What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are essentially artificial teeth that will look, feel and act like real teeth would. What dental implants are not is false teeth or dentures. The main difference between dentures and dental implants is that conventional dentures need to be removed for cleaning and sleeping, otherwise, a buildup of bacteria can occur in your mouth which can lead to gum disease. The plate to which the tooth or teeth are attached is usually made from plastic, nylon or metal, and may clip onto some natural teeth, or fit over your gums if it is a full set of dentures.
A dental implant is usually made from very strong materials like titanium or zirconia and resembles a screw that is surgically implanted into the actual bone of the jaw, and as the healing process happens the implant becomes bonded to the bone and will remain permanently fixed. The false tooth, or crown, will then be attached to the implant and fully cover it, so all that is seen is the tooth. Thanks to modern advancements in dentistry and technology today these crowns can be colour-matched to the natural hue of your remaining teeth so they will look completely natural.
Dental Implants vs Dentures
Dental implants have become the popular alternative to dentures and certainly have a lot of advantages, but they are not for everyone. Firstly, they are more costly than dentures, but if you believe in investing in your future then they are worth the extra money. They last a lot longer than dentures – sometimes an entire lifetime if they are properly looked after – and they will lead to fewer visits to the dentist because they are easier to maintain.
Dentures can take a lot of getting used to, and some people find them quite uncomfortable. Your jawbone may take time to settle without its natural teeth and you may need to have your dentures adjusted or use denture adhesive to keep your dentures in place and make them more comfortable to wear. Certain foods are difficult to eat with dentures, like whole apples, tough meats and crispy bread, and may damage your dentures over time.
However, dental implants are not for everyone either, and their success depends on the health of the person, and the health and thickness of the bone and tissues that surround the implant. Some people may need a bone graft before having implants, making the whole process longer and more costly.
Advantages of Dental Implants
There is no doubt that if you can, dental implants are the way to go. Once healed, your implants will look and feel completely natural, making eating and speaking much better than with dentures, and unlike dentures they provide the necessary stimulation to the jawbone, preventing the bone from shrinking and deteriorating.
Having multiple teeth replaced can work out cheaper as All-on-4 implants only require 4 implants to provide a full upper or lower set of teeth.
To find out what dental implant options are available to you don’t hesitate to contact one of our exceptional team at Sydney Road Dental Care and get your beautiful smile back on track today!