Dental Implants are an Alternative to Dentures for Missing Teeth

Anyone who is currently wearing dentures and looking for a more durable solution needs to consider dental implants. The same is true for anyone who is missing teeth and has yet to replace them. Implants are the most durable and natural-looking way to replace missing teeth, making them an excellent alternative to removable dentures. They are becoming increasingly popular with patients who wear dentures and decide to upgrade their teeth for something more permanent.

Why patients prefer dental implants to dentures

Implants are the only surgically-placed way to replace missing teeth. We insert a titanium post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone. Thanks to osseointegration, this titanium post will act like a natural root and provide a secure base for us to attach the new tooth. This means that the dental implant will feel, look and behave just like a natural tooth. When comparing to dentures that people need to remove on a nightly basis, implants provide an unprecedented level of convenience.

Patients do not need to worry about taking teeth out to soak, using special cleaners or adhesives. They only need to brush and floss like normal since the implant is cared for in the same way that natural teeth are.

Success rate

According to the American Association of Endodontics, the success rate for dental implants is 98 percent, http://www.aae.org/about-aae/news-room/press-releases/new-research-shows-dental-implants-require-significantly-more-follow-up-treatment-than-root-canals.aspx.

An overwhelming majority of patients who replaced their teeth with implants were able to keep the implants and use them like a highly functioning natural tooth, without the implant ever having to be removed. This is a remarkable success rate.

By comparison, only 73 percent of patients were satisfied when wearing dentures, according to a study published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5204067/ 

Resources

The American Acadamy of Implant Dentistry provides a variety of resources for patients who are considering implants and searching for more information, http://www.aaid-implant.org/resources-and-news/dental-implant-facts/.

Some interesting facts include:

• 69 percent of adults 35 to 44 have lost at least one tooth
• Implants are safe
• Patients do not get cavities in dental implants
• Implants stimulate the natural bone

Life with implants

Living with dental implants is incredibly easy. Since they look, feel and behave like natural teeth, patients can eat all of their favorite foods. This makes it possible to eat a nice crunchy salad or bite into a juicy steak without feeling restricted by teeth. It is also easy to be highly active in sports or sing in the choir without worrying about teeth becoming loose and falling out.

For anyone who has lived with dentures and faced the insecurity that comes from being unsure if teeth will remain in place, this is like a breath of fresh air. Also, since they require no additional steps in the daily hygiene routine, living with dental implants makes it faster and easier to get ready in the morning and at night. Put simply, they are like living with a full set of natural teeth.

Discover the benefits of implants

To learn more about dental implants as an alternative to dentures, call Brooke M. Cloninger, D.D.S. at (509) 319-2152 and schedule a consultation.