Why Choose Dental Implants?
With other tooth replacement options available, why are dental implants often considered the best option?
None of us want to lose a tooth, or a number of teeth and this is especially so when they are the visible ones that people see when we smile. Particularly in this latter case, it is understandable, and advisable, that we seek out the most appropriate tooth replacement option to fill the gap where the tooth was lost.
Patients of the Clocktower Dental, Implant & Facial Centre in Epsom have a number of options available to them in this situation. For some, a dental bridge may be a workable solution, while for others, dentures might seem a more suitable option. Both of these will replace the missing tooth of course, but they lack one thing that implants don’t, and that is the ability to replace the root of the tooth as well as the visible crown section. It is this that we believe distinguishes dental implants from the rest and why it offers a better solution for most people.
What is wrong with a bridge or dentures?
There is nothing ‘wrong’ per se, with either of these teeth replacement options. Both will provide a reasonable solution in so far as aesthetics are concerned. Where they do especially lose out to dental implants though is that they lack a replacement tooth root and that means that stability can sometimes be an issue. This is less so with a bridge but choosing this option does mean having to shape possibly healthy teeth in order to fit the adjacent crowns which hold the bridge in place. While this does offer stability, it is understandable that many people don’t want healthy teeth treated in this way.
Dentures are an ‘easier’ solution as they often require no invasive dentistry and are held in place with suction, denture adhesive or clips. Although this does provide a reasonable amount of stability and strength, they can still have the tendency to move around in the mouth and can make eating certain foods quite difficult. In some cases, they may also move around when you are speaking to someone, causing some potential embarrassment as your wobbly ‘false teeth’ are revealed!
What makes dental implants a better solution?
An implant provides a full replacement for the missing root of a tooth and therefore a secure foundation for the crown which is placed on top of it. Once the implant has fused with the bone sufficiently, a period of approximately three months, you are completely free to eat anything that you want with your new tooth, without fear of it becoming loose. Even the toughest of steaks is no match for a successfully integrated dental implant!
In addition to their strength and stability, the implants that we use at our local Epsom dentist are of a very high quality, and, providing that you take good care of your implant, cleaning it well as directed by us, it can last for twenty years, and often many more. Compare this with the ongoing cost and inconvenience of having to have dentures repaired or adjusted over a period of time, and the initial higher costs of implants now seems more financially practical.
Invasive treatment
We mentioned before that dentures usually require no invasive treatment and that this makes them a good option for nervous patients. While it is true that placing a tooth implant does require minor surgery, the reality for most people is more comfortable than they expect. Some people worry about tiny holes being drilled into the jawbone to place the implant, but under a powerful local anaesthetic, you should experience no more discomfort than you would expect from other invasive dental procedures. For those that wish to understand the technique in more detail, our team of experienced implant dentists are more than happy to explain and discuss this with you.
We are also used to treating nervous patients here at our practice and have a range of options that may be able to help you. Before dismissing the idea of this procedure out of hand, we recommend that you talk to our local team to get the facts and understand better how we can help you.
If you would like to find out more about how teeth implants are placed and how they can benefit you, why not call us to arrange your initial consultation with an implant dentist? You can do this by calling the Clocktower Dental, Implant &Facial Centre today on 01372 720136. We look forward to meeting you and helping you smile again with confidence!