What Are Dental Implant Options?

The importance and purpose of dental implants

Losing a tooth can cause damage to more than just your self-esteem and confidence. It may be easy to overlook just how important every tooth in your mouth is since we seem to have so many. Yet every tooth serves a purpose, and one tooth lost can create a domino effect of problems if not treated properly. Although losing a tooth is often primarily seen by many as aesthetically problematic, there are greater concerns beyond just the visual.

Losing a tooth can be the result of a variety of reasons, such as tooth decay, gum disease, injury and aging. This can ultimately affect your bite, jawbone, speech, and can become functionally problematic. Dental implants are the best option next to your natural teeth. If you can keep your natural tooth/teeth, it is best to make that a priority. However, if you just cannot save a tooth, a dental implant can function just as your natural tooth would.

Your chewing capacity really contributes to your intake of nutrition, as chewing is a major part of the digestive process. Having all of your teeth in place is important, even if they are artificial implants. Not getting a dental implant or artificial tooth to replace a lost tooth will lead to greater problems in the long run, especially possible jawbone loss.

What are dental implant options?

Dental implants are artificial teeth that act just as your natural tooth and tooth root did. Dental implants are made up of three parts, the fixture, the abutment and the crown. Reasons you would need an implant are always due to a resulting tooth loss, regardless of cause.

When it comes to implants, you can choose between titanium implants or zirconia (ceramic) implants. There is also an option for implant-supported dentures, which are for those who are missing their teeth but have enough jawbone to secure them in place. However, even implant-supported dentures are still removable, unlike getting titanium or ceramic implants.

Titanium implants have been used since the mid-1960s. They are made of strong, light material that is implanted into the bone, allowing it to heal for three months, and then revisiting your dentist to put the permanent tooth in place. Titanium is the only metal that has been successful when it comes to dental implants, and it is also the most abundant metal on earth. This is the reason titanium is used for other parts of the body, through pins, screws, knee and hip replacements, spinal fusions and other things that make life easier and promote longer living. While it is very rare, some people are allergic to titanium dental implants and zirconia implants may be necessary as a titanium implant alternative.

Zirconia implants, also known ceramic implants, are fairly new and have been around for about the last 20 years. They are metal free, corrosion resistant and considered hypoallergenic. Zirconia comes in one piece, is implanted into the jawbone and then a crown gets cemented right over the top of the implant. Zirconia is more expensive and takes more care during placement than titanium. Zirconia can also be more risky for fractures, but you should weigh out the pros and cons of each option with your dentist before making a decision.

Benefits of dental implants

Dental implants are very beneficial for functionality as well as aesthetically. Dental implants are the best choice for strength, durability and convenience. Because dental implants act as your natural teeth do, and create comfort, confidence and security.

With dental implants, you can keep a normal dental health care routine, while having a deeply rooted/attached tooth secured in place just as if it were your natural tooth.

It is important to note that if you do receive dental implants, you still need to maintain a regular oral health care routine that you are committed to, and treat it as if it were your natural tooth.