Implants – The Gold Standard of Dentistry

Implants – The Gold Standard of Dentistry

Dental Implants

As your Mississauga Family Dentist, offering you information to help you make the best choices when given options for your treatment is our main goal.  Sometimes dentistry can be confusing especially when recommendations made by two separate dentists are different.  When it comes to replacing missing teeth, Implants have been and always will be the gold standard.  So why have so many chosen a different path?  There can be many factors that can affect the decision such as cost, time, and understanding the reason why dental implants are the best course of treatment.  The purpose of this blog is to help you make an informed decision.  The worst decision you can make for a missing tooth is to do absolutely nothing so hopefully we can provide you with information that will help you move forward.  If you have a missing tooth, how do you know you’re a candidate?

Who Should Consider Dental Implants?

• Ideal Candidates:
  • Individuals missing one or more teeth who want a permanent replacement.
  • Patients with good overall oral health and sufficient bone density.
  • People looking for a durable, long-lasting alternative to dentures or bridges.
  • People who are over the age of 30.
• Who May Not Be Ideal Candidates:
  • People with insufficient bone mass in the jaw (unless willing to undergo bone grafting).
  • Smokers or individuals with conditions like diabetes, which may increase the risk of implant failure.
  • Patients looking for a more affordable, faster solution for missing teeth.
  • People who are less than 30 years of age.

Now that you’re aware about whether or not you’re a candidate for dental implants, knowing what the pros and cons are of dental implants is equally important.  Let’s first discuss what the pros and cons of dental implants are.

PROS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

1. Long-Lasting and Durable

• Advantage: Dental implants are designed to last many years, often a lifetime, with proper care. Made of strong materials like titanium, they fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, making them a stable and permanent solution.
• Why It Matters: Compared to dentures or bridges, which may need replacement, implants are a more durable and long-term investment.

2. Improved Appearance

• Advantage: Implants closely resemble natural teeth in both appearance and function. They are customized to match the color, size, and shape of your surrounding teeth, resulting in a natural-looking smile.
• Why It Matters: Dental implants help restore your smile, boost self-esteem, and provide a more natural look compared to other options like dentures.

3. Preserves Jawbone and Prevents Bone Loss

• Advantage: Unlike traditional bridges or dentures, dental implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss that occurs when teeth are missing. The dental implant acts like a tooth root, keeping the bone healthy and preventing it from shrinking over time.
• Why It Matters: Bone loss can cause facial structure changes, leading to a sunken appearance. Implants help maintain the natural shape of your face.

4. Improved Functionality (Chewing and Speaking)

• Advantage: Implants restore full biting and chewing function, just like natural teeth. You can eat all your favorite foods without worrying about slippage or discomfort, which is often a concern with dentures.
• Why It Matters: Implants offer better function than dentures or bridges, enhancing the ability to chew tough or hard foods and speak clearly.

5. No Impact on Surrounding Teeth

• Advantage: Unlike dental bridges, which require adjacent teeth to be ground down for support, implants do not affect neighboring teeth. They stand independently and do not rely on other teeth for stability.
• Why It Matters: This preservation of healthy teeth reduces the risk of further tooth damage or decay.

6. Comfortable and Convenient

• Advantage: Once implants are placed, they feel and function like your own teeth, making them more comfortable than removable dentures. They also eliminate the discomfort and inconvenience of adhesives, which are often needed to keep dentures in place.
• Why It Matters: The permanent nature of implants reduces the hassle of removing dentures for cleaning and allows for easier oral hygiene.

CONS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

1. Cost

• Disadvantage: Dental implants can be more expensive than other tooth replacement options, such as dentures or bridges. The total cost can range from several thousand dollars per tooth, depending on the complexity of the case, materials used, and geographical location.
• Why It Matters: The initial cost can be a significant barrier for many patients, and not all dental insurance plans cover implants but some plans do allow for flexible benefits.  Dental implants are also covered under most health spending plans.  We also offer monthly plans to help our patients.  You can speak with our administrative staff to discuss these options.

2. Lengthy and Complex Procedure

• Disadvantage: The process of getting dental implants can take several months. It involves multiple stages, including tooth extraction (if needed), implant placement, healing time for osseointegration (3-6 months), and the attachment of the crown.
• Why It Matters: The length of time for the procedure, along with multiple dental visits, can be a disadvantage for patients seeking a quicker solution.

3. Surgical Risks

• Disadvantage: As with any surgical procedure, dental implant surgery carries some risks. These include infection, nerve damage, sinus problems (for upper implants), and implant failure if the bone doesn’t fuse properly.
• Why It Matters: While these risks are relatively low, patients need to consider potential complications and choose an experienced dentist to minimize the risk.

4. Requires Adequate Bone Density

• Disadvantage: Successful implants require sufficient bone in the jaw to support them. In cases of significant bone loss, bone grafting may be necessary, which adds complexity, cost, and healing time to the procedure.
• Why It Matters: Not all patients are immediate candidates for implants. Bone grafting or other treatments may be required, increasing the length and expense of the procedure.

5. Time-Consuming Recovery

• Disadvantage: After the implant placement, a recovery period of several months is required for the bone to integrate with the implant. During this time, patients may experience some discomfort, swelling, or minor bleeding, and soft foods may be required initially.
• Why It Matters: Healing takes time, and some patients may find the process slow and uncomfortable compared to quicker alternatives like bridges or dentures.

6. Potential for Implant Failure

• Disadvantage: While the success rate of dental implants is high (around 95%), there is still a small risk of implant failure. Factors like poor oral hygiene, smoking, or certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes) can increase the risk of failure.
• Why It Matters: Patients must maintain good oral hygiene and follow the recommended post-operative instructions carefully to ensure the long-term success of the implant.

7. Maintenance

• Disadvantage: Although implants are designed to be permanent, the surrounding gums and tissues require regular care. Poor oral hygiene can lead to complications like peri-implantitis (infection around the implant), which can result in implant failure.
• Why It Matters: Dental implants are not entirely maintenance-free. They require the same level of care and cleaning as natural teeth, and regular dental checkups are essential.

We hope that we have provided you with valuable information so that you can make the best choice possible based on the pros and cons provided.  Although there are plenty of implant types, the main types of implants we do at Credit River Dental Centre are Endosteal Implants.  For more information about the implant treatments we do at Credit River Dental Centre, please click here

As your Mississauga Dentist, we know that making the right choices depends on the information you’re given and what you believe is right for you.  Dental implants are a highly effective, long-term solution for replacing missing teeth. They offer significant benefits so it is important to know if you’re a candidate and also be aware of the pros and cons. Choosing dental implants should be based on a thorough consultation with a dentist or oral surgeon to assess individual needs, overall health, and preferences.  If you’d like to book a consultation with our dental team to assess if you’re a candidate, please don’t hesitate to do so.  You can contact us at (905) 278-4297 or click here to be directed to our appointment portal so we can help you begin your smile journey!