When you need to replace missing teeth, several options are available to you, depending on your needs and your situation. Among them are dental implants, small screws surgically inserted into the jaw to serve as support for a restoration or prosthesis. We often hear that it is the best choice for tooth replacement, or at least that it stands out from the others. The team at Carrefour Dentaire 440 in Laval presents here 5 advantages of dental implants.
1. Stable and strong tooth replacements
To understand the majority of the advantages of dental implants, you must first know how they work. As mentioned, implants are small titanium rods screwed into the jawbone during surgery performed by your Laval dentist. During the healing period that follows, they fuse with the bone. This process, called osseointegration, provides great stability to the restorations and prostheses fixed on these artificial roots. In doing so, comfort and chewing capacity are improved since they are not likely to move when pressure is applied to them.
2. Increased aesthetics
Implant-supported restorations and prosthetics are generally better suited than their conventional counterparts. This means they more accurately mimic the look and feel of real teeth. What’s more, implant-supported dentures do not shift or rattle in an unsightly or annoying way, as can happen with a removable appliance.
3. Preservation of oral structures
The implants function like artificial tooth roots once osseointegration has taken place. This means that in addition to providing stable support for the replacement tooth(s) attached to them, they stimulate the bone where they are inserted. The bone tissues are then able to regenerate, preventing the jawbone from losing mass and volume as happens when there is no longer root stimulation. In addition, it is not necessary to alter adjacent teeth to install single-unit restorations on implants — an operation required when installing a fixed bridge.
4. An option suitable for several situations
Dental implants can be used in several circumstances. It can in fact be used to replace a variable number of teeth, since different restorations or prostheses can be installed. The choice of restoration and the number of implants will vary depending on the situation:
- Only one tooth to replace: A single implant is enough to accommodate a crown, i.e. a specially manufactured artificial tooth.
- A few missing teeth scattered in the mouth: Different implants will be installed to each wear a crown.
- A continuous section of missing teeth: Depending on the number of teeth to be replaced, we will use a bridge on implants (for three or four teeth) or a partial denture (for a larger section). Two to four implants are typically needed to maintain these restorations.
- A completely toothless jaw: The entire set of teeth can be replaced using a complete prosthesis supported by four to six implants.
5. A sustainable solution
Dental implants last for many years when you maintain good dental hygiene and abstain from harmful habits (smoking, drinking alcohol frequently, eating a lot of sugar, etc.). If the crown, bridge or prosthesis on implants breaks or wears out, it will be enough to repair or replace them, without having to install new screws!
Consult your healthcare team if you have questions about dental implants or if you are interested in this solution. We will be able to help you so that your smile regains its health, appearance and full functionality!