When facing the need to replace a lost tooth or teeth, patients have a number of options, including dental implants, bridges or dentures. They will consider various factors when deciding which way to go.
As a part of their decision-making process, patients should consult with an implant dentist to explore all available options.
Often, the primary concern is aesthetics. In other words, patients may want to select the tooth replacement method that looks most like a natural tooth. With modern dental technology, prosthetic crowns are remarkably lifelike. When held in place by a dental implant, which mimics a tooth’s root, those replacement teeth blend into the smile.
In comparison, alternative tooth replacements may have a more unnatural appearance and stand out from the rest of the teeth.
A patient’s budget is another consideration that may influence the decision. If you base your tooth replacement choice solely on upfront costs, you may decide that a bridge or denture is a more cost-effective option than dental implants. That may turn out to be untrue in the long run, though.
Dental implants have the most stability and durability of the tooth replacement choices. They are designed to last for decades, whereas dentures and bridges have to be refitted periodically and replaced sometimes. Dental implants may have the higher initial pricetag, but the other appliances often catch up to implants and may surpass them over time.
Dental implants also offer improved functionality over bridges and dentures. Implants are the only tooth replacement method replicating the entire tooth structure, including the root. That hidden part of the tooth may not seem to be that important to the smile’s appearance, but the root helps to stabilize the jawbone, preventing atrophy that can prematurely age a person.
Because bridges and dentures don’t fill in for the root of a missing tooth, the jawbone will continue to wear away. That erosion of the jawbone can compromise the other teeth, creating the risk of additional tooth loss.
Dental implants are a good long-term investment to address tooth loss. Talk with Dr. Daggula, your dentist serving Arlington TX, to learn more about the benefits of this method. Call 817-465-0355 to schedule your visit.
