Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Many Americans have missing teeth. Not only does this affect self-esteem, but it may make eating or talking difficult. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, you may be considering partial or full dentures, but before you do, check out these five facts you should know about dental implants so you can determine if they are the better choice for you.  

Implants May Prevent the Need for Dentures

If you are missing several teeth, you may be considering a dental bridge, but a traditional bridge isn't always recommended. Depending on the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbone (and how many teeth are missing), a dental bridge may put too much strain on existing teeth, causing them to become loose. In this instance, a partial denture may be recommended, but partial dentures aren't durable or stable, and they may cause damage to healthy teeth. Instead, consider an implant-supported bridge. These bridges can replace more teeth because they use implants to support the bridge instead of teeth.

Implants Are Extremely Durable

Chewing and grinding your teeth creates a lot of pressure, but healthy teeth withstand this wear and tear thanks to ligaments that hold them in place within the jawbone. The only tooth-replacement option that can mimic this durable hold is a dental implant. Dental implants are made from titanium, which can fuse with bone. Therefore, after the implants are placed, the jawbone fuses to them, securing them like ligaments to make them strong and durable.  

The Dentures Are Still Removable

Single dental implants and implant-supported bridges aren't removable. Like traditional bridges, they are stationary, and as with traditional bridges, you may need special floss to clean under an implant-supported bridge. Food, bacteria, and plaque can get trapped between the fake teeth and the gums. If you get implant-supported dentures, however, they are removable, making cleaning easy. The dentures snap back into place, which makes them more stable than traditional dentures.

They Are an Expensive Investment

Implants are expensive, and your dental insurance may not pay for them. If they do, they may only pay for some services, such as tooth extraction. Most dental insurance policies don't cover the implant itself. The price of traditional dentures varies, depending on the type and quality, but you can expect to pay about $4,000 to $8,000 for a set of premium dentures. If you choose implant-supported dentures, however, you'll pay closer to $3,500 or $30,000, depending on the size. Dentures, however, may need to be resized or remade due to shifts in your jawbone or damage to the dentures. With proper care, you may never need to replace your implants.

You May Need a Bone Graft

When you lose teeth, the jawbone begins to atrophy because it no longer has a tooth to stimulate it. Unfortunately, implants need a strong, solid jawbone to support them. If your jawbone is weak, the risk of implant failure increases. The longer your teeth have been missing, the weaker your jawbone becomes. You can, however, get a bone graft to add volume to the jawbone. Depending on how much you need, the dentist may take bone from another part of your body, but in many cases, synthetic bone can be used. Once the implant is placed, it stimulates the jawbone, preventing it from atrophying again.

If you are hiding your smile because of missing teeth, you need to consider dental implants. Dental implants are an expensive investment, and insurance may only pay a portion of the cost. However, with implants, you'll get a beautiful and durable smile. For more information regarding dental implants, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area today.