Disadvantages and advantages of dental implants compared to other methods

Over time, we may lose some of our teeth due to plaque buildup and the constant activity of bacteria, thinning enamel, eating sugary or acidic foods, poor hygiene, or injuries such as broken or torn teeth. Losing a tooth makes us very sad because the tooth does a lot of work for us and if we lose a permanent tooth, it will not be replaced.

On the other hand, leaving a tooth gap is not a good idea at all. Because in addition to constantly food particles getting stuck in this empty space and increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum infection, chewing food also becomes difficult.

We may also not be able to pronounce some letters and sounds correctly when speaking. If the position of the tooth cavity is in front of the mouth, ugliness of the mouth and a smile are added to these problems.

That is why, based on archaeological evidence, humans have long thought about repairing and filling teeth or filling cavities. But now that you want to fill in the gaps or replace the damaged tooth with a denture, what better way to do that?

There are generally four main methods for filling dental cavities: single implants, implant-based prostheses, dental bridges, and dentures. Each of these methods has advantages and disadvantages, and before you make a final decision, you should know the strengths and weaknesses of prostheses.

Advantages of dental implants over other methods

1. The dental implant is completely fixed and stable. An implant is a titanium rod or screw that is inserted into the jawbone and welded to the bone, so its stability is similar to that of a real tooth, and you can use it just like your own tooth.

No other denture achieves the stability of the implant. When you want to eat with dentures, sometimes the prosthesis shakes and slips when you chew and it bothers you, but the implant does not move.

For this reason, dental implants are used today to stabilize natural teeth, so that people who can not replace a single implant with their individual teeth, strengthen and fix their dentures with implant support.

2. There is no worry about the implant coming off and coming off. In the case of other dentures, especially dentures, there is always the concern that the denture may loosen or come in when talking or eating, but in the case of implants, you can safely associate.

3. The shape and appearance of the implant tooth is quite similar to a real tooth. It is interesting to know that if the dental implant is done by a specialist and experienced and skilled, even you can not understand the difference with your real teeth.

No one notices that the implant tooth is artificial because the implant looks exactly like any other tooth. This is because the base is embedded in the jawbone and works in such a way that the level of the surrounding gums is just like other teeth.

There are many techniques that after implant placement, the gums around the implant are properly welded and completely enclose the tooth to look exactly like a real tooth.

On the other hand, the dental veneer attached to the implant is selected from ceramic so that its color and transparency are similar to natural teeth.

Therefore, the beauty of implant teeth is significantly different from dentures and dental bridges because both prostheses are placed on the gums and their artificial gums are determined on the surface of the gums.

4. It is quite easy to maintain oral hygiene with implants. In the case of other dentures, maintaining oral hygiene requires special attention, for example, brushing them is slightly different from other teeth. To clean a dental bridge, you must carefully floss and brush the underside.

To clean a denture, you need to remove it from the mouth and first clean the mouth thoroughly and then the denture. But implant teeth are cleaned in exactly the same way as your other teeth, which means flossing and brushing as usual. Because of this difference, dentures and gingival infections are more likely to occur in dentures and bridges.

5. Unlike other methods, implants do not endanger the health of other gums or teeth. To place a dental bridge, two or more adjacent teeth must be shaved to connect their dental bridge, so unfortunately their health is endangered.

The denture also presses on the gums and is constantly eroded as it is placed on the gums, which may cause the gums and the bone beneath it to recede.

On the other hand, in order for the prosthesis to remain in place, it usually has metal clamps that are placed around healthy teeth, so the teeth act as a support for the artificial prosthesis and their health is threatened. But dental implants have nothing to do with adjacent teeth and do not use them.

6. Prevents the degeneration of the jaw bone. From the moment you lose a tooth, the jawbone begins to decline. Because there are no more teeth in this part of the bone, the body does not need to hold this part of the bone firmly so it reabsorbs part of it.

As a result, the bone gradually narrows and loses its density. No dental prosthesis other than an implant can play the role of a real tooth and force the body to rebuild and maintain jaw bone.

The dental implant is placed inside the bone and welded to it, so when the food is chewed, the force that enters it is transferred to the bone. This stimulates and strengthens the bone and orders the regeneration and production of bone in the body.

Therefore, the sooner you implant the implant, the faster you will prevent bone loss. You can see the effect of bone loss in people who have lost many of their teeth. In these people, the height of the jaw is shortened and the upper and lower jaws collapse, so the height of the lower third of the face decreases.

7. The implant has the highest strength and resistance. Dental implants, whether made of titanium or zirconia, have high strength and resistance and the possibility of breaking is very, very low.

Dental implants are a very successful method, with an estimated success rate of more than 95%. The same number of treatment failures is more related to the unsuitable condition of the jawbone to support the implant and the gingival infection around the implant, so cases of implant breakage are very rare.

Disadvantages of dental implants compared to other methods

Perhaps the most important drawback of dental implants is their high price. The cost of dental implants is much higher than other prostheses because they are made of special materials and require one or two surgeries to replace them.

If you need a bone graft before implant placement, it still adds to the cost of surgery. As a result, many people are unable to afford implant teeth. Many people can have an implant-based denture instead of a large number of missing teeth, meaning they can have permanent teeth with just a few dental implants.

One of the problems with implants is that they cannot be used for people who do not have enough jawbone. For these people, a bone graft must be done first.

You cannot have a dental implant if you do not have the financial means to have a bone graft, or if you do not have the conditions for bone graft surgery, or for any reason you do not want to do so. However, in some cases, a mini-implant can be used instead of a regular implant.

With implants, you can not have teeth immediately. The implant implantation process is a long process and requires patience. It takes several months for the implant to attach to the jawbone, during which time you will not be able to use your teeth.

Today, however, there are techniques for temporarily filling cavities that can be filled with temporary veneers immediately after implant placement for people who care about the beauty of their teeth. This method is called immediate implant loading or one-day implant implantation.

Note that in this method you can not use the implant tooth for chewing because there should be no pressure on the newly implanted implant.

Therefore, the dental veneer that is installed on the implant is shorter than other teeth so that it does not come into contact with the opposite tooth. However, not all people are eligible for this procedure and have to wait several months for the bone implant to heal and then have the veneer attached.

Depending on the strengths and weaknesses of dental implants, you can decide to replace your missing teeth.

You just have to remember that time is an important factor, and the more time is lost, the more bone loss progresses and the bone may lose the conditions necessary for implant placement. As a result, implant placement will be more expensive and more complex.