If you’re living with missing teeth, chances are you’re looking to replace them pretty quick. A lot of our White Oak, PA patients opt for dental bridges or dentures, and while pursuing these options is better than living with missing teeth, we want everyone to know that dental implants are available.
It’s true that dental implants have an overall higher cost at the beginning, but that should not deter you completely. When you compare the cost of dental implants and bridges or dentures over time, you’ll find that dental implants are actually cost-effective because of the numerous health benefits that they offer.
Here are 3 of the top reasons to choose dental implants over dental bridges or dentures.
1. Dental Implants Protect Against Bone Loss
When you lose a tooth, you’re not only losing the crown and the space in your smile—you’re losing the root as well. And when you lose your root, the jawbone holding that root in place doesn’t have to stay strong anymore, which will cause it to sink and deteriorate over time.
When you opt for a bridge or a set of dentures, you’re restoring your ability to chew and smile with a full set of teeth, but you’re not doing your jawbone any favors because bridges and dentures simply sit on top of the gums.
Dental implants, however, replace the entire tooth, root included. The titanium screw that holds the crown in place fits directly into your jawbone. Your jaw then wraps around the screw and fuses with it, treating it just like a natural tooth root. This, in turn, ensures that your jawbone has adequate stimulation and support, keeping it from sinking and deteriorating.
2. Dental Implants Last a Long Time
We want all of our patients to understand that dental implants are a lifelong investment. When you practice proper oral hygiene, your dental implant can last for decades or even a lifetime. Dental implants are engineered to be low-maintenance, meaning that you only need to use a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss to take care of them, just like you do with your natural teeth.
Bridges and dentures, on the other hand, need to be replaced every 5-10 years. Your mouth changes and shifts, and while dental implants can adapt to that shift, your bridge or dentures cannot.
3. Dental Implants are the Best Option for Your Other Teeth
When you have a bridge placed, the two teeth surrounding the missing teeth need to be shaved down to accommodate the bridge placement. The adjacent teeth serve as anchors for the prosthetic crown in the middle, and in order for the crowns to fit over them, they need to be filed. Once this enamel is gone, it’s gone for good. So if you decide to opt for dental implants in the future, you’ll have more teeth to worry about.
Dentures don’t always keep your other teeth from shifting as well. A set of partial dentures can esthetically replace a few missing teeth, but when you remove it, your natural teeth may begin to shift.
Dental implants prevent all of this from happening. They’re engineered to the specifics of your mouth and ultimately prevent your teeth from being filed down, shifting, and falling out due to decay.
Invest in Your Smile with Dental Implants
It’s important to be confident in your smile. Here at White Oak Dental Associates, we want to help you attain optimum oral health with dental implants. Give us a call or send us an email to see how we can help you get the best smile of your life.