Dental Implants
Many individuals reach out to Coast Dental Daytona with questions about how effective dental implants are for closing spaces left by missing teeth or for making dentures more secure. Dental implants provide a strong and dependable option that significantly enhances the ability to eat, speak, and smile confidently over an extended period.
A dental implant is a small titanium post, looking much like a tiny screw, that a dentist or a dental specialist places into the bone under your gums. As time passes, the bone grows around the implant, creating a sturdy base to attach a crown, bridge, or denture firmly in place. Importantly, dental implants have a high success rate of over 95%, making them a more dependable choice than alternative tooth replacement options.
How Dental Implants Work
At our Coast Dental office in Daytona Beach, we can use dental implants to replace missing teeth in several ways.
Single Tooth Replacement
When a tooth is missing, a dental implant can be inserted into the jawbone to serve as a replacement for the root of the lost tooth. This step is followed by attaching an artificial crown, which is meticulously color-coordinated to match your natural teeth and crafted from materials that prevent staining. Although choosing a dental implant may involve a higher initial expense compared to other tooth replacement methods, it is often considered the most advantageous long-term solution, with a high success rate. Additionally, the implant does not succumb to cavities, eliminates the possibility of needing future root canals, and provides a feel almost identical to that of a natural tooth.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
When several teeth are absent, there’s no requirement to replace each one with an individual implant. Dental implants can act as strong foundations for fixed bridges. For instance, in the case of three adjoining missing teeth, it may only be necessary to place two implants at either end of the void. A crown that covers this space can then be affixed to these implants, making it unnecessary for each crown to have its dedicated implant. This approach does not rely on the surrounding natural teeth for support, which could otherwise compromise their strength, make them more susceptible to decay, and increase the risk of requiring root canal treatments later on. Dental implants offer an independent support structure, sidestepping these potential issues.
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Implants offer a solid foundation for a full set of upper or lower prosthetic teeth that are designed to be permanently affixed and not removable. Usually, a complete arch of prosthetic teeth can be effectively supported by as few as four implants. In situations where there’s considerable loss of jawbone, additional implants might be necessary to anchor a set of 10 to 12 teeth firmly. These implant-supported dental prosthetics are crucial for maintaining the jawbone’s structure. They are created to be a lasting fixture and are intended to stay firmly in place, with the potential to last a lifetime for the patient.
Implant-Supported Removable Dentures
If you find that your upper or lower jaw dentures no longer fit as snugly due to tooth loss, turning to implants can notably enhance the fit of your dentures, making them more comfortable and significantly improving your ability to eat and speak with confidence. Traditional dentures, which do not replace tooth roots, can lead to the deterioration of the jawbone. This deterioration can lower the bone ridges that dentures rely on for stability, potentially altering the shape of your face to appear more sunken and giving a prematurely aged look as the jawbone recedes. Using implants to secure dentures distributes chewing forces more evenly, aiding in the preservation of the bone ridge’s height. This increased stability also prevents the lower denture from unexpectedly shifting, which can be caused by movements of the tongue. Moreover, anchoring dentures with implants can greatly lessen, or entirely remove, the need for denture adhesives.
What Do Dental Implants Cost?
Viewing dental implants as a long-term investment can make them a financially savvy choice for your health, comfort, and overall quality of life. While the initial cost of implants might be higher than other tooth replacement options, such as dentures or bridges, implants generally have a much longer lifespan and often do not need replacing.
It’s advisable to get in touch with your dental insurance provider to determine what part of the implant costs your plan might cover. Additionally, at Coast Dental Daytona, we partner with third-party financiers, which could offer flexible financing options to accommodate the expense of dental implants within your household budget.
To find out if dental implants are suitable for you, the best course of action is to book a consultation. If you’re missing one or multiple teeth and looking to explore your options, please reach out to our Daytona Beach dentist by calling us at (386) 253-6634.
