What Are The Pros And Cons Of Tooth Implants?
Dental implants are the treatment of choice by many people who are missing teeth and they are considered by most dentists to be the premier tooth replacement method in many cases. But that doesn’t mean they are always perfect, and there are definitely several factors to consider. This article goes through some of the major points, but if you want more details, please see a good implant dentist near you.
The pros of dental implants are clear: a tooth to replace a missing tooth. That means:
- Functionality. The primary purpose of replacing a tooth is to restore chewing capability that was lost due to missing a natural tooth.
- Bone Preservation. Bone in the human body is “use it or lose it”, meaning that the body recognises when bone isn’t being used and sometimes redistributes the calcium and nutrients to other parts of the body. This results in bone loss. A missing tooth leaves a portion of bone unused. Replacing the missing tooth with an implant makes that bone functional again and the body recognises that it cannot rob that area of that bone.
- Health of Surrounding Teeth. Teeth like to touch each other, both on the sides and on the biting surfaces. When a tooth is lost, there is concern that the adjacent teeth may collapse into the empty space or that the opposing tooth may supraerupt because there is no opposing force to stop it. These movements of adjacent and opposing teeth may lead to periodontal weakening of those teeth. Replacing the missing tooth with a dental implant eliminates this risk.
- Looks. No one likes to be toothless. There is an obvious concern with one’s presentation to others when one is missing a tooth. Even missing back teeth can be noticed. In fact, back teeth are more important from a chewing perspective than front teeth and they help to maintain the health of the front teeth.
- Phonetics. Few people realise how important teeth are when it comes to pronouncing words properly. The sound of an “S”, a “T”, or an “F”, for instance, rely upon proper positioning of teeth.
- Soft Tissue Support. Teeth play an often over-looked role of soft tissue support. Lips and cheeks are supported by teeth, not only preventing us from biting ourselves, but also helping us to maintain a younger appearance.
- Hygiene. Compared to other tooth replacement options such as dentures or bridges, dental implants allow for more routine home care. Dental implants can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth. In fact, they should be in order to ensure cleanliness and longevity.
- Longevity. Dental implants have a 10-year success rate ranging from 90–99%, depending on specific parameters of a particular study. That means that 90–99% of dental implants placed 10 years ago are still intact and serving their purpose. That places dental implants among the most long-lasting dental solutions to missing teeth.
- Side Effects. No surgical procedure can be guaranteed to be completed without any risk of side effects. In the case of the placement of a dental implant, we expect side effects such as pain, swelling, bruising. In the overwhelming majority of cases, these effects resolve spontaneously within a matter of days, without the need for professional intervention or additional medication.
- Risk of Complications. As with any dental procedure, complications may arise in a minority of cases from the surgical placement of a dental implant. While there is no way to provide a comprehensive list of potential complications, an experienced implants dentist will be able to manage a patient through such an event.
It is virtually impossible to list all possible pros and all possible cons of any procedure, especially in the case of the surgical placement of an implant. Every individual patient and every individual case is unique and should be considered separately. Consult with your dentist about the topic until you are confident in your decision to move forward with a dental implant.
Source: Contents of this article were originally published on Quora by James Willis, Dentist/Owner at BurkeDental.com, USA., and have been slightly modified.