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Dental implants allow for the replacement of missing
teeth without grinding on good teeth to make bridges. Many conventional
dental procedures are still indicated today. However, with the advent of
dental implants, many of those procedures are becoming outdated or
contraindicated. For decades, the dental profession has advocated the
preservation of natural teeth and natural tooth structure. This concept
is certainly upheld when using dental implants for tooth replacement.
The need for removal of healthy tooth structure (enamel) has been
eliminated by dental implant treatment.
Dentists agree that a tooth often begins a downward spiral after being
touched by a dental drill for the first time. Patients and practitioners
alike have agonized over the decision to grind on healthy teeth. We, as
practitioners, see conventional crown and bridgework fail prematurely.
Several studies on crowns and bridges found an average 9-10 year life
expectancy in the United States. Until about 1985 our choices for tooth
replacement were poor, at best. Since implants have become the "standard
of care" for tooth replacement our choices have improved dramatically.
The use of dental implants gives three more benefits rarely
discussed:
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Dental implants strengthen the dentition (entire
set of teeth). By adding a dental implant where a tooth is missing,
we are replacing the root and the crown (top) which is missing,
thereby potentially increasing the life expectancy of surrounding
teeth. In some ways the implant is more solid than the tooth it is
replacing. Bridges and partials weaken the dentition by forcing
other teeth to carry the burden of the missing ones.
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Dental implants preserve the bone levels
that are present when a tooth is lost. Without the implant the bone
will slowly reabsorb (melt away) because there is no stimulus to
keep it in place.
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Dental implants do not decay. By far, the most
common reason for a crown or a bridge to fail is because decay
starts at the margin where the crown meets the natural tooth.
Titanium implants cannot decay.
Below we contrast implant dentistry with more traditional forms of
dentistry:
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One Missing Tooth |
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| When a person is missing one tooth there are two
options for replacement, a single tooth dental implant or a three-unit
bridge. |
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Implant Crown |
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Conventional Bridge on
Teeth |
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Several Missing Teeth |
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Removable partial dentures (RPD) have
been used by dental patients to replace missing teeth for over a
century. Simply by considering the phrase one can understand why they
are really outdated treatment options; removable, by the patient several
times per day. Partial denture indicates it is a denture on a smaller
scale. Most people would choose to have "fixed" (cemented or screw
retained) teeth if given the option. Fixed teeth on dental implants
look, feel and function like natural teeth.
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Missing All Teeth
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Complete dentures have been a nemesis
of mankind since they were invented. Though they do replace missing
teeth and can be esthetically pleasing, there are few other accolades
about dentures. Most dentures wearers admit that they would "do
anything" to save their teeth if given the opportunity. Dentures are
difficult to adapt to, uncomfortable to wear, painful to chew with and
can cause public humiliation. Most denture wearers claim that dentures
alter their lifestyle significantly.
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Cost