Dental Implants
Many individuals reach out to Coast Dental Jacksonville inquiring whether dental implants could serve as an effective replacement for missing teeth or to anchor dentures securely. Dental implants offer a robust, enduring solution, empowering you to eat, converse, and smile with assurance for many years ahead.
A dental implant consists of a titanium post designed to resemble a small screw. This post is placed into the bone beneath your gums by a dentist or specialist. Over time, the bone integrates with the dental implant, forming a solid foundation for a crown, bridge, or a permanent denture. Significantly, dental implants boast a success rate exceeding 95%, making them a more reliable choice for tooth replacement compared to other options.
How Dental Implants Work
At our Coast Dental office in Jacksonville, we can use dental implants to replace missing teeth in several ways.
Single Tooth Replacement
Consider a dental implant as a dependable new base for a missing tooth, perfectly fusing with your jawbone to offer support for a robust, stain-proof artificial tooth or crown that is meticulously crafted to blend with the shade of your natural teeth. Although the initial investment in a dental implant might surpass that of other tooth replacement methods, its long-term advantages are unmatched, boasting an impressive success rate. Additionally, an implant is decay-resistant, negates the necessity for root canals, and provides a sensation very similar to your natural teeth.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
When dealing with multiple missing teeth, it isn’t always necessary to insert an individual implant for each absent tooth. Dental implants can serve as robust foundations for fixed bridges. For example, if you have a gap from three consecutive missing teeth, placing only two implants – one at either end of the space – might be enough to stably anchor a bridge covering the gap. This strategy minimizes the requirement to replace each tooth independently. Unlike conventional methods that depend on surrounding natural teeth for support, potentially causing wear and increasing the likelihood of decay and root canals, dental implants provide an independent support system that mitigates these risks.
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Implants act as a robust base for a tailored set of dentures, crafted for extended and stable wear in the upper or lower jaw. Frequently, just four implants are sufficient to support a full arch of prosthetic teeth. However, in situations with considerable jawbone loss, more implants may be required to stably support a set comprising 10 to 12 teeth. These sturdy, implant-supported prosthetics play a vital role in preserving the structure of the jawbone and are designed with the potential to last a lifetime.
Implant-Supported Removable Dentures
If your upper or lower dentures are fitting loosely due to tooth loss, transitioning to implant-supported dentures can significantly enhance their stability. This improvement can boost both the comfort and confidence you feel while eating and conversing. Traditional dentures do not address the absence of natural tooth roots, leading to a slow deterioration of the jawbone, a common consequence of tooth loss. As the bone ridges that the dentures rest upon begin to recede, your facial structure may change, potentially giving you an aged look due to jawbone reduction. Dentures anchored to implants distribute biting forces more evenly, which helps in maintaining the height of the bone ridges. They provide superior stability, which reduces movement of the lower dentures during speech. Additionally, the use of implants to secure dentures can greatly reduce, or sometimes completely eliminate, the need for denture adhesives.
What Do Dental Implants Cost?
Considering them as a long-term investment, dental implants are often seen as a cost-effective choice for enhancing your health, comfort, and overall quality of life. While the initial cost of implants tends to be higher than that of other tooth replacement methods like dentures or bridges, dental implants have a much longer lifespan; indeed, most of them never require replacement.
We advise consulting with your dental insurance provider to determine the extent of coverage under your dental benefits. Additionally, Coast Dental Jacksonville offers partnerships with third-party financiers, which could assist in making the cost of dental implants manageable within your household budget.
The initial step is to book a consultation to explore whether dental implants are suitable for you. If you’re missing one or more teeth and are interested in exploring your options, please contact our Jacksonville dentist office at (904) 209-6590 to schedule an appointment.
