose a tooth, the jaw bone will begin to deteriorate. This will change the whole shape of your face, causing deep wrinkles and facial sagging.
Once we insert an implant, it will provide enough stimulation to support the jaw bone. Preventing bone loss helps maintain the face’s natural shape. Because implants act like artificial tooth roots, they support the surrounding bone.
Long-term Cost-effectiveness
Dental implants will initially cost more than removable dentures or traditional bridges. However, implants may be the cheaper way to replace teeth in the long run. If taken care of properly, dental implant posts will last forever.
Since the bone will not deteriorate, you don’t need to repair or replace your dental bridge or denture as often. Traditional dentures also need rebasing. This extra maintenance and repair can add up over the years. In many cases, the cost of a bridge or denture may be more than the cost of dental implants.
Doesn’t Harm Healthy Teeth
A dental implant restoration will only replace missing teeth and never harm any healthy remaining teeth. We can restore multiple teeth without preparing other natural teeth.
The implant treatment process is different. When you receive a traditional bridge, a dentist must prepare natural teeth on either side of your tooth gap. Dental implants don’t require reducing natural, healthy teeth.
Improved Self-Confidence
People who wear a dental implant-supported restoration have improved self-confidence. Missing tooth gaps in the smile zone can cause you to hide your teeth when you eat, laugh, or smile. Socializing can be hard if you hide your smile around others.
Implants are the most like real teeth. You don’t need to be self-conscious about your appearance or hide your smile. Your new teeth will look, function, and feel like real teeth.
Am I a Candidate for Implants?
Not everyone is ready for implant treatment right away. To be a good candidate for dental implants, you need to be in good overall health and have healthy gums. You also need enough bone in your jaw to hold the implant in place.
If you’ve had missing teeth for a while, your jawbone may have started to shrink. You might need a bone graft to help build up the area before you can get implants. If you have gum disease, we’ll need to treat it first to make sure your gums are healthy enough to support your new teeth.
You may also be a good candidate if you don’t want to deal with the slipping or discomfort that can come with dentures. Dental implants are stable and don’t rely on other teeth for support. Dr. Ray Becker will examine your mouth and take X-rays to see if dental implants are right for you. If you need extra care, he’ll guide you through every step to help you qualify for treatment.
What Happens During Implant Treatment?
Before implant treatment, we ensure you’re healthy and have enough healthy jaw bone tissue to support your implants. Pretreatments help your implants last and reduce the chance of implant failure.
During the implant process, we place the titanium implant post in the jaw bone. Once the implant fuses to the jaw bone, we place an abutment. Finally, we attach the custom-made crown, bridge, or denture. While implant treatment can take longer than a traditional restoration, the result makes this time worth it for most patients.
Schedule an Implant Consultation
Implants offer many more benefits than dental bridges and dentures. Please visit our offices in Columbia and Ellicott City, MD, to learn more about the benefits of dental implants. Call (410) 415-9013 to make your next visit. You can also schedule an appointment with Dr. Ray Becker online.
Please let us know if you have any questions about dental implants. We’re here to help you find the best option for you.
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