Dental implants have been a common form of tooth replacement for decades now. Throughout that time, they have consistently proven to be strong, reliable, aesthetically pleasing, and long-lived. Yes, they are pretty amazing! Does that mean, then, that they are better than your natural teeth? Should you get them even if your natural teeth are still healthy? Well, probably not. This blog post explains what you need to know.
Healthy Natural Teeth Are Superior
Dental implants are often regarded as “the next best thing to natural teeth.” Yes, the next best thing. By implication, this means that natural teeth are still superior. Indeed, keeping your natural teeth has some real advantages:
- No surgery: While dental implant surgery is quite safe, it still carries a low level of risk. Keeping your natural teeth eliminates the chances of surgery-related complications.
- Movement: Your natural teeth are connected to your bone by stretchy tissues known as periodontal ligaments. These help with shock absorption and allow your teeth to move slightly. Implants are fused directly with the jawbone, so any pressure gets transferred directly to your jaw.
- No peri-implant seal: Dental implants have a seal around them, which helps to protect you from infection and other threats. If you accidentally break the seal when you floss, it could lead to complications. Natural teeth do not have a peri-implant seal and are less vulnerable to such problems.
- No risk of peri-implantitis: Peri-implantitis is the most common cause of dental implant failure. It can damage the gums and bone tissue so much that the implant loosens. This condition is more challenging to prevent and manage than regular gum disease, which sometimes affects natural teeth.
When Tooth Replacement Is a Good Idea
You should certainly not be in a hurry to replace your existing teeth with dental implants, but there are circumstances in which implants really are the best option, even if you still have some of your natural teeth!
- Your natural teeth are in poor condition: If your natural teeth are weak, loose, or always in pain, extracting and replacing them might significantly improve your quality of life (particularly if repairing those teeth would be impossible or impractical).
- You want to make room for a denture: If you only have a few natural teeth left, you may choose to get them removed so your mouth can accommodate a full denture.
Dental implants are remarkable, but they are still not quite as good as real teeth. Talk to a qualified dental professional to learn about the best way to care for your unique smile.
Meet the Practice
At Vero Beach Dental Implants, we specialize in start-to-finish dental implant care. We use advanced technology and even have an in-house lab so we can provide the highest quality restorations possible. If you think it might be time to replace your teeth, we would be pleased to welcome you for a consultation and answer all your questions. Contact us at 772-205-6003.