Dental implants can last up to 25 years when properly maintained. They are designed to be a permanent solution for tooth replacement. The technology behind dental implants has become so far advanced over the years that many of the factors that use to be a problem with dental implants no longer apply.
Dental implants are the closest you can get to your real teeth. They allow you to live the kind of life you want confidently.
Think about dental implants as synthetic tooth roots. They are similar in shape to screws. A dental implant is placed in your jawbone and it bonds with your natural bone. They are a sturdy base that supports your teeth.
The artificial teeth are called crowns. Crowns are customized to match your natural teeth and fit inside your mouth. An abutment (a connector) is placed at the top of the implant. It supports the crowns.
This dental implant technology has been used for over 30 years. They look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. They are one of the strongest devices to replace your natural teeth.
Today’s dental implants have great success. The success rate of your dental implants can vary on a number of these such as where they are being placed. Overall dental implants have a
success rate of 98%. With proper care, dental implants can last a very long time.
There are a few alternatives to dental implants. Let’s take a look at your options.
Gum disease treatment may be able to save a loose tooth. If the gum is receding and the bone has been lost surrounding the tooth that doesn’t necessarily mean that the tooth will be lost.
A gum disease treatment cleans out the infection surrounding the tooth. Hopefully, after the treatment, the tooth will heal. With this treatment, you will still have your natural teeth for a little while longer. This is significantly less than the cost of dental implants but this treatment won’t fix everyone’s loose teeth.
A root canal can help clean an infected tooth out from the inside and make it stable again. Afterward, the tooth is reinforced on the top with a dental crown. A root canal can help you keep your natural teeth for longer and the crown gives helps keep the appearance of your natural tooth. The cost is also slightly less than a dental implant.
A root canal is not the answer for everyone. It depends on the state of your tooth. If the tooth is damaged in any way a root canal is not recommended. Sometimes extraction is the best method for a tooth that is seriously infected.
If you can’t save your natural tooth with the methods mentioned before a dental bridge can be a solution. The dental bridge replaces the natural tooth. It is supported by dental drown on the teeth next to the missing tooth.
The bridge is fully fixed into the mouth. It won’t come out or slip around. Often they look just as nice as dental implants.
However, dental bridges do not put artificial tooth roots into your jawbone the way a dental implant does. This can cause deterioration in the jawbone. It’s possible that the gums can collapse underneath the bridge. Dental bridges are only recommended under very specific circumstances.
Dental implants can fail when the bone doesn’t grow properly around the implant. You can recognize if the bone is growing around the implant testing the mobility of the implant. If it feels a bit wobbly when you are speaking or chewing visit your dentist.
If you experience any pain or swelling in the area of your implant talk to your dentist. She may recommend x-rays to take a look at how your implant is doing.