Dental Implants vs. Dental Bridges

We can provide you with dental implants or dental bridges to replace your missing teeth. While we provide preventative dental care to help reduce the risk of tooth loss, this is still an issue that many adults deal with on some level. If you have lost a tooth due to age, infection, or an accident, we recommend you take the time to consider all your options. As a cosmetic dentist, there are many ways to replace missing teeth, and it is important to select the option that is right for you. The best way to find out is to schedule a consultation. In the meantime, here is what you need to know:

Dental implants. The most secure and natural-looking solution for tooth loss is dental implants. Unlike a bridge that requires other natural teeth, implants are surgically placed beneath the gums and secured to the jawbone. As a result, no other teeth are required or impacted by the procedure. The new tooth is simultaneously more secure because of the process of osseointegration. This is where the titanium post and jawbone fuse together to create a new root system that will support your new tooth. This makes it possible to eat all your favorite foods and engage in normal activities without restriction. The only drawback to this when compared with a bridge is that since it is surgical, you can expect a longer recovery time. Simultaneously, osseointegration, while important, takes a few months to complete.

Dental bridges. If you want a solution that is more secure and durable than dentures, dental bridges is a good option. A bridge is used for partial tooth loss when there are natural teeth that are strong enough to support it. To complete the procedure, we make an impression of your mouth and take measurements so the dental lab can make your bridge. To secure it in place, a crown will be placed on the two teeth surrounding your missing one, and these crowns will serve as anchors to secure the bridge. As a result, you will have a semi-permanent tooth replacement that looks natural and functions like a natural tooth.

If you are interested in either dental implants or dental bridges, we are an ideal dentist office to visit. As a cosmetic dentist, we can provide you with both solutions and complete the procedure in a way that restores the form and function of your smile. Both of these solutions will look like natural teeth when we are done. This is not always the case with a dental bridge, so it is important to visit a cosmetic dentist who has the skill to create high-quality prosthetics. Both options will also allow you to eat your favorite foods, etc. The main difference is that implants not only replace your teeth, they improve the health of your jawbone by providing it with much-needed stimulation. To learn more, schedule an appointment.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Dental Veneers

Dental Implants: More of Your Questions Answered

The concept of dental implants has been around for a very long time. Just because they have a long history does not make dental implants any less modern. As a matter of fact with the improvements, they have made over the years, and with the additional benefit of modern science, dental implants are becoming the way of the future concerning dental prosthetic devices.

Some of our patients, especially those that have a prosthetic device that they are already using, are concerned about making the switch and wonder what the benefits are. The advantages are numerous and start with the fact that dental implants are based on the fusion of organic tissue with a device that is actually inserted into your jawbone. When an implant is inserted into your jaw, by a skilled oral surgeon or dentist, it becomes an integral part of the body and is more secure and stable than any other device. Additionally other devices have made advances but are still depending on older ideas like using adhesives or dental cement. Finally when you get dental implants, you get the strongest, most durable and best looking prosthetic device available.

The permanence of dental implants makes people want to have all of their questions answered before they proceed with getting them installed. We truly enjoy taking the time to sit down and go over all of your questions. There are a few more common questions that we feel could be answered outside of a sit-down session.

How long does a dental implant last? 
The answer to this question is a little bit more complex than a simple number. Numerically implants can last anywhere from seven to thirty years or longer. The reason this span is so vast is because it is influenced directly by other factors. The ability of your jawbone to sustain the implant, gum diseases, and infections, and accidents can all shorten the life span. Good oral hygiene and diet can help increase the life of the implants. Treating implants like regular teeth is the best way to improve their life cycle.
How often do implants fail? 
The reality is that all solutions have a failure threshold based on different factors. With implants, they are typically successful between 93% and 98% of the time, meaning that there is a very small, minuscule, in fact, chance your implants will not take or fail during the installation.
Will it take long to recover?
To ensure such a high level of success, we do our dental implants installation in phases. Between each of the phases, you will have the opportunity to rest and recover for between ten and fourteen days. After you return from the recovery, we will inspect the work we have done, make any minor changes that may be required and then proceed to the next step. This careful and deliberate schedule not only ensures a higher success rate but also shortens your final recovery time to less than two weeks after all of the procedures have been completed.  While we know that this is a longer process than other replacement solutions, it is also the most durable and natural looking result.

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