ADVANTAGES OF A SINGLE DENTAL IMPLANT

Dental implants are an excellent way to replace a missing tooth. Other options, like dental bridges, are still wonderful, but do not have the same benefits as dental implants. If you are missing a tooth or have a tooth that needs to be extracted, a dental implant might be the best way to restore your smile.

What are the advantages of a single dental implant?

One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is bone preservation. The osteoblast cells that make up our jawbone continually regenerate just like the rest of our cells, and therefore need a signal that there is a need to regenerate. The roots of our teeth help stimulate bone regeneration every time we chew and speak, so when a tooth is missing, the roots are no longer in that space, and bone cells take their energy elsewhere.

When the bone no longer regenerates, bone loss begins. This is where the advantages of a single dental implant really come into play. When bone loss occurs, it begins to create a domino effect of tooth loss and further bone loss. The dental implant acts like the roots of a tooth and can continue to help stimulate bone regeneration in the area where the tooth is missing.

Besides the benefits to your overall health, dental implants are incredibly natural-looking and easy to clean. While you are able to brush and floss your dental implant just like your regular teeth, your dentist will actually be able to remove the implant crown to clean under the crown around the implant and the gum tissue to keep everything healthy.

A single dental implant also has incredible longevity and can easily last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. While they are the more expensive treatment, they are usually the more cost-efficient option in the long run. Dental bridges and partial dentures have to be replaced every 5-10 years or so, due to bone loss.

Who is the candidate for a single dental implant?

Almost any adult who is overall healthy and has a sufficient bone structure to support a new implant can have a single dental implant. If there is not enough bone, a bone graft can be placed before a dental implant, ensuring the success of the implant.

Those who are not candidates include patients with active gum disease, with underlying medical conditions, such as osteoporosis, or who cannot endure implant surgery. Those with active gum disease may be a potential candidate for a dental implant if the gum disease is cleared up and everything is healthy before the implant is placed.

Dental implants are natural-looking, beneficial to bone preservation, easy to care for, and have the ability to last a lifetime. If you are someone who has a missing tooth or needs to have a tooth extracted, speak to your dentist about a single dental implant. They are the best option available for restoring your smile.

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