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Posted on February 7, 2009 by Wally Singer | Posted under   Dental Care


Dental Implants: The Pros And Cons



Dental implants are one of the most important advances in cosmetic dentistry during the last several decades. Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or several missing teeth. Rather than placing a real tooth into the bone and soft tissue, a dental implant consists of an artificial tooth root made of titanium that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The titanium rod is capped with a realistic dental crown that is custom matched to your existing teeth.

There are both pros and cons of dental implants, patients considering the replacement of teeth should consider both sides of the coin before making a final decision.

I'll tackle the good news first. Dental implants, once in place, can last a person a lifetime. That more than justifies the higher cost compared to dentures and bridges. Dental implants are very practical and the crowns they are capped with look as natural as real teeth. Implants look a great deal better than other ways of replacement of teeth, such as traditional, removable bridges and dentures. While cosmetic dentistry has come a long way, dentures and bridges still tend to be loose fitting. Implants look very natural in the mouth and provide a more secure biting surface than a set of loose fitting dentures or bridges.

And now the other shoe falls--cost. Dental implants can run a patient into several thousands of dollars. They are a great deal more costly than dentures or bridges. Implants are not always covered by insurance. It is a time consuming process that involves frequent visits to the dentist. In the most complicated of cases, patients can be making multiple visits over a period of up to two years. Dental implant surgery involves quite a bit of pain afterwards. Not to mention the bruising and swelling. The crown used to cap the dental implant will likely have to be replaced after approximately 10 to 15 years.

Dental implants do not always osseointegrate (grow to the bone). In other words, sometimes the surgery fails. Most often this surgery is a failure because of diseases such as diabetes or in those individuals who smoke. Breakage of dental implants can occur as well as oral infections.

Having weighed all of the pros and cons of dental implants, they have many advantages over dentures or bridges. The cons may weigh heavier with elderly patients, but younger, healthier cosmetic dentistry patients will garner many long term benefits.



About The Author:
For additional information on dental implants, you should speak to a cosmetic dentist near Cleveland to schedule a consultation and learn more.


Tags: DENTAL IMPLANTS, REPLACEMENT OF TEETH, COSMETIC DENTISTRY, PROS AND CONS, DENTURES, BRIDGES
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