Dental Implants
Many individuals reach out to Coast Dental Lake Mary inquiring whether dental implants are an effective solution for replacing missing teeth or stabilizing a denture. Dental implants offer a durable, long-term resolution that enables you to eat, speak, and smile confidently for many years.
A dental implant is essentially a titanium post, designed similarly to a tiny screw, which is inserted 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 fixed denture. Impressively, dental implants boast a success rate exceeding 95%, making them a more reliable option compared to other tooth replacement methods.
How Dental Implants Work
At our Coast Dental office in Lake Mary, we can use dental implants to replace missing teeth in several ways.
Single Tooth Replacement
Think of a dental implant as a reliable new foundation for a missing tooth, seamlessly integrating with your jawbone to provide anchorage for a strong, stain-resistant artificial tooth or crown. This replacement is carefully designed to match the color of your existing teeth. While the upfront cost of a dental implant may be higher than other tooth replacement options, its long-term benefits are unparalleled, with an outstanding success rate. Moreover, an implant is impervious to decay, eliminates the need for root canals, and delivers a feel almost identical to that of your natural teeth.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
When facing the challenge of several missing teeth, it’s not always required to place a separate implant for each missing tooth. Dental implants can act as strong supports for fixed bridges. For instance, for a gap caused by three missing teeth in a row, it could be sufficient to place just two implants – one on either side of the gap – to securely support a bridge that spans the missing area. This approach reduces the need for replacing each tooth on its own. In contrast to traditional methods that rely on adjacent natural teeth for support, which can lead to wear and increase the risk of decay and the need for root canals, dental implants offer a standalone support system that lessens these concerns.
Fixed Implant-Supported Dentures
Implants serve as a strong foundation for custom-made dentures, designed for long-term and secure use on either the upper or lower jaw. Often, only four implants are needed to hold a complete arch of false teeth securely in place. However, in cases where there’s significant loss of jawbone, additional implants might be necessary to firmly anchor a set of 10 to 12 prosthetic teeth. These durable, implant-supported dentures are crucial in maintaining the jawbone’s integrity and are built with the durability to potentially last a lifetime.
Implant-Supported Removable Dentures
Switching to implant-supported dentures can greatly improve the stability of your upper or lower dentures if they’re loose because of tooth loss. This change can significantly increase your comfort and confidence during eating and speaking. Traditional dentures don’t compensate for the loss of natural tooth roots, leading to gradual jawbone erosion, a typical result of tooth loss. As the jawbone diminishes and the bone ridges underpinning the dentures shrink, your facial structure may alter, potentially aging your appearance due to the reduction in jawbone volume. Dentures supported by implants help distribute the bite forces more evenly, aiding in the preservation of bone ridge height. They offer enhanced stability, minimizing movement of the dentures while talking. Moreover, securing dentures with implants can greatly lessen, or in some instances, completely negate the need for denture adhesives.
What Do Dental Implants Cost?
Dental implants are often seen as a cost-effective choice when considered as a long-term investment in your overall health, comfort, and quality of life. While the initial cost of implants is higher than other tooth-replacement options like dentures or bridges, dental implants are designed to last, often without ever needing replacement.
It’s advisable to consult with your dental insurance provider to understand what costs may be covered under your plan. Additionally, Coast Dental Lake Mary offers partnerships with third-party financing options that could help make the cost of dental implants more manageable within your family budget.
The first step towards this investment in your dental health is to book a consultation to determine if dental implants are the right solution for you. If you’re missing one or several teeth, don’t hesitate to contact our Lake Mary dentist at (407) 328-6411 today.
