Understanding The Pros And Cons Of Dental Implants
Dental implants in Mandeville are the best way to permanently replace missing teeth with lifelike, natural tooth restorations. But they may not be right for everyone. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of dental implants from Mandeville Center for Dental Excellence now, and discuss whether or not they may be the right option for you.
Pros Of Dental Implants
Dental implants have been in use for decades now, and are still considered to be the “gold standard” for permanent smile restoration for a number of reasons. Let’s take a look at a few of them now.
- Lasts 30+ years, often up to a lifetime – Typically, dental implants last at least 30 years with proper care and oral hygiene, and most patients are able to keep their implants for the rest of their lives. If you want a long-term solution for a missing tooth, you won’t do better than a dental implant.
- Will never shift or move – Dental implants are permanently fixed in place, since they are surgically implanted into the gum and jaw tissue, and the titanium used for the implant heals and bonds to the jaw bone. Unlike a denture, the implant will never move or shift when you eat, speak, or chew.
- Requires little specialized maintenance – Single-tooth implants can be treated just like a natural tooth. You can brush and floss them normally. Fixed implant-supported bridges and removable implant-supported dentures, which restore multiple teeth, require some additional care, but are still more convenient than alternatives like dentures.
Cons Of Dental Implants
Despite their many advantages, there are a few drawbacks that mean that dental implants aren’t for everyone, including the following.
- Lengthy procedure – Getting dental implants is a long time commitment. It takes about 3-6 months for you to heal from the initial placement of your implants and have your smile restored, and some patients require longer treatment times if they require pre-treatment surgeries like bone grafting, alveoloplasty (jaw bone ridge smoothing) or extractions for troublesome teeth.
- Expensive treatment – Dental implants are usually at least equal in cost to dental bridges, and are often more expensive. They are always more pricey than dentures. In addition to this, they may not be fully covered by insurance, so that’s another thing to consider when budgeting for restorative dentistry in Mandeville.
- Requires healthy jaw bone or additional treatment – If your jaw bone is weak due to tooth loss, you may not be able to get implants, or you may need “bone grafting,” which restores the bone below the implant site, but will add more time, expense, and surgical appointments to the treatment process.
Interested In Implant Dentistry In Mandeville? See If You’re A Candidate
Despite having a few situational drawbacks, dental implants are definitely the best way to restore your smile if you’ve lost one or more teeth. If you have the budget for implants, your jaw is healthy, and you are willing to commit to a longer treatment, they’re superior to bridges and dentures.
If you’d like to learn more, or begin the process of getting one or more implants right away, contact the Mandeville Center For Dental Excellence online, or give us a call at (985) 626-4401 to schedule an implant consultation with Dr. Charles Schof, our experienced dentist in Mandeville. We’re always accepting new patients, and Dr. Schof can explain the pros and cons of dental implants and other restorative treatments to you, allowing you to make an informed decision.
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