Benefits of Dental Implants

Quality of life improves with replacement teeth that look, feel and function like natural teeth. With implant-supported replacement teeth, the appearance of the smile is more natural and the teeth function more like natural teeth. The result is increased comfort and confidence when smiling, speaking, and eating. If dentures and partials are replaced with implant-supported teeth, the overall enhancement in quality of life is even more significant, with an ability to eat all types of foods, elimination of messy adhesives, and improved speech, comfort and appearance.

Implants preserve the integrity of facial structure. By preventing the bone resorption (deterioration) that normally occurs with the loss of teeth, the facial structures remain intact. This is particularly important when all teeth are missing, as the lower one-third of the face collapses if implants are not placed to preserve the bone.

Since dental implants preserve bone, preventing deterioration of the facial structures, appearance is improved. Collapse of the lower one-third of the face caused by complete tooth loss can be visually corrected and the remaining bone preserved. The appearance of wrinkles around the mouth caused by posterior bite collapse, or complete facial structure collapse is virtually eliminated.

The mouth is restored as closely as possible to its natural state. By replacing the entire tooth, including the root, it is possible to replicate the function of natural teeth, with a strong, stable foundation that allows comfortable biting and chewing. In addition, nothing in the mouth looks, or feels artificial.

Your smile is improved when replacement teeth look more like natural teeth. Even when only one tooth is missing, long-term esthetics are usually much better with an implant-supported replacement tooth than with a traditional tooth- supported bridge. This is particularly important in the front of your mouth, where preventing a visible bone defect is critical for a natural appearance.

Many people who now enjoy the benefits of implant supported replacement teeth state that their self-esteem and self-confidence have been restored as a result of improved appearance, function, comfort, and health.

Adjacent teeth are not compromised to replace missing teeth. Tooth replacement with traditional tooth-supported bridges requires grinding down the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth/teeth, so that the bridge can be cemented onto them. This tooth structure can never be replaced and the long-term health of these teeth is compromised. Partial dentures have clasps that hook onto adjacent teeth, putting pressure on them as the partial rocks back and forth. Eventually these teeth can loosen and come out as a result of this pressure. Replacing missing teeth with implant-supported crowns/bridges does not involve the adjacent natural teeth, so they are not compromised, or damaged.

Convenient oral hygiene. It is much easier to care for an implant-supported crown, which can be cleaned like a natural tooth. In comparison, a tooth-supported bridge requires the use of a floss threader for proper cleaning. It is also more convenient to clean implant-supported replacement teeth than a denture, which often needs to soak in cleaning solution overnight.