7 Benefits Of Dental Implants
What you can gain by using dental implants to replace missing teeth.
Although dentures and bridges are both viable options to replace a missing tooth, or teeth; increasingly, dental patients in the Bedford area and UK wide, are turning to implants for this purpose.
At The Dental Centre Bedford, we are fortunate to have on our team, experienced and highly trained implant dentists who perform this procedure both safely and effectively.
In today’s blog, we take a look at some of the many reasons why patients are opting for dental implants, rather than dentures or a bridge.
Strength – One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is that, once placed and fully integrated with the jawbone, they will not restrict, in any way, the choices of food that you wish to eat. Whilst dentures, and, to an extent, a dental bridge, may struggle to cope with some foods, your implants will be strong enough for any food, in fact just like your natural teeth!
Stability – Unlike dentures, implants will not move around in the mouth. In fact, the osseointegration process, where the implant and bone fuse, means that your implant will be very firmly embedded in the bone of your jaw. It is this stability that former denture wearers really appreciate after completing their dental implant treatment.
Look and feel – Whilst modern dentures have certainly improved in the way that they look and feel, they simply can’t match the natural feel of dental implants. The crown part of the implant process will be produced to match both the colour and shape of your natural teeth so that it blends in. Because the titanium implant replaces the natural tooth root, patients should not even notice the difference after a short while.
Easy to clean – There is no messy cleaning procedure with dental implants. Unlike dentures that have to be removed to be cleaned, or the special cleaning of dental bridges, you can simply clean your new implant in the same way that you would your natural teeth. Brushing, flossing and regular dental and hygienist appointments should keep your new implant free from potential problems such as periodontitis or peri-implantitis.
Longevity – Dental implants should last for twenty years or even longer providing that you take care of them as mentioned above. Although the initial implant process may seem a little longer than other treatments, once completed, aside from general care, you can forget that you are wearing them and simply get on with your daily life.
Bone retention – When a tooth is lost, the bone in that area of the jaw will slowly degrade. Especially where a few consecutive teeth are missing, this can cause a sunken appearance of the cheek and make you look older. Because the titanium implant is placed into the bone, it replaces the natural tooth root and helps to prevent the bone from degrading.
Cost – This one may surprise some patients who may be deterred by the initial cost of dental implants. Taken over the lifespan of an implant though, the cost per year can work out cheaper than some other procedures. Providing that you look after them, it is highly unlikely that you will need any significant additional work done, so the initial outlay, outside of periodic maintenance, is effectively the sum total of their cost.
Dental implants can be placed either individually, for consecutive missing teeth or even for a full arch of missing teeth. For more information, or to arrange a consultation with our Bedford implant dentist, please call The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.