If you’re living with missing teeth, you’re probably looking to replace them pretty quickly. A lot of our St. Louis patients opt for dental bridges or dentures when shopping around for tooth replacement options. And while dentures and dental bridges are better than living with missing teeth, we want everyone to understand some of the benefits of dental implants.
Dental implants have a higher initial cost than the other two options, it’s true. But that shouldn’t completely steer you away from pursuing the treatment, as in the long term, dental implants are actually pretty cost-effective.
Here are three reasons why you should consider choosing dental implants instead of dentures or dental bridges.
1. Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Loss
Remember that when you lose a tooth, you don’t just lose the visible space in your smile—you lose the root as well.
The roots of your teeth are important in the overall structure of your jaw because they keep the bone dense and stimulated. So when you lose a tooth, the jaw bone in that area can deplete and diminish over time.
Dental implants replace the whole tooth—root included. The titanium implant post acts just like a natural tooth root and prevents the jaw bone from growing weaker. Dentures and dental bridges, on the other hand, only replace the crowns (the visible parts) of your teeth, so the bone receives no support.
2. Dental Implants Last a Long Time
Dental implants are a lifelong investment. When you practice good oral hygiene, your implants can last for decades or even a lifetime. Dental implants are made to be low maintenance, so all you need is your normal toothbrush, floss, and regular dental visits to take care of them.
Dentures and bridges need to be replaced every 5-10 years. Your mouth and bite shifts over time, and while dental implants can adapt to the changes, bridges, and dentures cannot. This means that you will need to have them refitted several times throughout our lifetime.
3. Dental Implants are Safe for Your Other Teeth
When you have a bridge placed in your mouth, the two teeth surrounding the missing tooth need to be filed down to facilitate the bridge placement. The adjacent teeth act like anchors for the prosthetic crown in the middle, so they need to be shaved down in order to ensure that the crowns fit. Once this enamel is gone, it’s gone for good.
Also. dentures don’t prevent your other teeth from shifting. They may replace your teeth in an aesthetic sense, but when you remove your dentures, your other natural teeth may begin to shift.
Dental implants prevent all of this from happening. They’re designed to the specifics of your mouth and will prevent your teeth from being shaved down, shifting, and falling out.
Choose Dental Implants in St. Louis, MO
It’s important to be confident in your smile. Here at St. Louis County Dental, we want to help you attain the smile of your dreams in the healthiest way possible. Give us a call or send us an email to see how we can help you.