Dental Implants
Many folks reach out to Coast Dental Gainesville inquiring whether dental implants are an effective option for replacing missing chompers or anchoring dentures firmly in place. Dental implants serve as a robust, enduring fix, offering the confidence to eat, speak, and grin freely for many a year.
A dental implant is a small, titanium screw-like post. The dentist or specialist anchors it into the jawbone beneath your gums. Over time, the jawbone fuses to the implant, providing a solid foundation for a crown, bridge, or secured denture. What’s more, dental implants boast a success rate above 95%, outshining other options for tooth replacement in terms of reliability.
How Dental Implants Work
At our Coast Dental office in Gainesville, we can use dental implants to replace missing teeth in several ways.
Single Tooth Replacement
Should you find yourself with a gap from a lost tooth, a dental implant can stand in as a new root, securely integrated into the jawbone. Atop this implant rests a sturdy, stain-resistant artificial crown, crafted to match the shade of your existing teeth. Despite a dental implant’s upfront cost being steeper compared to other tooth replacement methods, its long-term value shines through with a standout success rate. Moreover, an implant is impervious to decay, negates the need for potential root canals, and offers a sensation nearly identical to your own natural teeth.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
When facing the dilemma of multiple missing teeth, it’s not always essential to substitute each one with an individual implant. Dental implants can serve as robust pillars for fixed bridges. For example, a gap resulting from three adjacent missing teeth may only require two implants, one on either end, to anchor a bridge spanning the space. This strategy lessens the need for a one-to-one replacement of every lost tooth. Unlike traditional methods that depend on surrounding natural teeth for support — potentially compromising their strength and increasing their risk of decay and future root canals — dental implants provide a self-sufficient support system that reduces these hazards.
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Implants provide a sturdy base for a complete set of prosthetic teeth for either the upper or lower jaw, intended to be permanent and fixed in place. Frequently, a mere four implants can robustly support a full arch of prosthetic teeth. Yet, in cases of substantial jawbone loss, more implants may be required to securely hold a set of 10 to 12 teeth in place. These permanent, implant-supported prosthetics play a vital role in preserving the jawbone’s structure and are designed with the potential to last a lifetime.
Implant-Supported Removable Dentures
Should your dentures, whether on the upper or lower jaw, start to fit less snugly due to tooth loss, switching to implant-supported dentures can remarkably improve their fit, enhancing your comfort and assurance while you eat and talk. Unlike traditional dentures that don’t address the loss of tooth roots, implants are pivotal in preventing jawbone deterioration—often a direct impact of losing teeth that causes bone ridges, essential for denture stability, to shrink. This bone loss can also affect your facial profile, giving a more aged, hollow appearance as the jawbone narrows. Dentures anchored to implants distribute the forces of chewing more uniformly, helping to maintain the bone ridge’s height. This bolstered stability also reduces the risk of lower dentures coming loose during speech. Furthermore, implant-secured dentures can drastically cut down on—or entirely eliminate—the need for denture adhesives.
What Do Dental Implants Cost?
Dental implants are often viewed as a cost-effective choice when considering their long-term benefits to your health, comfort, and overall well-being. Although they have a higher initial cost compared to other tooth replacement options like dentures or bridges, implants are more durable and typically do not require replacement.
We recommend checking with your dental insurance provider to determine what portion of the cost is covered under your plan. Additionally, Coast Dental Gainesville offers partnerships with third-party financiers that could help make the cost of dental implants more manageable within your family budget.
The first step is a consultation to decide whether dental implants are the right choice for you. If you are missing one or more teeth, contact our dentist in Gainesville today at (352) 371-7766 to schedule your appointment.
