Important Facts About Dental Implants

If you’re missing one or more teeth, you need a viable tooth replacement option to protect and restore your smile. Whether your tooth loss is the result of an injury, disease, or decay, dental implants may be right for you.

Dental implants are comprised of three parts—a post, an abutment, and a crown. The titanium post is implanted into your jawbone to replicate the root of your missing tooth. The post serves as a stable anchor for the abutment, which is screwed on top. The final piece is a natural-looking, enamel-colored crown, which is crafted to match the color and size of your natural teeth. The crown adheres to the abutment, restoring your smile, speech, and chewing capabilities in the process.

Could dental implants be the right way to fill the gap in your smile? Consider these important facts about dental implants to help you make the best decision for your oral health.

Dental Implants are Permanent

Unlike dentures, dental implants are not removable. They are also not subject to decay thanks to their durable titanium, porcelain, and ceramic construction. While other restorative options must be replaced every five to 10 years, you can expect implants to last 20 years or more with proper care.

Dental Implants Have a High Success Rate

Before pursuing any restorative dental procedure, it’s wise to consider the success rate. Dental implants are successful over 95 percent of the time. Replacing missing teeth with fixed bridges or dentures has a lower success rate, which can lead to more tooth loss and other oral health problems.

Dental Implants Look and Feel Natural

Implants are placed directly into the jaw, so there is no risk of poor fit or slippage. It’s impossible to tell the difference between natural teeth and dental implants, ensuring comfortable chewing, normal speech, and a natural-looking smile.

Dental Implants are Easy to Care For

Unlike dentures, dental implants don’t require any special care. There’s no need for nightly cleanings, messy adhesive, or fearing your false teeth will fall out while you eat. Simply brush and floss your teeth like normal. This is your second chance at a beautiful smile, so be sure to take self-care seriously for good oral health moving forward!

Dental Implants Promote a Healthy Jawbone

Tooth loss causes your jawbone to weaken and shrink. Over time, this can change your facial appearance, making you look older. Dentures and bridges may restore tooth function, but they do nothing to slow jawbone deterioration. In fact, ill-fitting dentures can even accelerate bone loss. On the other hand, dental implants stimulate bone growth, protecting your facial structure and jawbone health as a result. Implants are the only restorative procedure capable of this feat.

Dental Implants Preserve Healthy Adjacent Teeth

Dental bridges involve anchoring the replacement tooth to the surrounding teeth. This may require filing down one or two healthy teeth and capping with crowns. Dental implants don’t rely on neighboring teeth for support, so the rest of your mouth can remain untouched.

Dental Implants Require Healthy Bones and Gums

Not everyone is a candidate for dental implants. The post needs a healthy underlying jawbone and gum tissue to attach securely. If too much deterioration has occurred, a bone and tissue graft may be possible. You can also consider dentures and bridges as alternative tooth replacement options.

Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation

West County Dental is pleased to offer state-of-the-art dental implants in St. Louis. We offer numerous implant options to meet your needs, from single tooth replacement to full arch replacement and more. If you’re interested in determining your eligibility for dental implants, please call us at (314) 488-2921 or contact us online. We’ll discuss your needs and answer your questions.