Dental Implants
Many people contact Coast Dental Hyde Park to inquire whether dental implants are a suitable solution for replacing missing teeth or securing dentures. Dental implants offer a robust and durable solution that allows you to eat, speak, and smile confidently for many years.
A dental implant is essentially a titanium post, resembling a small screw, that a dentist or specialist installs into the bone beneath your gums. Over time, the bone integrates with the implant, forming a sturdy foundation for a crown, bridge, or fixed denture. Notably, dental implants boast a success rate of over 95%, making them a more reliable option compared to other tooth replacement methods.
How Dental Implants Work
At our Coast Dental office in Tampa, we can use dental implants to replace missing teeth in several ways.
Single Tooth Replacement
Consider a dental implant as a dependable new root for a missing tooth, which perfectly fuses with your jawbone. This implant supports a strong, stain-resistant artificial tooth or crown, meticulously crafted to blend with the shade of your natural teeth. Although getting a dental implant might initially cost more than other tooth replacement alternatives, its long-term advantages are unmatched, boasting an exceptionally high success rate. Furthermore, an implant is immune to decay, negates the necessity for root canals, and offers a sensation closely mirroring that of your natural teeth.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
When dealing with the issue of several missing teeth, it’s not always necessary to have an individual implant for each absent tooth. Dental implants can serve as robust anchors for fixed bridges. For example, if you’re missing three teeth in a row, it might be enough to fit just two implants – one on either side of the missing section – to effectively hold a bridge over the gap. This strategy minimizes the requirement for individual tooth replacement. In contrast to traditional techniques that depend on the surrounding natural teeth for support, potentially causing wear and increasing the risk of decay and the need for root canals, dental implants provide an independent support system that helps mitigate such concerns.
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Implants provide a sturdy base for a bespoke set of artificial teeth, made for long-term and stable application in either the upper or lower jaw. Frequently, just four implants are enough to anchor a full arch of prosthetic teeth. However, in instances of extensive jawbone loss, more implants may be required to firmly hold a set of 10 to 12 teeth. These long-lasting prosthetics, underpinned by implants, play a vital role in preserving the health of the jawbone and are designed with the potential to endure a lifetime.
Implant-Supported Removable Dentures
If your upper or lower dentures are becoming loose due to tooth loss, transitioning to dentures supported by implants could significantly improve stability, enhancing your comfort and confidence during meals and conversations. Unlike traditional dentures, which don’t address the absence of your natural tooth roots and thereby contribute to jawbone weakening—a problem often ensuing from tooth loss. This weakening can lead the bone ridges, which the dentures rest upon, to diminish, changing your facial structure and potentially making you look older as the jawbone contracts. Dentures anchored to implants evenly distribute chewing forces, helping to maintain the height of the bone ridge. They offer improved stability, lessening movement of the lower dentures while talking. Moreover, using implants to secure dentures can substantially reduce or entirely remove the necessity for denture adhesives.
What Do Dental Implants Cost?
Dental implants are frequently regarded as a cost-effective choice when considering them as a long-term investment in your health, comfort, and overall well-being. While initially more costly than other tooth replacement options like dentures or bridgework, dental implants are durable and typically do not require replacement.
We suggest contacting your dental insurance provider to determine what part of the cost might be covered under your dental benefits. Additionally, Coast Dental Hyde Park offers partnerships with third-party financiers that could assist in accommodating the expense of dental implants within your family budget.
The initial step is to book a consultation to explore whether a dental implant is the right choice for you. If you are missing one or more teeth, please call our dentist in Tampa at (813) 871-6050 today.
