Dental Implants - What's For Them? What's Against Them?

[Tariq Drabu]

Teeth and gums that are healthy and strong are two of the biggest contributors to a winning smile. In reality though, few of us have been naturally blessed with a dazzling set of perfect strong white teeth to show off to the world!

When we see a strong healthy smile, we tend to immediately associate it with a strong healthy body, and often this assumption proves very true. Having one or more teeth missing can seem like the end of the world, yet it really doesn't have to be. The ideal solution to a missing tooth is a dental implant. What makes dental implants so perfect for the job? It's the fact that they are implanted into the jaw, allowing them to merge with your bone structure, that makes them deserve such a high recommendation.

The Pros

- Existing teeth and structures such as bridgework and crowns are supported and receive less stress when a dental implant is in place.

- Since dental implants do not require an aggressive approach to the surrounding teeth, the natural tooth tissue can be preserved.

- Bone resorption or deterioration is greatly reduced when a dental implant is set. This in turn minimizes the risk of losing jawbone height.

- The adjacent teeth benefit from a dental implant and often are able to avoid future interventions that would otherwise be necessary.

- In the long run, implants are more durable than an ordinary tooth restoration.

- Implant overdentures can give necessary support and stability to existing dentures that have become loose with time.

- Premature wrinkles can be avoided since overdentures can improve the facial contours.

- Improved food chewing and even clearer speech can come as a result of overdentures. In fact studies have indicated that, in comparison with full dentures, overdentures can more effectively improve speech and chewing ability.

 

The Cons

- Completion of the prosthesis is dependent on both a surgical procedure and a healing period.

- The cost of procedures in the field of dental implants can be more than that of conventional treatment.

- A risk of mechanical fractures exists, for example in the bridges, connecting screws or fixtures. However it should be noted that under 5% of all patients treated have such complaints. Complications can arise as a result of stress concentration or mouth trauma.

- Since the shock-absorbency which exists in natural teeth, does not exist between a tooth and an implant, porcelain fractures of the bridgework or crown can occur.