If you are missing some teeth, your dentist will have lots of restorative options for you to choose from. You could get a bridge, partial denture, full-denture, etc. A dental implant is also an option. Instead of just resting on your jaw ridges, implants are surgically implanted into your jawbones. Read on to weigh some of the pros and cons of dental implants.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
One great benefit of an implant is that it is a permanent solution. If you don't like the idea of removable dentures, then an implant is the way to go. You can clean your implant crown with a toothbrush like you normally would with your other teeth. You don't have to worry about the implant slipping out; and, you don't have to worry about removing it each night and cleaning it with a special cleaner like you would for a denture.
Implants can be nicer than bridges and crowns because you don't have to worry about debris getting underneath the false teeth and causing decay. The entire tooth that rests on the implant will be false.
Another great benefit of an implant is that it prevents bone loss. When you lose a tooth, your body actually reabsorbs that tissue where the gap once was and your jaw bone shrinks. If you have an implant, the portion that is embedded in your jaw stimulates bone growth and repair like a natural tooth root would.
Potential Downsides
Dental implants can be more costly than other restorative options, so that is a potential downside. If you need to replace a lot of teeth, you may think you can't get implants because of the cost. To get the best of both worlds, you could get an all-on-four denture. These dentures sit on four implants; so you can reduce your costs somewhat by getting a denture base, but you can still have some of the security of implants since these all-on-four appliances lock into four implant abutments.
Another potential downside of implants is the waiting time. Unless you have really good bone density in your jaw, you may have to wait to get an implant and get a bone graft first. The good news is that if you search online, you'll see that dental implants have really high success rates. So, if your dentist recommends that you get a bone graft first, it's a good idea to listen since it can decrease your risk of implant failure.
