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Modern dentists agree that dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement options. This strong consensus among dentists comes from years of research and real-life implementation. A dental implant that is well placed will look identical to a natural tooth while promoting healthy bone structure and providing full functionality without some of the weaknesses that a dental bridge or denture can have.Â
The dentists at Dreamtime Dentistry in Vista, California, promote dental implants as a preferred dental restoration option for missing teeth. While many dentists consider dental implants the best choice for tooth replacement, are they as strong as or stronger than natural teeth? To correctly answer this question, let’s learn more about dental implants!
Your dentist will always try to save your tooth before considering an extraction. Sometimes, a dental extraction is unavoidable. In such cases, dental implants are the best choice for restoration, offering a natural-looking replacement option. A dental implant can mimic the appearance of your missing natural tooth, meaning that nobody can tell you have had a replacement put in place.
A dental implant begins with the post surgically inserted into the jawbone. Once implanted, and as you heal, osseointegration occurs, during which the jawbone fuses to the post. This promotes bone integrity and will allow your jawbone to remain healthy. Once this process is completed, your implant will be firmly anchored in the bone. Because your jawbone remains healthy, your facial structure will retain its original shape and size. An abutment will be attached to the implant, to which the tooth prosthetic (a dental crown) will be attached. Your dental implant will become a permanent part of your smile.
When looking at other tooth replacements that merely sit above the gum line, they cannot help with bone integrity, so over time, the jawbone will deteriorate, and your face will begin to take a sagging, aged appearance.
When considering the bite strength of a dental implant, it typically provides 80-90% of the bite strength of a natural tooth. If you or somebody you know has ever lived with a dental bridge or dentures, you already know how important a firm bite can be. It can be embarrassing having to turn away foods that you know you do not have the strength to bite into, not to mention that you could be turning away foods that provide necessary nutrients and vitamins. Implants provide the strength to confidently bite into fresh fruits (like apples) and vegetables (like corn on the cob).
Implants last much longer than other tooth replacement options. While the dental crown attached to the implant will need to be replaced eventually, the implant post should last a lifetime. The lifetime of a traditional denture is about five years, and a dental bridge’s lifetime is a bit longer than that. In the end, while these other options may cost less up front, a dental implant becomes more cost-effective in the long term because you do not have to replace it as often.
To learn more about dental implants and how they can benefit you, please schedule a consultation with the team at Dreamtime Dentistry by calling our Vista, CA office today at (760) 274-0993.